If you look into photorealism in painting, you often see a reaction that is approximately, “It’s not art because it’s just a copy of a photograph. If they paint from reality, then that’s art.”
At the same time, many non-photographers say that photographs are not art because they are taken directly from reality.
For some entertaining reading on the subject, here are some links:
Deputy Dog’s blog with a wide variety of photorealistic art (painting and sculpture). Be sure to read the comments that are below the images.
Photorealism Inside a Virtual World? … more irony
NY Times “Art Review; Photorealism: Is That All There Is?
My favorite photorealistic painter, Rod Penner (or R.E. Penner)
Not truly photorealistic, but some cool pavement art anamorphic illusions by Julian Beever
-Julie
