Posts Tagged ‘fine art photography’

Search For Fine Art Photography As A Opposition With Commercial Photography

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

All the photos meant to express and fulfill an artist’s creative vision are referred to as fine art photography. Fine art photography is the exact opposite of photojournalism and commercial photography. You have a very clear objective with commercial pics: to sell a service or product. Then, photojournalism is essential for any type of magazine that uses documentaries. None of these contexts apply to fine art photography.

There are several genres that define fine art photography and they include natural landscapes, portraits and nudes. At present, there are more fine art photography exhibitions organized than ever before. Prints and special frames are normally used for such occasions. There are even fine art photography boards without glass for display in major art galleries. The size of prints differs depending on the purpose and the subject of the photo. We certainly can’t deny the beauty of fine art photography.

The photographer’s vision is often completed by lighting and staging the photos in unique artistic presentations. Moreover, things have changed a lot with the introduction of full spectrum photography thanks to digital technologies and highly advanced cameras. The artist can now achieve so many effects simply by filtering ultraviolet light as well as visible light and infrared. Just as the photo-shooting technologies improve, so does printing, offering so many options to artistic photographers.

Fine art photography sells in auction rooms every year, and the prices are considerable. The thriving collectors market takes most of the photos available for sale, because the general public still does not purchase fine art photography as they purchase prints of paintings. Moreover, some of the most beautiful photos of the century can now be viewed in museum galleries and in famous hallways. This is what happens at trades, fashion shows and so many other multiple art events.

Last but not least, fine art photography owes a lot to commercial photography and photojournalism even if it opposes them in general lines. There are many cases when the features specific to each of these overlap, and the dividing lines between them get blurred. This happens with most photos that you view in magazines.

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Black & White Is Colorful In Hollywood Style

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

The photographs that came out of Hollywood in the 1930’s, from the likes of the great George Hurrell, are never to be forgotten.Photos of all the greats… Cooper, Harlow, Cagney… the actors who filled the screen in the 1930’s.  But the painstaking technique that went into such shots doesn’t seem to be seen much in this digital era.

From the Hollywood of the 30’s, Dallas Photographer Mark Oristano has created “Hollywood/1935″.”

“I always loved Hurrell’s work,” says portrait photographer Oristano, “and a couple of years back I studied with Michael Grecco, the great portrait photographer from L.A.We learned all about constant style lighting with things like Mole-Richardsons.I found some of the old Mole’s on ebay and began to work with them.”

But to get the true effect, Oristano decided to step back from digital and return to the film camera.  But not just any film camera.

“I have an Army Signal Corps 4×5 Speed Graphic from World War II.  It’s the same model camera that Joe Rosenthal used to take the famous Iwo Jima photo.  It’s sixty-plus years old and it still takes great shots.A 4×5 negative gives a detail and a softness you don’t get digitally.”

The old-time look has begun to catch on in Dallas, where former sportscaster Oristano has been shooting engagement shots, senior portraits and more in the Hollywood/1935 style.

“Probably the most fun is the look on people’s faces when they see the final result.when they see their 17×22 fine art print they usually just gasp.”

The shoots take about twice as long as an average portrait session given the delicacy of the lighting.  The techniques, while fairly simple to figure out from the old Hollywood photos, are often difficult to replicate.But with a little bit of work, you can find out how to create this 1930’s magic.

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