What is "Fine Art"?

[jovo]

So, David, how does this differ from the old term we used in the past called "Pictorial"? They sure look about the same to me. In fact wouldn't PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHER look better on your business cards than Fine Art Photographer? Maybe not the "In" term anymore but a lot more "classy"......Regards

Pictorial photography is a style rather than overall term referring to images that meet David's criteria. There's a good summary on Wikipedia that covers the typical elements of that approach.

I just avoid the words 'fine art' altogether. My business card says, "John Voss, Photographs". It will only take a second or so for anyone looking at my blog to realize I'm not the guy to hire for their wedding, bar mitzvah, or other event.

 

[tedr1]

I see more and more people setting up web sites (I plan to do one myself some day) to show and sell their photographs. A lot of them describe their work as Fine Art Photography whether it is darkroom produced or from an inkjet printer. Some of these people may be experienced and some not so.

So can someone define "Fine Art Photography" for me please? Does it matter how it is produced? Are we all Fine Art Photographers?

Peter

p.s. Apologies if this is in the wrong forum section.

Fine Art Photography is big and is expensive and is sold in limited editions in art dealer showrooms.

 

[rthollenbeck]

Fine Art - because they know what "Real" art is hence they are Artist...... if someone refers to your work as art- that's only because even a blind squirrel gets a nut every now and then.

 

[Greg Heath]

I know what Fine A** is, so I am guessing that Beauty and Art is in the eye of the beholder ?

 

[removed account4]

the fine arts is a term used to describe the arts taught at a school
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Académie_des_Beaux-Arts
its different than the leisure arts, which involes hanging out

 

[larfe]

This ^^

"Fine art" is just a term to differentiate it from the forms of art such as gymnastics, sailing etc...

 

[Grandpa Ron]

Fine art is defined buy the person doing the describing. Bluegrass and the Bach family are both fine art to various listeners.

 

[KenS]

After my 'official' retirement with some 60+ years under the dark-cloth of which 20+ were spent as a Board Certified 'Registered Biological Photographer. I was 'challenged by my daughter to earn my BFA at the nearby university (as a means of 'staying of of the rocking chair and away from daytime television'). I graduated at the ripe old age of 73. I was somewhat 'surprised' to find out that 'digital craftsmanship took second place to the "concept" and "meaning" when those images were stuck up on the wall for class critique and final 'grade' .It soon became quite obvious that some students would present what they knew the 'type' of images the Professor had preference.
I guess I am allowed can now regard myself as 'artist' and so ... The 'business card' I have handy in my wallet when being 'interviewed by one of the members of the local constabulary (who have, on numerous occasion, stopped and 'demanded' an answer to their "what I am 'doing?/ do you have permission?" question), So.. I hand tem a 'card' which has the word "Photographist" under my name. and I politely inquire as to whether I am in breach of some 'unwritten' law...or ordinance.... most times they hand the card back and 'quietly' walk away. there have been one or two who have asked to ''have a quick 'peek' at the GG under the dark-cloth and quietly exclaimed "wow! that is neat"

Ken

 

[DDTJRAC]

For me, a fine art print is one I like so much I want to hang it on my wall. I want to look at it again and again, and show it to my friends and family.

Me to

 

[DDTJRAC]

Fine art is defined buy the person doing the describing. Bluegrass and the Bach family are both fine art to various listeners.

Yes, good point.

 

[Colin Corneau]

After my 'official' retirement with some 60+ years under the dark-cloth of which 20+ were spent as a Board Certified 'Registered Biological Photographer. I was 'challenged by my daughter to earn my BFA at the nearby university (as a means of 'staying of of the rocking chair and away from daytime television'). I graduated at the ripe old age of 73. I was somewhat 'surprised' to find out that 'digital craftsmanship took second place to the "concept" and "meaning" when those images were stuck up on the wall for class critique and final 'grade' .It soon became quite obvious that some students would present what they knew the 'type' of images the Professor had preference.
I guess I am allowed can now regard myself as 'artist' and so ... The 'business card' I have handy in my wallet when being 'interviewed by one of the members of the local constabulary (who have, on numerous occasion, stopped and 'demanded' an answer to their "what I am 'doing?/ do you have permission?" question), So.. I hand tem a 'card' which has the word "Photographist" under my name. and I politely inquire as to whether I am in breach of some 'unwritten' law...or ordinance.... most times they hand the card back and 'quietly' walk away. there have been one or two who have asked to ''have a quick 'peek' at the GG under the dark-cloth and quietly exclaimed "wow! that is neat"

Ken

This is the sort of thing that reminds me our current society is mostly a piece of steaming dog turd, and that people 50+ years ago really were living more civilized, humane, real existences.
I like this response - most people now would bellow their self-righteous outrage on social media. I know which I prefer...

 

[Arklatexian]

Fine art is defined buy the person doing the describing. Bluegrass and the Bach family are both fine art to various listeners.

This doesn't really answer the question but most photographers that I have known who set themselves up as "Fine Art" photographers, spent more getting business cards printed than they ever made selling pictures. Of course I don't live in a large city where things might be different but I doubt it. In spite of what people say, I find that people who buy pictures buy them because they like them, not because the photographer calls him/her selves; "Fine Art Photographers". But nowadays, with egos so important, maybe I am wrong............Not that any of us have overactive egos......Regards!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

"So can someone define "Fine Art Photography" for me please?"

Can't be done.

highly aesthetic photographs prepared with the utmost care and prepared and presented on the best materials(paper stock, mounting boards etc.).worthy of being accepted by galleries, museums and collectors.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

highly aesthetic photographs prepared with the utmost care and prepared and presented on the best materials(paper stock, mounting boards etc.).worthy of being accepted by galleries, museums and collectors.

+1
Additionally, mastery of technical concepts and knowledge of the subject, whether it be portraiture (or its many derivatives), landscape (especially) of mixed-style (multiexposure/multiprocess).

 

[removed account4]

what about commerical work ...
i know some photojournalistic imagery
over the years has been hailed as "fine art photography"
or is it only "fine art photography" AFTER it has served its purpose
as a commerical illustration,vogue cover, glad-hand-handshake, wartime editorial,
and/or "wartime editorial photograph that was found/ discovered to be photoshopped/HDR'd overly manipulated
and later called a 'composite image' " or stolen work like the marlboro man or images gathered from instagram printed and presented
at a gallery ( currated by someone else ), and i haven't even mentioned works by the russian constructavists or people like man ray or miroslav tichy )
... some of these things are considered "fine art photography" and they do not fall into the restrictive categories presented in this thread ...

 

[RalphLambrecht]

what about commerical work ...
i know some photojournalistic imagery
over the years has been hailed as "fine art photography"
or is it only "fine art photography" AFTER it has served its purpose
as a commerical illustration,vogue cover, glad-hand-handshake, wartime editorial,
and/or "wartime editorial photograph that was found/ discovered to be photoshopped/HDR'd overly manipulated
and later called a 'composite image' " or stolen work like the marlboro man or images gathered from instagram printed and presented
at a gallery ( currated by someone else ), and i haven't even mentioned works by the russian constructavists or people like man ray or itchy )
... some of these things are considered "fine art photography" and they do not fall into the restrictive categories presented in this thread ...

You can't chrome-plate a turt!

 

[removed account4]

You can't chrome-plate a turt!

Maybe you haven’ t but plenty are sold for big bucks!

 

[faberryman]

Does it really matter how you define it?. Will your definition have any effect on whether a gallery which shows photography will show your work?

 

[Ian Grant]

You can't chrome-plate a turt!

You can make a Lith print of it

Ian

 

[AgX]

highly aesthetic photographs prepared with the utmost care and prepared and presented on the best materials(paper stock, mounting boards etc.).worthy of being accepted by galleries, museums and collectors.

Here in Germany the term is not even used.

 

[blockend]

highly aesthetic photographs prepared with the utmost care and prepared and presented on the best materials(paper stock, mounting boards etc.).worthy of being accepted by galleries, museums and collectors.

Galleries that hang Miroslav Tichy's work would disagree:

 

[Berkeley Mike]

Fine Art is certainly not limited to film.

 

[btaylor]

Fine Art is certainly not limited to film.

Uh, yea. In fact the inclusion of photography in that term is pretty recent.

 

[Arthurwg]

I love Tichy's work. He certainly was an "artist." And BTW, he did go to art school.

Back in the day they used to say, "The Art is the Idea."

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Wiki article on Fine Art.
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/what-is-fine-art.22190/page-10#post-2111456

Fine art is mainly aesthetic rather than applied and in the case of photography present the artist's creative vision.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine_art#Photography