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

[KmH]

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

Whatever you want it to be, or whatever you can convince a buyer is a "fine art photograph". That process of convincing, is called 'salemanship'.

 

[quiddity]

"Fine art photography refers to photographs that are created in accordance with the creative vision of the photographer as artist. Fine art photography stands in contrast to photojournalism (which provides visual support for news stories, mainly in the print media) and commercial photography (the primary focus of which is to advertise products or services)."

So I guess the person taking the photo gets to stamp it fine art

 

[UUilliam]

Well...
I was always sure fine art ment that only IMPORTANT details (like edges) were visible and everything else was blacked out (kinda like side lit nude images.)

but during my Darkroom course, we had to present 2 fine art prints, which according to my tutor, simply ment "adding a tone to it".
so if you make a print sepia, it is then Fine art.

 

[JeffieLove]

Well...
I was always sure fine art ment that only IMPORTANT details (like edges) were visible and everything else was blacked out (kinda like side lit nude images.)

but during my Darkroom course, we had to present 2 fine art prints, which according to my tutor, simply ment "adding a tone to it".
so if you make a print sepia, it is then Fine art.

Then by that definition, this is fine art.

 

[memento]

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...

there's a HUGE difference between a Family room wall and a Living room wall...

 

[mishele]

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

Whatever you want it to be, or whatever you can convince a buyer is a "fine art photograph". That process of convincing, is called 'salemanship'.

I completely agree w/ this...lol It's a selling point! Label something "fine art" and the price tag just went up big $$$$$'s

 

[JeffieLove]

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...

there's a HUGE difference between a Family room wall and a Living room wall...

We have never really differentiated between a family room and living room... so maybe my living room is the same as what you consider a family room... A living room is somewhere that the family "lives" together and does every day things together... At least that's how I see it.

 

[MichiganFarts]

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

Whatever you want it to be, or whatever you can convince a buyer is a "fine art photograph". That process of convincing, is called 'salemanship'.

I completely agree w/ this...lol It's a selling point! Label something "fine art" and the price tag just went up big $$$$$'s

Or, on the other side of things...it's just a catchword for the industry, like the term "gourmet" is to the food industry. I can get gourmet ketchup cheaper than I can Heinz .

 

[JeffieLove]

Whatever you want it to be, or whatever you can convince a buyer is a "fine art photograph". That process of convincing, is called 'salemanship'.

I completely agree w/ this...lol It's a selling point! Label something "fine art" and the price tag just went up big $$$$$'s

Or, on the other side of things...it's just a catchword for the industry, like the term "gourmet" is to the food industry. I can get gourmet ketchup cheaper than I can Heinz .

Haha!!! yes!!! Doesn't McDonalds use gourmet ketchup??? lol

 

[mishele]

I wouldn't use non-gourmet ketchup....would you?!!

 

[memento]

We have never really differentiated between a family room and living room... so maybe my living room is the same as what you consider a family room... A living room is somewhere that the family "lives" together and does every day things together... At least that's how I see it.

then yes, you need to go inform your mom that she paid hundreds of dollars for some damn nice photographs and not fine art...

 

[MichiganFarts]

then yes, you need to go inform your mom that she paid hundreds of dollars for some damn nice photographs and not fine art...

What if I take the picture you have hanging in your family room...and hang it in my bathroom?

 

[memento]

then it becomes ****y art...

 

[GeneralBenson]

Wiki:

Fine art or the fine arts describes an art form developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application.

So for pure enjoyment as it's primary objective.

I think this is the simplest and most accurate answer so far.

Other than that, I think it's just a term that gets used to make something sound more valuable. The 'gourmet' example is perfect. Similar to the whole rose by any other name concept, if you took the Mona Lisa, and stop referring to it as fine art, would it be any less of a painting? It's just a term...

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Fine art, much like the much simpler form of the word "art" is always going to be subjective. However, how it is displayed/presented, can sway most peoples perception. Also, there are different papers (like rag paper) often used in fine art printing. You most likely would not use these papers for standard run of the mill stuff like family portraits. I also think a BIG thing that seperates fine art, is an attempt to evoke some sort of an emotional response from the viewer. Whether it is loneliness, happiness, love, amazement etc. A cool shot of a ferrari parked on a black reflective surface doesnt really scream fine art to me, because I see no emotional attachment. While you may be able to frame it and mount it as ART, in my own personal view, it would not even remotely be "fine art"