Answer: Most likely, but first let’s look at the definition of “art.”
Explanation: According to the Oxford Dictionary, Art is described as: “The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” When looking at a documentary photograph, try to put yourself in the narrative of the photographer/artist. Viewing a photographer’s portfolio can help you gain a clear understanding of what this individual is extremely passionate about. For example, let’s say we visit a photographer’s portfolio. Countless photos of carefully taken marine life habits are displayed in an interesting and captivating way. We can assume this person is extremely passionate about marine life, and we can appreciate their enthusiasm and effort with their photography. That is art.
But let’s assume you don’t have access to the producer’s portfolio. We can still understand the difference from a carefully taken shot and a standard documentary snap.
Just like any medium, art is objective. It’s solely up to you to decide whether the photographer considered different elements of their work to consider it captivating.