Introduction to Fine Art Photography

Introduction to Fine Art Photography

What is fine art photography? Is a picture of your aunt at last year's reunion considered fine art photography? I am sure it is to you but would a juried exhibit of this image be considered first rate and fine art? Is it subjective or are there certain rules or measurements that are followed by professional photographers that deem one image fine art and the next only hobby material?

Well, let's take the example of the photo of Aunt Sue. You took the image with a simple point and shoot camera. It was outdoors at the picnic, and she was eating an apple pie. You think it is special and love it. It captures the mood of the reunion, it captures her humor and robust appetite. It is a special moment in time. To YOU this is definitely fine art. It is something that you will keep forever and frame and put on your wall. In other words it is worth something to you. It is YOUR fine art piece.

Okay now let's take a look at some of the criteria that fine art photographers use when judging juried exhibits.

• Lighting. Does the image correctly present with the lighting conditions at the time of capture. If the image is either too dark or too light, it won't translate into a wonderful fine art photo.
• Cropping. Is the image cropped correctly. Not too closely but not to wide to lose interest for the viewer.
• Print Quality. Is the image printed on professional photo paper and matted and framed in a professional manner.
• White Balance. In other words, are whites truly white and blacks crisp and clean. You don't want true whites looking grey or bluish in tone. Getting the colors to correctly display is crucial to a top rated image.
• Sharpness. Is the image in focus where it needs to be and blurred where it is called for? Professional photographers know how to manipulate a picture to get the right "depth of field" keeping the object of interest in focus while blurring let's say a background that would be distracting.
• Telling a story. Every picture tells a story. Is the image something that provokes thought and discussion. Is there mystery in it. Can people interpret the image in different ways? The longer people ponder over an image and the more buzz that is generated over it, the better it is perceived as an object of art.
• Unique. Is it something that no one really has done before or depicted in quite the same way, or is it a picture that has been over done.

Finally the image has to have a certain "unknown" magic to it. Yes magic. Something that makes a person not forget it. Not want to move onto something else. And if a photographer creates consistant magic in their work, they are the few great ones that will be immortal.

Check out these famous photographers to wet your appetite on different forms of photography.

Ansel Adams

Richard Avedon

Margaret Bourke-White

Lastly, feel free to visit my fine art photos. I hope you feel my magic in them.