If You Have A Camera, Why Do You Need Brush?

Ever Since I was young, drawing was always my passion. In that era, not many people had a camera. If you have seen 10 peoples on the street today, I bet 9 of them have a camera, if not a proper camera, then at least a phone camera. Also in that era, digital camera was not that popular yet, or not affordable by most of the people. My family was one of them, all we had was an antique film camera.

I used to like to sketch or draw on anything around me--the wall, my school exercise book, table, floor etc. I believe a lot of us grew up in that way without being an artist, and to my shame, despite of loving Arts so much, I surrendered myself to reality instead of becoming an artist I dreamt for--- just because I was told that becoming an artist can't buy me a bread during my important period of deciding my career.

I could still remember, my family and relatives were very supportive when I started to show my talent in arts in my early age. My mom was very proud of me, I believe that was the reason I continue to draw and had gained so much confident in painting. There was one day, my uncle came to my house for family gathering. He had heard my passion on drawing, he used to draw, and he drew quite well. But after some years, he stopped painting and involved himself in the art of photography. He asked me one question, which made me think a lot even many years after.

It was either before dinner or after dinner in the living hall, I can't really remember well. My uncle sat on a rattan chair and talked to me for a while before we got into that question.

"I have heard Korry said that you are quite good in taking photo." said Uncle in a delightful way.

Korry is my cousin, we grow up playing together, sharing all kind of topics. I wonder how she thinks about my passion in arts.

"No uncle, I just take photos based on the angle I like. I guess I can't fully operate a camera yet." I replied in a humble way.

"Do you like photography?"

"Yes, uncle, I like it, it's quite interesting."

"Then..." my uncle said in a thoughtful way "if you have a camera, why do you need brush?"

I was stunned when I heard that. I was still a kid between 15 or 16 years old. I couldn't answer the question that time. For me, camera and brush were two very different things, I could not understand the logic behind comparing photography and painting. My uncle didn't mean to be harsh. He actually meant that if our purpose is just to capture a scenery, camera does a better job than brush. Not only it is faster, anyone without the talent to draw could also do so.

That question has bothered me for quite some times. I wonder if camera can really replace brush one day. From the sense of art, it hardly seems so. Camera captures reality; brush captures creativity. Brush-painted-art allows more room for creativity and imagination. If I were to paint ‘Klang River’, I would not paint accordingly from what I have seen. Instead, I will replace the muddy yellow water to sky blue; or I will paint the whole river golden yellow instead of muddy yellow, with the sunset sky as background. As for photography, I feel its limitation. I could never capture a unicorn photo if I don’t edit the photo; I could never take a photo of car flying in the sky. Photographic arts only limits to the things exist in reality world. But it is also because of this limitation, photography has become much more challenging and fun. It has become the challenge of getting a good angle, light exposure etc.

Why do you need a brush when you have a camera?

If anyone ever ask this question to me again. I will say

Because camera captures moment; brush captures imagination.