Fine Art Photography by Definition

[Mad Aussie]

I'm curious to know exactly what the general definition is for 'Fine Art Photography' in most peoples minds.

A quick search bought up a Wikipedia article that basically excluded commercial and photojournalism shots. Here's what it said ...

Fine art photography refers to photographs that are created to fulfill the creative vision of the artist. Fine art photography stands in contrast to photojournalism and commercial photography. Photojournalism provides visual support for stories, mainly in the print media. Commercial photography's main focus is to sell a product or service.

That kind of simply lumps all other photos into Fine Art now doesn't it? Or is there more to this?

[Marko]

An interesting thread - I like it.

"Fine art photography refers to photographs that are created to fulfill the creative vision of the artist."

I think that's a decent definition. I mean probably 99% of all photos taken are souvenir photos to record an event taken by regular people. Then photographers take images for commercial, wedding, industrial, photo-journalistic, fashion photography etc. Fine art photographers I would say, primarily create the photographs for themselves - they are 'uncommissioned' so to speak. So that definition works for me.

However - I would suggest that a beautiful commissioned photograph by a commercial photographer, can also be considered a fine art photograph and for me, that's where the definition gets muddled.
Anyone else?

Thx
M

[mindforge]

Art is in the perception of the viewer.

[Ben H]

*For me*, it's art if I say it is.

Other people are entitled to their own opinions and preferences

[Mad Aussie]

Hmmm mindforge ... I can see a new thread for that thought coming right up

Ok ... we need to re-word that definition for Fine Art Photography then don't we?

Fine art photography refers to photographs that are created to fulfill the creative vision of the artist. Fine art photography stands in contrast to photojournalism and commercial photography and general happy snaps. Photojournalism provides visual support for stories, mainly in the print media. Commercial photography's main focus is to sell a product or service. Happy snaps are simply taken without applying widely accepted professional photographic practices of composition and technique.

Hows that sounding now?

[Mad Aussie]

*For me*, it's art if I say it is.

Other people are entitled to their own opinions and preferences

I couldn't agree more.