What exactly is a "Fine Art Photograph" ???

ottor

No longer a newbie, moving up!
Joined
Feb 7, 2009
Messages
935
Reaction score
173
Location
S. Idaho
Can others edit my Photos
Photos OK to edit
Reposting this due to a little bug.... ;)

What constitutes a "Fine Art Print" vs just a damn nice photograph ? - Does it really just come down to terminology and, perhaps, a tiny bit of snobbery, or is there a actual difference in subject/composition/technique ?
 
I've actually wondered this myself. Like the difference between "desk print" and "fine art print" - when talking sales. I've seen websites list their prints to purchase under these terms...?? I think "desk print" is a standard print (of professional quality), but I have no clue on the "fine art print".
 
Probably has something to do with how it's used.

Also probably how it's presented, and where.

Everything else seems like it would be subjective to opinions.
 
at the lab i use, whcc, a fine art print is done on either canvas or velvet and uses an ink jet process instead of a traditional photo process on photo paper....

as you can see, i'm not the best at explainin'.....
 
at the lab i use, whcc, a fine art print is done on either canvas or velvet and uses an ink jet process instead of a traditional photo process on photo paper....

as you can see, i'm not the best at explainin'.....

That is just how that lab prints them. Not necessarily the definition of a fine art print. Fine art prints can be printed on regular photo paper as well and be framed.

So, my "opinion" on what constitutes a fine art print is that it is anything that doesn't have people in it. A beautiful landscape, a beautiful still life photo. Something that can be sold to the general public that has no "significant" meaning to any one individual.
 
I'm not sure if OP and I are talking about the same thing, but what I'm referring to is on other professional photographers websites they list their prints for sale as "fine art print" - and they're portrait photographers. I was thinking that maybe they are mounted....? Or like peeper said printed on something other than paper, but usually the prices I see for these aren't THAT much, so I have no clue.
 
I'm not sure if OP and I are talking about the same thing, but what I'm referring to is on other professional photographers websites they list their prints for sale as "fine art print" - and they're portrait photographers. I was thinking that maybe they are mounted....? Or like peeper said printed on something other than paper, but usually the prices I see for these aren't THAT much, so I have no clue.

I'm more of a portrait photographer as well. But if I were to take a beautiful picture of a flower or a landscape or something that I think someone else would be interested in, I could sell that as a fine art photo. As far as a desk print goes, I would imagine they wouldn't sell them much bigger than a 5x7 where as a fine art photo you are more likely to sell larger sizes.
 
I LOVE the SmartA$$es on this forum.... I was up late one night looking through threads and was laughing so hard I was crying and woke my husband up! heehee
 
What constitutes a "Fine Art Print" vs just a damn nice photograph ?

the wall it's hanging on.

eg.. gallery or family room.

So, the pictures that my mom pays hundreds of dollars for that are hanging on our living room wall aren't fine art prints? They are just "damn nice photographs"? I'll have to go inform her of that...
 
I LOVE the SmartA$$es on this forum.... I was up late one night looking through threads and was laughing so hard I was crying and woke my husband up! heehee


Just wait for the "If it was taken by a Canon - Nice photo. If it was taken by a Nikon - Fine Art!" guy...it's gonna be hysterical. lol
 
One definition of fine art is "a visual art considered to have been created primarily for aesthetic purposes and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness"......lol

I don't think we will ever completely agree on a "definition" for Fine Art. The thought process to me is part of what makes something "Fine Art". The idea created into a photo.
 

Most reactions

Back
Top