Digital BW, The Print

A portrait's art holds
silence between heartbeats it's
time held up to see.

The camera keeps
silence shadows secrets dreams
fleeting memories.

t

> From: "Steadman Uhlich" <steadmanuhlich@...>
> Reply-To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 00:53:49 -0500
> To: <piezography3000@yahoogroups.com>,
> <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [Digital BW] Take this Test for Fun:  Is it Fine Art or is it Spam?
> 
> Greetings Fellow Digital PrintMakers  (and PiezoHeads)!  (This is
> cross-pollinated on two lists)
> 
> After so much discussion of the finer points of dust, clogs, ink, scanning
> software and other mundane technical stuff, I think it is time we shift gears
> into the upper atmosphere where the discussion of "high art" takes place.
> Recently there has been fascinating discussion of Gallery Demands, Portfolios
> and Exhibitions. 
> 
> Not everyone on these lists is a "fine art photographer" obviously as some
> people buy into the whole digital printing world to just print some snaps of
> the grandkids...and there is nothing wrong with that.
> 
> But as so many of us aspire to raise our images to the highest quality level
> we can...and perhaps selling price too....we might all be lumped together as
> "fine art digital printmakers."
> 
> Now enough of the soft and easy get you in the mood wordy stuff...
> 
> Here is the real question:  What makes a "Fine Art Portrait"....ahem...."fine
> art?"
> 
> What?  Don't you know?
> 
> Seriously, I was looking over some commercial photography today and saw many
> other "portraits" of all types (in Vanity Fair for instance) and even in the
> newspaper.  
> 
> What I would like to throw out to the list(s) is an opportunity to spout off
> on the merits of a "fine art" portrait versus your plain old everyday run of
> the mill portrait...you know the kind...the ones that fill our own photo
> albums and chronicle our own childhoods and those of our children and possibly
> grandchildren. 
> 
> I am curious what you all think about this.   I ask this because I see such a
> wide range of "portraits" and sometimes there are a few that really stick out
> and grab me.  Perhaps that is what makes me think "fine art."  Something
> "sticky" about the shot.
> 
> Just to get you guys and gals started, I will throw in a few dastardly
> opinions...sort of a straw man that you can take apart...or use as a launching
> pad for your own questionable opinions. :  So here is your chance to wax
> poetic (loved those haikus), hyper-critical, knowitall, or simply amused (hope
> someone out there smiles)...or simply spout off the stuff you learned in
> art/photography school or by reading a book by Ansel or some other more
> obscure wag.  Whatever your personal spin, see if you can agree or disagree
> with the following Straw Man (not burning man) and perhaps even add a few
> points of your own.  I hope you enjoy the "test."
> 
> THE STRAW MAN
> 
> 1.  A Fine Art Portrait must use the finest materials?
> 
> 2.  A Fine Art Portrait looks like it took more than 5 minutes to make...
> 
> 3.  A Fine Art Portrait looks like the studio doesn't have cute props or
> feathered angel wings...
> 
> 4.  A Fine Art Portrait looks like the subject has had a bad day (scowling at
> the camera)...
> 
> 5. A Fine Art Portrait looks like the subject is bored (no smiles here Mr.
> Photographer)...
> 
> 6.  A Fine Art Portrait looks like it is "expensive"....
> 
> 7.  A Fine Art Portrait is definitely/always/must be in glorious Black &
> White....
> 
> 8.  A Fine Art Portrait is always of someone...else.
> 
> Anyway, that should get you started...
> 
> Steadman  (elipsis man)
> 
> Tune in tomorrow for the Flip Side..."What About Low Art Portraits"...is it
> art or spam?  (wink)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
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