What is "Fine Art"?

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Tichy was a recluse. When they showed his work in a gallery, it was filthy rubbish. How does someone's work turn from worthless to fine art?
https://www.messynessychic.com/2013...ng-tom-photographer-and-his-cardboard-camera/

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Perhaps the term "Fine Art" photography is utterly misleading then - it should be "High Craft" Photography instead, as it is usually applied to the work of disciples of St. Ansel and St. Weston who were nothing if not consummate craftsmen and consummate self-promoters.

 

[trondareo]

Perhaps the term "Fine Art" photography is utterly misleading then - it should be "High Craft" Photography instead, as it is usually applied to the work of disciples of St. Ansel and St. Weston who were nothing if not consummate craftsmen and consummate self-promoters.

You have it!
High Craft it is.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Tichy was a recluse. When they showed his work in a gallery, it was filthy rubbish. How does someone's work turn from worthless to fine art?
https://www.messynessychic.com/2013...ng-tom-photographer-and-his-cardboard-camera/

Despite his slothfulness, he apparently understood marketing. From the article:
Tichý famously once said, “First of all, you have to have a bad camera”, and, “If you want to be famous, you must do something more badly than anybody in the entire world.”

 

[chip j]

FINE ART is SIGNIFICANT FORM.

 

[roseupshur]

Art is a way to express yourself, show your tastes and demonstrate a magnificent vision of the world! But what if the end of inspiration for new ideas? I also asked this question until I found a wonderful site Texelprintstore. I ordered a multi panel wall art and it brought me back to life! Now every day a bright head and pure thoughts. This is a special place, a storehouse for new ideas. Everyone needs something special)

 

[freecitizen]

" Fine Art " is whatever you can get away with ...............

 

[Grandpa Ron]

With Fine Art, beauty is definitely in the eye of the holder. A picture may create a breathtaking experience for one person or an audible gasp of head shaking disbelief for another.

 

[KenS]

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.

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.

Peter,
After many years employment as a Board certified "Registered Biological Photographer" in a Government Research Centre, My PhD-type daughter 'challenged me' to 'go to the local University and "Do (read 'earn') my 'part time' BFA (in 'Photography) just as the Fine Arts department had closed all but one of their 'wet darkrooms and 'gone all digital' but also had to 'pass' Painting, Art History, History of Photography Etc.) as a means of 'staying out of the rocking chair and away from daytime television. I graduated at the grand old age of 74. I found it 'somewhat' strange to be required to provide a 'Statement of Intent' (along with the context and 'meaning' of each of the images I had to 'posted' on the wall for 'grade'. I got the impression that the student's' "Statement of Intent" and "Context were more important than the 'quality' of final product 'hung on the wall', 'discussed' and 'defending ' the "how"... and a little bit of the "why" all my final images were made using the 'Archaic Photographic Print" processes

Had I known of the 'severity' of the Required verbal and written support of the "Why" and "What" I was 'producing' before-hand I might have just stayed at home BUT.. I had the opportunity to 'show' my class-mates that 'analogue' (read silver-gelatin) photography was not as 'dead' as the faculty would have them believe.

Ken

 

[RalphLambrecht]

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.

it surely matters how it is produced. Fine-Art is art produced with best-in-class technique and from the finest materials.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

With Fine Art, beauty is definitely in the eye of the holder. A picture may create a breathtaking experience for one person or an audible gasp of head shaking disbelief for another.

beauty is only in the eye of the beerholder;hence the name 'midnight goddess'

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Fine art isn’t necessarily pretty but should be culturally relevant. What advances to fine art is challenging assumptions regarding what is beautiful, what materials can an artist use, venue where it’s displayed and it’s monetary value.

 

[blockend]

Fine insists that a work has only a passing acquaintance with craft skills.

 

[Arklatexian]

Perhaps the term "Fine Art" photography is utterly misleading then - it should be "High Craft" Photography instead, as it is usually applied to the work of disciples of St. Ansel and St. Weston who were nothing if not consummate craftsmen and consummate self-promoters.

"What is Fine Art Photography"? I don't know which words to use to answer your question. but I can darn sure recommend a photographer whose work, I definitely consider "Fine Art". His name is Craig Varjabedian and I recommend you look at his web-site and others and you will "see" what it is. What is it they say about a picture being worth many words? Oh and another that I always recommend was named Ansel Adams!..........Regards!

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

"What is Fine Art Photography"? I don't know which words to use to answer your question. but I can darn sure recommend a photographer whose work, I definitely consider "Fine Art". His name is Craig Varjabedian and I recommend you look at his web-site and others and you will "see" what it is. What is it they say about a picture being worth many words? Oh and another that I always recommend was named Ansel Adams!..........Regards!

An Ansel Adams landscape is a piece of high craft - his workmanship is second to none. That is not in doubt. Viewing an Ansel Adams landscape will no doubt be an impressive experience, and invite you to linger over the details for some time. But I don't find them compelling on the level of wanting to keep going back to them. Maybe it's because they're no longer fresh, and have been so overused that I can see one on a mug, a calendar, a poster, a greeting card, recognize it, and move on. I'm more likely to stop and look again at Diane Arbus' photo of the boy with the grenade even though I've seen it many times before.

 

[Ariston]

Confucious says, "To find the answer, you must simplify the question:"

Fine art...
Fineart...
Finart...
Fiart...
Fart.

 

[Vaughn]

An Ansel Adams landscape is a piece of high craft...

The stories that landscapes tell tend to be pretty short, and a connection to the landscape and the light reflecting off of it helps one to fill out those stories and make the re-readings enjoyable. And some folks relate better to the stories behind the people in images, and find those to be the more enjoyable read.

But does ones personal preference determine if something is "Art" or not?

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

An Ansel Adams landscape is a piece of high craft - his workmanship is second to none. That is not in doubt. Viewing an Ansel Adams landscape will no doubt be an impressive experience, and invite you to linger over the details for some time. But I don't find them compelling on the level of wanting to keep going back to them. Maybe it's because they're no longer fresh, and have been so overused that I can see one on a mug, a calendar, a poster, a greeting card, recognize it, and move on. I'm more likely to stop and look again at Diane Arbus' photo of the boy with the grenade even though I've seen it many times before.

Adams’ work was quite radical when f64 started in a time of Pictorialism. What seems radical today can be the norm in the future. Adams challenged the norm.

 

[KenS]

Adams’ work was quite radical when f64 started in a time of Pictorialism. What seems radical today can be the norm in the future. Adams challenged the norm.

Tom..
After a long career in a Govt. Biological Research 'i'nstitute as a "pro" (read Board Certified by written and practical 'must do must pass subject of given AND 'optional subject matter' to 'pass as a 'qualified Registered Biological Photographer), my daughter 'challenged me to 'go and get (earn) my BFA at the nearby university where I found that' meaning and concept' of what I hung on the wall for 'course 'grade') were more 'important' than showing you had acquired a modicum of acquired craftsmanship..
It was almost enough the drive an old man to 'drink'. That being said.. being both retired and over 65 years of age it was 'free' of $$$$ from my pocket, since the Provincial Government paid all of the 'fees' (but not 'must have' books and materials)

Ken

 

[rick shaw]

it surely matters how it is produced. Fine-Art is art produced with best-in-class technique and from the finest materials.

+1000. For example, as a real fine art photographer I only use OEM pixels sourced directly from Nikon.

The craft is getting those pixels to align with absolute precision, hence producing pixel perfect fine art photography.

 

[macfred]

Fine Art ?

 

[rick shaw]

Image under the heading: Where to Buy Fine Art Prints

 

[JBrunner]

It seems to me there are two facets of art, the act of creation, and the act of experience. They might revolve around the same singularity, but have utterly different reasons, meanings, and purpose. Defined, "fine art" is usually considered art that carries a visual aesthetic, as opposed to "art" which includes music, theater, performance art, literature, and any other way the vast expressions by which artists satisfy whatever reason they feel the need to create. There is no pretention, no requirement for relevance or craft involved. The phrase simply denotes visually oriented art.

Craft has nothing to do with art. It might be part of creating art and fine art, but it might also be part of creating a mundane utilitarian object or display. For the artist, craft is a means to an end. Setting type isn't writing a book, although a typesetter might still aspire to create art with their typesetting. If an artist sets out to create art, and in their own mind manages to succeed in the expression, they have created art (or fine art, as the case may be) and someone else's subjective view (i.e. "that's not art") is only valid if the artist accepts it. There is plenty of art, particularly photography (fine art by definition), that is art to an audience of one. If someone creates or "crafts" something for a purpose other than art (or fine art) and an observer sees it as art, it is art, even if only to that person. Art can be popular and considered by many to be art, or it can be completely disregarded by all but the artist or an observer (listener, feeler, whatever), or it can fall anywhere in-between. If think something is art and you don't, or visa-versa, we are both right. Because art is completely and utterly subjective in this manner, attempts to define art by litmus ("this is art, that is not") will always fail, except for personally, where they are unerringly correct.

Art is in the intent of the creator or the eye of the beholder, or both.


That's my two cents. YMMV

 

[Grandpa Ron]

Wow 12 pages, I guess by now we know that there are many definitions to "Fine Art".

My definition of "Fine Art" is; product that sells and is held in high esteem in its intended market place.

Craftsmanship may or may not have much to do with it.

 

[Luis Filipe]

Art only is fine.