Let's face it. Without a few photo enthusiasts, there would be no interest in fine art photography

[falcon7]

<p>Thinking back on a college English lit course, the amiable professor was discussing a point about modern British literature. He stopped his analysis, smiled, and said, 'Let's face it. Other than a few English professors, nobody cares about this stuff.' Would a commensurate statement be valid about the world of 'fine art photography?' (As opposed to photo journalism, specialized photography like forensics and macro-photography, etc).</p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>Alan, are you referring to the commerce of fine art photography? or the creation of it?</p>

[riz]

<p>I don't think so. Art is with us and will stay forever. A photograph can be a medium to demonstrate art.</p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>I suppose it depends on your definition of "photo enthusiasts." By that, do you mean, "people who are enthusiastic about photographs," or, "people who are enthusiastic about <em>making them</em>?"<br /><br />To my never ending surprise, I manage to sell some prints to people who have never before met me, are not themselves photographers, and who want the image for its own sake, on their wall. Sometimes it appears to be a connection to the subject matter, and sometimes its appears to be a resonance with the composition, mood, or even the presentation (matting, framing, etc) of the print. Who knows. But if I had to rely on fellow photographers to make those fine art prints sell, I'd sure have missed out on a lot of customers!</p>

[john_h.1]

<p>There aren't too many britishliterature.nets or britlitr.coms out there.</p>

[matt_needham]

<p>Other artists and photographers hire me to photograph their weddings and family portraits, and I occasionally trade pieces with them. When it comes to selling my art photography I get the impression that I'm selling it to folks who would not consider themselves photographers. As Matt Laur said, I think much of the time they are drawn to the photo because of connection to the subject matter. I get some emails and calls from photographers who inquire about where some of my photos were taken. I gather they'd rather make their own photos. </p>

[jtk]

<p>The way "fine art photography" was defined in the OT reduces the concept to interior decor and soft-core porn.<br>

<em> </em><br>

<em>IMO the closest photography comes to any substantial idea of "art" is photojournalism, as in Magnum, and sports photography, as in Sports Illustrated. </em></p>

[brucecahn]

<p>There are many thousands of people who make photos seriously as art.</p>

[hjoseph7]

<p>I don't know if it's only photo-enthusiast, 'Fine Art photography' can be seen on the walls of many office buildings, hotels and other business establishments. </p>

[nathangardner]

<p>I think fine art photography can be appreciated by everyone. It only takes a few seconds to glance at a photo and you don't need a PhD. to understand it. With literature, you have to invest a lot of time to absorb the information and sometimes it can be so complex or over the top that the average person would need the Oxford Dictionary next to them to understand each sentence.</p>

[markci]

<p>It's true of art in general.</p>

[MathewDH]

<p>I guess the definition to start with is what you mean by literature. I write non-fiction, not fiction. Yet the ability to communicate ideas clearly is that which marks a good writer. Fiction is not real, like television, movies, and largely radio too. I still like to see a movie but have removed most of the entertainment media out of my life. This was so I could be creative with my time, not wasting it being entertained to death.</p>

<p>I was a printing pressman for 30 years and the noise levels could be intolerable. Something like my Canon 300D :-( In the last five years of printing, the noise levels were pretty intollerable. I found solace in quiet. Occasionally music is in the background. Working in a quiet environment removes a lot of stress and allows for clear thinking and focus on what I am creating.</p>

<p>A quality work environment can improve the endevors in any art form I am working on. I am a regular guy but an enthusiast who is practicing photography. My goal is to improve from the amateur level to the fine art area. I am a long way off from that goal but it is not without working at it.</p>

<p>Writers and readers both care about the written word. Bad writing will drive away potential readers. A dull and uninteresting photo can do the same for the viewer. I think you will find the professor to be wrong. A lot of people do care beyond the academic level. Given how many people are on the planet and practicing art or creative ideas, a huge number of people care. Both the creators and the consumers of the creations. Look at all of the creative people here on just this website.</p>

<p>Perhaps the academic should move beyong the teaching level and try the creative art. He seems too isolated from the practicing world.</p>

<p>CHEERS...Mathew</p>

[dbcooper]

<p>It was the other way around for me. As a young kid, I looked at books of photographs by Alfred Steiglitz, Ansel Adams, Ed Weston, HC-B, Margaret Bourke-White and others. That made me want to pick up a camera, so I did.</p>

[david_henderson]

<p>One of the benefits of the complex lives we lead is diversity. There are zillions of things that people get interested in and the more there gets to be, the fewer the people closely involved in each one. Sure the number of people buying or even looking seriously at fine art photography is not huge. Neither is the number of people who go to the theatre more than a couple of times a year; the number of people who actually buy antiques ( as against browsing in antique shops when its raining) ; the number of people who buy couture clothing; the number of people interested in classic cars. In short anything vaguely artistic or collectible owes its survival t o relatively few people. Art photography is no different.</p>

[mark_drutz]

<p>I think that there will always be an audience for fine art photography. It's an accepted form of fine art and as such it will be around as long as there's an audience for any form of fine art.</p>

[AlanKlein]

<p>I'm from NYC so I'm not a stranger to Central Park. There are loads of booths along the sidewalk adjacent to the park up at the Met Museum on 5th Ave or down around 59th Street and other areas with all kinds of photos. Many of them I would consider fine art although you can debate some of the quality. Although I don't buy any, the missus won't give up any more wall space, I always enjoy thumbing through them. Most people who look at these and may buy them are tourists and regular locals, not connoisseurs. Something catches their fancy, and they pull out their wallets.</p>

<p>I also have a friend who has a small art store that sells photos and has exhibits by fine art photographers. He still seems to be eating even in this lousy economy for selling art.</p>

<p>Don't know if these thoughts answer the question.</p>

[mfophotos]

<p>I have time to appreciate good photography, but not angsty old Victorian novels. </p>

[rossb]

<p> Fine Art photography is very popular I would imagine. I do not know anyone who does not like a nice photo in a normal sense. However, I do not know anyone in the real world that would go to a gallery and view photographs except myself. I was at the Museum of Modern Arts, Monterey not that long ago to view Ansel Adams photographs and there was a crowd of people that decided to invest their day in checking out great B/W pictures. Anyway I think people do like photography fine art. Easy to like, view and you do not need to have any particular knowledge base. Just look them over and see what you think. I do not think the average person out there thinks about it however like I do every day. Mostly people are interested in buying stuff. In particular electronic gadgets is what has the imagination of people. When I think of Black Friday I always wonder if somebody will be trampled to death. One thing is for sure is nobody will be trampled to death trying to buy fine art photography.</p>

[mark_drutz]

<p>The Metroploitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in NYC both have extensive fine art photography collections. If you come to NY both musuems are worth visiting. If you only have time for one, take in the Met.</p>