With Paul Louis Villani Mark German David Librach Gracey and Mike Finley we are currently working on rewriting the guidelines for the Fine Art of Photography
This work brings questions about the definition of fine art photography. You will find here a few words extracted from a longer text i’ve written somewhere else a few monts ago.
First, i think that with fine art photography, the term making a photograph is more correct than taking a photograph.
A fine art photograph must reflect the photographer vision before featuring the reality. When i’m in the field to make a photo, i know what i want her to look like before looking threw the viewfinder or pressing the shutter release. And that’s not only about framing but also about colors and contrast rendition.
Making the photo just starts by beeing there and looking at the scene with my mind and heart.
When the camera has captured the scene, starts the second part of the making process.
In the digital darkroom, i develop the raw file to produce a digital image looking like the scene i have in mind. When done i make a first print at around 7×10”. Then i check the print, eventualy make some file adjustments and print at 12×18”. If this second print looks OK, i archive and backup the file, if not i continue with file adjustments …
GrayeaglePhoto..., 7 months ago
Your somwhat right about it but define fine art. Is it a photo or a painting or.
richiedean, 7 months ago
Oh yes … total agreement !!!
Gracey, 7 months ago
Fine art can be a photo, painting sculpture, etc. – but in the case that Patrick is referring to it’s for the “Fine Art of Photography” group, so he is referring to photography.
Interpretations, 7 months ago
I agree….if the group is about Fine Art Photography then the images there within should be of a high standard and be a lot more than just a snapshot. There needs to be a personal touch, an element of ART, to the image….but…. thereby hangs the question….what is art? And everyone will have a different answer lol Good luck :D
Mike Finley, 7 months ago
great summary, Patrick!
> what is art? And everyone will have a different answer lol
true … in the harsh reality of the gallery circuit, its decided by the gallery owner, or for larger shows the curator. We’re trying to make the initial selection wide enough, but are considering other options too.
bluerabbit, 7 months ago
In my opinion, fine art, no matter what the medium, has more to do with the seamlessness of the result than the technical gymnastics that went into its creation. Certainly, a professional who has mastered his craft can produce effective works more consistently than a casual talented artist, but, sometimes the weekend shooter produces more stunning and lasting work. Luck is a factor for everyone; the professional simply uses his skills and experience to improve the odds. For me, a fine art photograph must “work”, just as a painting or sculpture does, to provide a window into another, more cohesive level of reality hidden beneath this one. I do not mean that photos should be doctored (though I do enjoy doing this, too). I mean that the composition, texture, color, line, shape etc. (all the elements and principles of art), should work in concert to organize reality into a unified whole.