When it comes to photography I love doing it all: Working for big-wig clients who want something very specific done that they are unable to create themselves. Getting a client who is willing to toss me complete creative control. Working with Models and doing consumer level portrait work. It all appeals to me!! But when I get a chance to shoot for myself I invest my time in personal projects, usually conceptual in nature, that send a message or express a feeling or idea I have that I just can't seem to put into words. I call this work "Fine Art Photography" When asked what it is.. other than "Personnel Project", (which sometimes doesn't fit the circumstance in which the project is being spoken about) "Fine Art" seems to be the only other term there is for work of such a nature.
I've never liked the term Fine Art.. It often doesn't seem like the proper description for what I am creating with photography.. yet it's become such a commonly used word in the photography world that I have begun to identify my (as well as other photographers) work with it.
So what makes a photograph "Fine Art"? Can a personal project of mine that is very commercially oriented or a project I make specifically to be displayed on social media be considered "Fine Art" with the same confidence as a project made for a formal art show or book? What is "Fine Art" anyways?
I'm not really sure if this is gonna help, but when I have to think of photography in terms of definitions, I tend to think of it in 1 of 3 categories. While this may be rather obvious, first and foremost you have the "snap shot". In my opinion, these are images that are either shot by folks who are inexperienced, or even people who may be well seasoned professionals who are simply on "vacation" or just a family outing. Such images can range from truly elaborate and beautiful to "why didn't you delete that while it was still in the camera?" (LOL). As far as I'm concerned, there's NOTHING wrong with snapshots...they often make for some of the best memories and keepsakes. That said, most of the time...with my own work at least...I don't consider snapshots as anything I'd go to the bother of trying to frame either. -If- they get printed, the prints usually end up stuffed in a desk drawer to be pulled out when family or friends come over for holidays.
Once you move beyond the snap shot, I think of photography in terms of either photojournalism or art. To me these are two rather distinct disciplines. The photojournalist for example, has a dedication to "the truth". The purpose of their image is to truthfully represent an event. That's not to say that photojournalism can't be done with a degree of artistic flair...if anything that's perhaps what sets many photojournalists apart as being worthy of mention. That's not however the primary goal of a photojournalist (at least it shouldn't be). On a personal level, I do in fact have the utmost respect for photojournalism...my father worked for a major Cleveland newspaper for over 40 years, so journalism as a whole is something I grew up with. That said, it's not what I do personally. I'm an artist. While I don't typically refine that definition any more than that, when I have to narrow it down, I'm a
digital artist...I use digital cameras and a digital darkroom to "create" my images (I also do extensive work in Photoshop and Illustrator and I also do 3D modeling and animation and some degree of video work...I'm a musician too). Sometimes those images are fairly representative of what came off the camera, sometimes they may be rather extensive manipulations or composites. My "goal" as a digital artist, be it photography, vector images or even 3d animations, isn't specifically a matter of trying to convey any sense of the truth, it's simply to create interesting, if not beautiful or evocative images that
hopefully others will enjoy. For myself, the computer (and monitor, printer, etc) are tools that I use in conjunction with the camera.
With that all said, I do try very hard to avoid getting caught up in the specifics of definitions or labels. Once you apply a label to yourself, you risk exposure to stereotypes. For example, as a person who's also an art lover and a rather perpetual student of art history, I tend to
cringe when I hear the term "contemporary art". For myself, that term evokes immediate images of a person who spent months and months, painting a tiny black dot in the center of a 40' x 50' canvas...then named the so-called work something ridiculous, like "Man's Aberrational Perception of His Own Disdain for Personality"...seriously...gimme a break! Then of course there's people like Jackson Pollak...no...really...maybe I should try selling a paint drop cloth or two at an exhibition! LOL! Obviously not
all contemporary art is like this, but the term alone does tend to evoke a certain preconception.
I will say that if people choose to label my own work with such definitions...so be it. If someone were to refer to my work as "fine art", whether it's my photography or my vector work, I can't really say I have much opinion about it either way. I've done a number of 3d animations based on the work of Leonardo da Vinci, so I suspect that work could be seen in such a context. I would not however define myself personally with such perimeters. I'm a digital artist...and that really is about as much thought as I put into it. I would like to believe that my work stands well enough on it's own and that the person who created the work doesn't really need such definitions.
So with that, my suggestion is simply this; if you're comfortable with terms such as "fine art photographer" (or perhaps even plan to use such terms as some form of marketing device), then enjoy it for what it is. Otherwise, personally at least, I really just wouldn't sweat it. After all, "a rose by any other name...".
Just my own personal opinions...please use them only for what you feel they are worth to you.
For me, fine art photography is any photograph taken for any purpose other than pure documentation. Fine art is the culmination of all of the decisions the artist has made along the way including how much or how little control they take over the process each step of the way.
