People frequently ask me what exactly is fine art photography? Before I answer, I usually take a big breath and brace myself to answer the question in the time it takes to ride a few floors in an elevator as they usually expect a quick answer. And, despite my apprehension to answering their question, I have come to realize that most good answers are the ones that are simple and direct. Hence, I begin by clarifying that fine art photography does indeed have objective criteria despite falling in the subjective and vast realm of art.
NIKON D810 + 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO 200, 1/2000, f/5.0
The principal and underlying criteria that distinguishes fine art photography from other fields in photography is that fine art photography is not about digitally recording a subject. Using a camera to document what exactly appears in front of the photographer usually falls in the category of photo-journalism and is frequently found in publications that feature purist images taken with a camera to record the scene as it exactly existed at a precise moment in time.
NIKON D810 + 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, ISO 31, 1/1, f/16.0
Fine art photography, on the other hand, is first and foremost about the artist. It is not about capturing what the camera sees; it is about capturing what the artist sees. In fine art photography, therefore, the artist uses the camera as one more tool to create a work of art. The camera is used to make an art piece that reveals the vision of the artist and makes a statement of that vision rather than documenting the subject before the lens.
NIKON D810 + 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 80, 1/1000, f/5.0
For example, Georgia O’Keeffe’s famous desert paintings are an expression of her vision of the New Mexico landscape; on the other hand, if a dozen photographers with tripods set their settings to the required exposure after light-metering and took an image of the landscape next to Mrs. O’Keeffe’s easel, the results would be images that would have recorded the scene but not have presented the artistic statement required of a fine art photograph. Hence, a fine art photograph must contain elements of control similar to the controls Mrs. O’Keeffe and all artists use in making an art piece. Ansel Adams’ expressed it best in the quote below:
Art implies control of reality, for reality itself possesses no sense of the aesthetic. Photography becomes art when certain controls are applied.
So, a fine art photograph must go beyond the literal representation of a scene or subject. It must deeply express the feelings and vision of the photographer and clearly reveal that it was created by an artist and not by just the camera. It must be clear that it involved an original, deliberate creation and that every aspect of making the photograph in the field and in the photographer’s post-processing digital studio, including the printing, are an individual expression from within the artist. The fine art photographs you see in the article are examples of the works I have recently completed. Please enjoy and share your thoughts, or perhaps examples of your work, in the comments section below.
NIKON D810 + 200-500mm f/5.6 @ 390mm, ISO 250, 1/1250, f/5.6
This guest post was submitted by Brian Rivera Uncapher. For more on Brian, visit his website or check out his Instagram feed.
Very well put across. The subject of what is fine art photography is always a topic for debate amongst photographers.
Many definitions for the term “Fine Art” state the creation of something simply for its beauty without any further purpose. What is beautiful to each of us is different; likely because we all use different life experiences to evaluate what is beautiful. If you want to truly consider having the ability to understand “Fine Art,” you must learn how to remove your prejudice and open up your thoughts such that you can experience the art as closely as the artist did when it was created. This is undoubtedly the most difficult “skill” to achieve around viewing art but once you have it, “Fine Art” becomes demystified and more meaningful. Practice not projecting your motives onto another persons art because it redefine the original meaning by attempting to make it yours, not theirs. This cannot happen if you want to truly understand “Fine Art.” Another way to state this is if you don’t like another persons art, then try to learn what the artist was thinking at the time of its creation, or just walk away but don’t think you are the absolute authority on its value.
Loved ur content..
Brian’s comments and assessment of the definition of Fine Art Photography is the best, most cogent explanation I have seen. I would like to use some of his explanation on my website (credit given).
May I have written permission?
Love the photographs as great examples of the type of digital art to aspire to.
Tell ’em Betty!
Truly agree.
in brief is simply a reflection/feeling of an artist that transform to an image.
Photography is a journey through time a timeless capture in a moment of time, no future, no past, just now within ones inner awareness of ones surroundings to give reason from creativity and expression at a moments time, capturing that within the looking glass is the complementary factor from imagination to transformation.
Does that hold true for a pack of detergent, I wonder?
Betty sticks to the mantra of “point and shoot”.
Only with packets of detergent.
: )
Very good set of comments, far more entertaining than the original article (which was pretty good to be fair)
If sarcasm could be described as an art, and I think it probably could, there are a number of “fine art” pieces here.
If a ” significant” number of people, independently, pay particular attention to a “thing” it becomes a “thing” of interest.
This is why the aspiring “artist” places yet more frames around the “thing” (outside of the canvas or crop) it shows us that we, the viewer, should pay more attention to it. I use the word frames both in the literal and metaphorical sense.
The longer and deeper we look at something, or are “guided” to look at something, the more likely we will start to call it …. a…ar….art.
And this, my lovelies, is why there is “art” in everything but only if you “see” it.
I would like to elevate your comment to “fine writing”.
It is not about staying in front of a single creation, with somebody washing your brain trying to convince you that a piece of crap is a unique work of art. As a matter of fact, my ability to judge the quality of my own humble photos – as for sure happened with every one that posted his ideas here – become better upon the long time I’m photographing and seeing other people’s work, and nobody could honestly deny that. For some reason there is a famous quote saying that your first 20,000 pics (I’m saying a number) are the worst of your production. That means that experience and general education in the art’s world is going to improve your ability to recognize artistic quality. For me it is not wise and not honest to say that there is not difference in the artistic value of different creations, only because our opinion is relative.
The only points I would like to call you up on are your use of the word “better” (competition in art will never leave everybody happy) and your disregard for the thoughts of others.
If, for example, you have studied art and you are moved by a piece of work does that mean someone who doesn’t agree with you is wrong? Not as “educated”? Or, the other way around, if you loved the piece and somebody more “educated” tells you that it is rubbish. Do you “learn” from them and let them take away your love of the piece of work?
It is all about looking deeper. How deeply can you look into a white painted wall before you see something someone else may have missed? And who told you to look at the wall?
“Art” has not rules and if you feel it does I would ask you to try letting go of those rules and see what happens.
I have always just said, that intention to make something “Fine Art” is what makes it so. Whether or not you like something is than just opinion.
But if that is true, even a bad rap would be in the same category of Bach music.
Yes. That is what subjectivity and opinion mean. You may not like it, but that does not change it intention…
So you say that “la Macarena” has the same artistic value than Bach’s Mass in B minor ?
Check and compare:
www.youtube.com/watch…HHq23AXZ1A
To some people, yes. To me? No. But I will not deny both those people intended to create something.
Yes, both those people intended to create something. The ones that composed the Macarena did a very simple and sticky song for the masses, and Bach, a highly qualified musician, composed succesfully a monumental and sofisticated musical work to praise God. Of course, the ambition of Bach work was not necessarily a guarantee of succes, but fortunately he managed to create an extraordinary work of art. I think that not a single educated music critic is going to put the Macarena and Bach’s Mass in B minor in the same league, or is going to give the same artistic value to both them, just because the creators of the Macarena “wanted to do something”, or are ignorant enough to believe that they created a musical monument.
However, you are right about the subjective character of art valoration (we must live with that, specially in modern times); for that reason it is important the culture and preparation of the people that produce, buy, and create art.
I work longtime as a “MMA” trainer. MMA is a combat sport that includes elements of boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, wrestling and judo. My experience of more than 35 years involved in combat sports, makes me suitable to occasionally act as tournament judge, an activity that could be pretty much subjective, specially when a fight is even; but that subjectivity doesn’t mean that the opinion of a last minute MMA aficionado has the same value than the view of a qualified judge, even when sometimes unqualified judges conmitt terrible mistakes. I think that this example is a valid one. Greetings.
So what you’re saying is, only a person with enough experience in a particular art form have the right to judge it as art.
Well, that’s your opinion. I disagree.
Yes, at least an experience seeing art. A man that is not practicing boxing, but who sees and analyzes thousands of fights along time, and had some advice or information of professional sources, could perfectly act as a qualified judge. What is no possible is to get a boxing jugde or art critic without any preparation.
I wanted to say…..”for that reason it is important the culture and preparation of the people that produce, buy, and CRITICIZE art”.
I wanted to say…..”for that reason it is important the culture and preparation of the people that produce, buy, and CRITICIZE art”.
I think Jorge’s makes a good point for the discussion of “What is Fine Art” as opposed to “What is Art”. I would go on to say its like the wine connoisseur vs. the layman wine drinker.
Cultural preparations do play an important role in determining a work of art worthy of a fine art museum. A work of arts uniqueness in the world as well as its cultural significance are hugely important to a museum curator. Anyone can claim that a photograph of a wad of chewed gum stuck to a city trash can is a work of art, but does it have cultural significance and any sense of artistic discipline to ascend it to a museum quality piece. Does the photographers body of work evoke any cultural phenomenon or emotional response in relation to this one photograph.
If any one can claim to be anything to anyone why do we have any kind of conventions or cultural leanings at all?
>>Anyone can claim that a photograph of a wad of chewed gum stuck to a city trash can is a work of art, but does it have cultural significance and any sense of artistic discipline to ascend it to a museum quality piece.<<
The great irving Penn made images of cigarette butts in the gutter.
They were not, however, ordinary, everyday cigarette butts.
They were platinum-palladium cigarette butts.
Haha ?
This is truly uplifting material.
My spirit soared like an angel when the moving lyrics and unforgettable melody washed over me with a power that defies description.
It makes Bach and those other dudes look like pitiful amateurs.
This ladies and gentlemen truly is Art with a capital A.
‘Nough said, bro’.