What Makes Photography Fine Art
This past Monday, December 13, 2010, I was interviewed by Terry Joy on KUNR Radio about my photography. I am always a little on edge when I'm going to be interviewed because you never know what you will be asked and if you are going to stumble over your words. One of his questions was what sets my photography apart from others and I have been thinking about that since the interview, so I decided to incorporate my thoughts in this week's blog post.
When I decided to pursue photography seriously, there was no doubt that the genre of fine art photography was where I wanted to put my energy. And shortly after making this decision, my photographs were juried and I was accepted in one of the largest art shows in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Summerlin Celebration of the Arts. So what actually determines if a photograph is fine art?
"Sand Totem" was my very first enlarged print.
Going back through the evolution of photography, it took a long time to be recognized by the art world and no longer considered the "unwanted step child". In the early days, people thought that mechanics was involved with the camera in making the photography, which did not entail much of a creative process. The photograph was created when light entered a mechanical box, exposing a negative. The negative was then developed with chemicals in a dark room. Since it was a dark room, most people were unaware of the printing process. Like other mediums of art, the camera did not require many fine motor skills or much hand-eye coordination.
In 1889, photographer Peter Henry Emerson founded a fine art photography movement that he entitled "Naturalistic Photography". Emerson's belief was that if a photograph brought aesthetic pleasure to the viewer, it was art. A short time later around 1892, pictorial photography became more accepted by people, thus paving the narrow path of photography as a medium in the art world.
Around 1919, a young man named Ansel Adams was in training to become a concert pianist. However after discovering Yosemite National Park with his Kodak Brownie box camera, he began a sojourn that would dedicate his life to pursuing fine art photography and preserving the wonders of the natural world.
So what is it that makes a photograph fine art? In my opinion, to become a fine art photograph, the image must be created for its aesthetic value and judged for its beauty or meaningfulness. It should be uplifting and thought provoking. However, there is a saying that art does not have to be nice.
The image should be created as technically perfect as possible with sharp focus, strong subject or story line and accurate color saturation. The resolution of the photograph should be high enough for the image to be enlarged to at least 16x20 inches. The quality of the print material is very important and should be archival with inks that are stable so that the image will not fade beyond acceptable levels for a number of years. And along this line also is the backing board and mounting tape. Cardboard, various paper products and gummed tape will give off gases that eventually cause the print to fade. Furthermore, it is almost impossible to remove the gum when it becomes attached to a print.
Watchman's Moon, Zion, Utah
The old adage that art is in the eye of the beholder goes without saying, however it is my belief that no matter what the medium of art it should be created with precision and style. Photography has come a long way for recognition in the fine art world. And I would recommend to anyone entertaining the idea of becoming a photographic artist to first study the masters in the field, the Ansel Adams, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Anne Geddes, Dorothea Lange, Edward Curtis and any one else that you find both stimulating and inspiring.
What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.
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Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.
"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"
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