Looks like a photo.

It seems more like the artists are showing off their technique rather than creating something original. If you want a completely accurate representation of something, we have photography for that.

...some people can do this. Why let the ability die on the vine just because cameras exists?

I'm just not sure what the point is, except to show that they can do it.

...is enough of a point for me. I like it when people can do amazing things, and being able to draw or paint like this is pretty amazing. Some people can barely draw a stick figure and then some people can do this.

Even by implication.

How dare you, sir? How dare you, I say!

I'm sure you can draw a damn fine stick figure.

...but my teacher said I wouldn't stay inside the lines or use the right colors--so I had to give it up in favor of calculating thermodynamic field tensors..............

...sounds amazing to me. I think.

...But I was so far ahead of my grade level in first grade that I was reading my sister's high-school science book and doing problems in my brother's sixth-grade math book. I put off the thermodynamics until college.

I have all the graceful movement of a brick....

Makes a huge difference to see a piece in person, in front of you vs. on internet on computer screen.