I really can't tell you what defines "Art". It is all in our own heads. There are many types of Art, that I don't understand evidently, because it gets rave reviews, and I say "what"? What is that supposed to mean? I don't get it. I am also one who has an aversion to most B/W Photography, why? I have no idea. I am not an Artist, or a Photographer. I have my type of "work" that I do. Some like it, some don't. Most of my posts are "wild" images. I don't really care, what score I get, on what I do anymore. I just enjoy it when someone says, that they liked it. What I do is for my pleasure first, then if someone else likes it, I'm happy.

"ART" is not a single entity (photography, painting, rendering, ect.)
Art is a creation of the creator and can be made of one simple thing such as a photograph or many complex things such as a photograph mixed into photoshop mixed into homemade paper and framed. It can be made of old wires and metals and into sculptures, jewelry, pottery,ect. All forms of art will get mixed reviews - period. You cant please everyone and that is not the intention of a true artist. Personally I will post a "wild" image because I like it. I know anything I post will get mixed reviews. That is the whole point of this site I believe - correct me if I am wrong on this Zee. This is an outlet for artists to commune and show what they have inside them. Thus the categories so far, photo art, photography, and illustration. Maybe at some point there will be a need for a sculpture category? I dont know. Everyone has a different style of what they do and not all of it is liked by everyone. I happen to love the work of Jackson Pollock, but some say he was a sloppy drunk who just threw paint on a canvas along with his beer tabs, yet after his death his work became priceless.....

Art is subjective. What i think is art you may not like. and that's fine with me. I make art for myself but if you happen to like it too, that's great :)

Some time ago I came to the realization that I'm better off making photos for me and not to procure praise from others. Yes, I enjoy it when others praise what I've done. But that's not paramount to me. As a result, I'm not only much happier with my work, people like my work better. Imagine that. Art to me is a creative work (be it photography, painting, sculpture, music, writing, or whatever else you can think of) that touches people. It may touch the souls of some or the imginations of others. Art envokes feelings in people. What's most amazing to me is that two people can see or hear the same thing and experience entirely different feelings.

For online contests, I will submit only what I feel is my best. But again, I won't shoot just to enter. The entry still has to be what I want, not what I think will get high marks. I think I feel an essay coming on... ;)

I really don't care about scores or points or'karma' or things like that when creating an image. If I like it, great. If I don't, there is always delete. If someone else doesn't like what I have created, they have the choice not to look at it again.

Yes, some crits are of course useful, but to create something to please them isn't what it's all about.

The bottom line is - create it for yourself - only you know what it means (if anything at all).

Sometimes a pretty picture is just that - a pretty picture.

As madame_ava said, Art is extremely subjective. Also, if you ever noticed, professional art critiques and professionals painters, photographers etc, never say that someone else's work of art has something wrong with it. A good critique always finds something which is good in an artwork and never says "That painting is not good!"

i have lately been doing a lot of manipulation of photographs that i have taken,,layering ,joining, and that sort of ps stuff..should it be classified as photo-art,graphics or just photography?
i would guess that "digital art" would be starting with a blank screen and creating the entire piece digitally and not from a photo..
i have a show coming up, and i do not know how pieces should be classified..

I post images I like...period. Art is so subjective it's impossible to please everyone. Developing a thick skin is important. Just do what you like and have fun doing it...if it recieves bad reviews so be it..as long as you were happy with the image. I've posted images (on other sites) i knew were on the borderline. Some were ripped others did well. I'd rather have someone really dislike my image but look at it rather than just skipping over it with a yawn. We make art for some sort of emotional response. We'd all like positive feedback of course but....