Fine Art Photography

[mindforge]

Here is the way I see it...

I believe what everyone refers to here for the most part is "art" -- art is something that is in the eye of the beholder... "fine art" is a completely different term.

The term 'fine art' - by definition - is a term to indicate a traditional perspective on the art form implying an association with classic or academic art.

The word 'fine' in the word was created as a designation to denote the 'purity' of the discipline. The very definition of the word and why it was created as a term was to set itself apart in the academic and classical form.

Fine art is very different from applied art or 'eye of the beholder' art. Individual preference has no place in the use of the term fine art.

As for fine art photography, the term is used to denote photography for the purpose of aesthetic and has no function in other photographic arts, such as photojournalism and commercial photography. A great example of fine art photography is the work of Ansel Adams.

Don't get me wrong, photojournalism is an art, commercial photography is an art... it is not a fine art because by definition, as the term was created, fine art is something that implies association to classical and traditional academic rules and theories of perception.

Now, definitions for the most part are not up for discussion except for the fact that even the definitions of fine art differ depending on what source you reach to. Personally, I have been in art school for a long time for two different disciplines and there is one thing I understand that is my formed opinion and that is this....

... fine art is based and forged from study and discipline in a form of art. The capability to produce fine art does not sit in the hands of the unpracticed, I have never seen an example of accidental fine art. Every detail is paid attention to and every detail is planned according to trained principles (even if these principles are formed by your own visual theories). So, no most of us cannot just hop out and shoot a piece that would be considered fine art by the masses, we can call it fine art if we want to. I would never consider that what I do (wedding and senior photography) is fine art. It just isn't. It is art, yes... but fine art, no.

[Greg_Nuspel]

Sometime I think definitions are for people who read dictionaries. I can see where people are going with the difference between 'fine art' and 'art'. Sometimes it's amazing how much better 'art' is than some 'fine art'. A few individuals have a talent that comes from within and when they tap into it great works are created. While others may study all their lives but can't create anything that I would want to have on my walls.

I may not know 'fine art' but I know what I like and to me nothing is finer.

[AcadieLibre]

Fine Art Photography is subjective, purely subjective. Usually it means high quality photographs with very crisp clean photos of things that others will see a high value in. I looked at it this way when I got into it, if I took this photo and was to put it in on the Market would I be able to secure $xxxx amount of dollars for it and would art galleries offer to hang my work without me paying them outside the commission and the galleries would have would have work of others I would define as Fine Art.

I am now booked for the year in various galleries and I sell my work for the price point I went after. Now after all that, see it is all subjective, we all have an idea on what it means. I see a ton of photographers claiming fine art and they may well be, but if no one is willing to buy or show it, well you might look at your photos again. It is all Subjective, there is no real definition.

[Marko]

Don't get me wrong, photojournalism is an art, commercial photography is an art... it is not a fine art because by definition, as the term was created, fine art is something that implies association to classical and traditional academic rules and theories of perception.

diggin this thread.

play - What if Ansel Adams was commissioned to create an advertising campaign for Yosemite? Wouldn't his commercial prints still be fine art?

... fine art is based and forged from study and discipline in a form of art. The capability to produce fine art does not sit in the hands of the unpracticed, I have never seen an example of accidental fine art. Every detail is paid attention to and every detail is planned according to trained principles (even if these principles are formed by your own visual theories). So, no most of us cannot just hop out and shoot a piece that would be considered fine art by the masses, we can call it fine art if we want to....

Some people will jump to the exceptions but I wholeheartedly agree. Very well said - thx for that!

[Greg_Nuspel]

Don't get me wrong, I know the only way I'll ever get better is by studying the great photographers even some of those none artists that turn out the creative commercial photos. It's funny in photography I usually agree with what people consider fine art, but when it comes to other art forms I guess I just don't understand some of it.

[mindforge]

diggin this thread.

play - What if Ansel Adams was commissioned to create an advertising campaign for Yosemite? Wouldn't his commercial prints still be fine art?

It could still be fine art. The Mona Lisa was a commission, so was Michelangelo's Creation of Adam in the Sistene Chapel.

[Marko]

I thought you'd agree.
I hope you don't mind I've added this phrase to my sig.
"... fine art is based and forged from study and discipline in a form of art. The capability to produce fine art does not sit in the hands of the unpracticed.." - mindforge

[casil403]

I think the term Fine Art is just another label that people add to attempt to distinguish one thing from another. I think photography is still a relatively new art form compared to say painters and sculpturists so I have a bit of trouble comparing fine art photography with fine art in other older mediums.

I guess I might consider folks like Ansel Adams and Yousuf Karsh in the realm of fine art photographers.

IMO it is very subjective term....eg...some people consider the 1.8 million dollar painting in the Art Gallery of Canada called "Voice of Fire" to be fine art...I consider it to be 3 stripes of paint.
Oddly enough, I saw a documentary on the artist this past weekend.

Gosh..I think I'm rambling here and not making much sense..I'm just trying to interpret what I think about the term as I type...not sure if it's working.

[Matthew]

I have no idea!

How about and in no particular order:

A print not a file on a computer.
Printed on/with the best materials and using the best techniques possible.
An image that transcends the medium & communicates to the viewer.
An image that makes you see something new each time you look at it.
The intangible - emotional response.


However any photographer interested in learning more should look at www.lenswork.com

Brooks Jensen has a really great podcast as well as the one here from Marko. It is geared toward B&W but it is invaluable information for any photographer wishing to expand on their understanding of the photographic process and mindset.