Digital BW, The Print

From: "Steadman Uhlich" <steadmanuhlich@...>
To: <piezography3000@yahoogroups.com>;
<DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 10:53 PM
Subject: [Digital BW] Take this Test for Fun: Is it Fine Art or is it Spam?



(snip)

Steadman,

>
>                  THE STRAW MAN
>
> 1.  A Fine Art Portrait must use the finest materials?

Nope.
>
> 2.  A Fine Art Portrait looks like it took more than 5 minutes to make...

Nope.
>
> 3.  A Fine Art Portrait looks like the studio doesn't have cute props or
feathered angel wings...

Likely but not necessarily (Peter Joel Witkin)
>
> 4.  A Fine Art Portrait looks like the subject has had a bad day (scowling
at the camera)...

No.
>
> 5. A Fine Art Portrait looks like the subject is bored (no smiles here Mr.
Photographer)...

No.
>
> 6.  A Fine Art Portrait looks like it is "expensive"....

No.
>
> 7.  A Fine Art Portrait is definitely/always/must be in glorious Black &
White....
But of course! <<G>> (But not really!)
>
> 8.  A Fine Art Portrait is always of someone...else.

Nope

I think that it is the fact that the photograph speaks to the viewer. The
louder it talks the finer the art. What it says may not actually be true
about the person but it must evoke a reaction in the viewer. This of course
is highly variable from viewer to viewer.

Like your portrait of the lady who was rather uncomfortable about having
here picture taken. You captured that tension in her face and added
compositional tension by framing off center.

This is pretty much independent of the materials, setting, expressions, etc.

Look at Imogen Cunningham, Edward Weston, or currently Shelby Adams and
Sally Mann.

I think anything that could be said about art or "fine art" would apply to a
"fine art portrait".

Martin Wesley