Art and Craft combine to result in an effective photograph.
Art involves seeing and feeling that which can make a wonderful photographic image. It requires good composition, interesting subject matter and even, the right moment. The art of photography requires that you understand the qualities of light and how to use light when taking the image.
Craft involves knowledge of your camera equipment and developing the skills to correctly expose the image, properly focus the image and use of the correct lens, and technique to accomplish the image effect you intended to produce.
A secondary aspect of craft is image editing. Some photographers do not place the importance on this aspect that is deserved.
Image editing is very, very important. While it cannot correct an unfocused or improperly focused (poor use of depth-of-field) image and it should not be used to correct an improperly exposed image, editing can improve the overall quality of the final printed or displayed image.
Good image editing can improve the relationship (balance) of dark and light tones in the image. It can slightly improve the overall sharpness of an image.
It can adjust and improve the colors in an image. It can improve the composition of an image.
Let's see some examples:
These are only a few examples. But I hope you can see that usually the image from the camera can be improved upon.
I meet people who are interested in photography, but who have not yet learned to edit their images. I encourage every photo enthusiast to obtain image editing software, take a class or two and learn to edit your photos. It is fun and rewarding. It is also part of the Art and Craft of photography.