It is not what art is, but what art does. I studied for months before I reviewed a Walker Evans show for the New York Book of Reviews. It took me a long time to realized that he had a gift of finding life in his subjects. I am interested in time. With painting, you have various materials, such as oil paint or gesso.
Time is a material in photography.
Part of photography's mystery is the fact that no one understands time and it is an essential part of photography. It is possible to make photographs that do not exist in time, such as staged photos. I am interested in photography that exists within time. I have deep respect for one photographer, Roy DeCarada, who is not widely known. You have to have really great reflexes to shoot good photography.