Photography as an Artform
Fine-art photography is photography created from the point of view of the artist, using photography as a medium for creative artistic expression. The goal of fine-art photography is the same as any fine art, it is to express an idea, a message, or an emotion.
It took time for people to accept photographers as Fine Art Artists. Artists like Diane Arbus, whose art depicts a diverse, compelling portrait of humanity. Barbara Kruger, who juxtaposed images with written statements. Ansel Adams known for his nature photographs, and a host of other Fine Art Photographers that now finally receive the respect that is due.
Sadly, why some people don’t look at photography as art is because they think the user has little influence on the end product and think the camera does all the work. This may be influenced by people's daily exposure to photography via phone cameras and the ease of “point and shoot.’ But a snapshot is not fine art photography.
Photographic art goes beyond just capturing an image in front of the camera. They are well constructed and crafted and have some form of vision to express a thought. The photograph is the medium the artist uses as a tool to convey the artist’s vision. It’s a process of creating a new idea and composing a different world from the photograph.
Hillsborough Gallery of Arts is fortunate to have two Fine Art Photographers exhibiting as members of the gallery, Catharine Carter and Eric Saunders. They each bring their own visions and emotions to their art.
In summary, it’s the artist’s considerable control over the image created used to express their vision that makes it an art form.
“A fine art photograph is the dream, not the reality that triggered it.”
—Submitted by Jude Lobe