FAP – Fine Art Photography

Fine art photography (FAP) refers to photographs that are made in the creative vision of the photographer as an artist. Fine art photography generally stands in contrast to photojournalism, which is a visual account of news events or a record of things, places and people. Commercial photography, the primary focus of which is to advertise products or services, is generally held apart from fine art as well. That said in my experience the commercial and journalistic often slops over into fine art.If one reviews the history of photography it quickly become clear that well made image narratives, produced for journalistic or commercial purposes, frequently become objects of art. Often but not always this transition takes place well after the journalistic or commercial significance has passed. If one examines the enduring images from the great photographic publications of the past, the truth of this can easily be verified. Today many truly great images can be seen on the web, produced from the present journalistic and commercial traditions.I could find no generally accepted definition(s) of the terms “art photography”, “artistic photography” or “fine art photography. Definitions are found in articles, essays and reference books in all media forms. What seems to be lacking is the generally or universally accepted part. (see: Wikipedia-Fine-art photography for examples.)The balance of this essay is more personal opinion dependent than academic. One significant difference between an artistic rendering and fine art is the level of emotion created by the image’s narrative. An artistic rendering, of a really great image. that is creatively presented is surely art. Fine art takes that rendering one or two steps further into an emotional place that transcends the propose or location. Art in general and fine art almost always has a transcendence or universality that just images can not quite match. Fine art melds together all the compositional, technical and transcendence qualities to give it and its narrative a true universality.I have been at this photography business, all be it hesitantly at first, since I was 11, that is (58 years). Over that time I have made images for just about any purpose one can imagine. In my mind or better to my taste, I have created fine art works in most if not all of them. The exception is probably in the classification snapshots. Got a few really good ones but no true art. In attempting to create the best possible images, of what ever subject and purpose was holding my interest, I found my creative vision could often be satisfied. I should also note that while my vision was frequently satisfied, my technical competence or the limitations of the equipment of the day, did not always yield stellar results.A truly artistic image, regardless of subject or purpose has the qualities, often intangible, of what I call fine art. I have some training and education in art history. I understand the principles of composition and most of the technical aspects of most, if not all art forms. Don’t misunderstand, I claim no pretense to full competence for any except photography.As I Found It and Ideal Totem (my two stock photo services) hold well over 4,000 images (at the time of writing). A very high proportion of these stock images qualify as art. They are good and well presented, even the textures and patterns tell their story well. Some are probably even great. Perhaps not quite as many as my ego would like, but still a good number. None are true Fine Art.A small percentage of my work has been selected to be offered as, highly limited, special fine art editions. These editions will be presented in physical format that has the same listing quality as the images themselves.In a world of Fine Art images are often classified the same way as paintings. For example: Impressionism, Abstract, Realism and so on. Fine Art implies the imposition of the creative mind over reality except in the Realism school. Impressionism is more concerned with the spirit of a subject than accurate rendering. Abstraction realities on a different external world view often reducing the subject to geometric shapes, lines and zone of color.The photographer can and does do this too. His tool box is different. Gone are brushes and palette knife. He substitutes one technology for another.Digital based art and modern photography is that, has the potential to become over produced and ubiquitous. No matter how good a work is, if reality and uniqueness are not preserved then it becomes ordinary and cheep. The power or feeling created by the image as not been lost it is the commonality that causes it to become devalued.For Digital Art in any form to maintain a unique, rear and valued position it must be produced or created in highly restricted and limited numbers. We are not talking hundreds we are talking ten or less. If all the physical characteristics of the work achieves exceptional quality, the same kind of quality as an oil or water-color painting; it still may not hold true economic value, unless the numbers are highly restricted. Only then can a Photographic Fine Art status be maintained.

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Technology and Design History (Timeline Infographics) Part 1

Have you ever wondered what attracted you in a new iPad, new smartphone, or any other modern gadget? Was it its fascinating technology or its simplicity of design? Design has become an essential communication tool and it’s hard to imaging new technology without it. I wanted to look at the history timeline to define correlation between technology and design and their impact on each other. I used an art history timeline to compare evolution of both areas.1750-1850 The Industrial Revolution and Romanticism.The first prominent interaction between technology and design (art at that time) began with the Industrial Revolution. Needless to say, the Industrial Revolution was the starting point in modern technology development and has changed the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times.Design existed mostly in the form of art at that time and was in transition from Baroque movement (1600-1750) to Neoclassicism (1750-1850) and later – Romanticism (1780-1850). While Neoclassicism was inspired from the “classical” art and culture of Ancient Greece and Rome, Romanticism was already a reaction to the Industrial Revolution with its population growth, and urban sprawl. Romanticism portrayed the achievements of heroic individualists and artists, whose pioneering examples would elevate society.Highlights of the period:1765 Steam Engine.
1783 First Hot air balloon.
1796 Lithographic printing process.
1816 First photographic negative.
1835 First photograph.
1843 Typewriter invented.
1847 Rotary printing press.1850-1900 The Second Industrial Revolution and Realism.The second part of the Industrial Revolution is also known as electromechanical age. The technological and economic progress lead to the development of steam-powered ships, railways, electrical power generation, and many more.Visual art of the period was about truth and accuracy and was called Realism. Many paintings depicted people at work, emphasizing the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution. The advances in photography, made through 19th century, took popularity of Realism to the next level, creating a desire for people to reflect everyday reality. Art during the second half of the 19th century was called Impressionism and emphasized an accurate depiction of light that could have been influenced by discoveries of photography.Highlights of the period:1867 Dynamite.
1876 Telephone.
1879 Electric light bulb.
1892 Diesel engine.
1894 Radio waves.1880-1914 Art Nouveau. By the end of the 19th century machine-made art production was increasing. The first device that could easily and quickly set complete lines of type for use in printing presses – the Linotype machine (1886) – revolutionized the art of printing. This invention increased demand in typography and resulted in design of Akzidenz Grotesk (1898) – the first sans serif typeface to be widely used.The same 1898 was a year of the first commercial motion picture. Soon followed by many others, initiating a new, separate form of visual art – Motion pictures.This period was critical in the history of design as it branched out from the art, making its way into all types of commercial design. The movement called Art Nouveau initiated graphic and advertising design and by 1909 magazines had become major ad channels. Art continued evolving from one movement to another – from Post-Impressionism, Expressionism to Cubism and others.Highlights of the period:1886 Linotype (typesetting) machine.
1892 Alternating current generator.
1900 First mass-marketed camera – the Brownie.
1903 Powered airplane.
1907 Color photography and helicopter.
1908 First mass-production of the Ford Model T automobile.1910-1930 Art Deco.The growth of the professional graphic design industry has grown in parallel with the rise of consumerism. While technology continued improving and monetizing its inventions, design was evolving into communication tool. Art Deco was an ornamental design style based on geometric shapes inspired by technologies such as aviation, radio, electric lighting, and others. Its linear symmetry was a distinct step towards simplicity from the flowing asymmetrical organic curves of its predecessor style Art Nouveau. Art Deco design was suitable to be read from a speeding car.In 1919 the first model of the modern art school was founded in Germany – the Bauhaus.It had a profound influence in art, architecture, typography and all forms of design, eventually providing the framework for modern design.Highlights of the period:1919 First air service and first electric typewriter.
1920s Regular wireless broadcasts for entertainment.
1923 Television Electronic and first sound film.1930-1945 Modernism.Technology of the Industrial Revolution found its way into daily life of ordinary people. Electricity, the telephone, the radio, the automobile created the most visible social changes of that period. The need to learn, work, and live with the technology demanded new skills and ability to perceive lots of information.Modern ideas in art and design appeared in commercials and logos in rejection of the ornate flourishes of preceded design styles. With increased amount of new information that an average person had to grasp, the need for clear, easily recognizable and memorable design increased as well. Straight lines, minimalism, lack of clutter, primary colors prevailed in the design and art of Modernism.Times New Roman font was designed (1932). First TV commercial was aired from Bulova Watch Company with the slogan “America runs of Bulova time!” (1941).Highlights of the period:1936 BBC began transmitting world’s first public service.
1937 Jet engine.
1938 Ballpoint pen.
1941 Kodak negative film.
1943 Aqua-lung.
1945 The atomic bomb.1955-1980 Pop Art and Minimalism.Post-war technology of that period cheered us up with various great inventions and gave birth to a new type of human species – geeks. Invention of a personal computer dramatically impacted and forever changed the way people live, work, and communicate.In art history this period is known as Pop Art and Minimalism, which we can see reflected in design as well. The rise of different media forms and the modern advertising industry increased the need for a readable, easily displayed typeface. The new font, designed for simplicity, was Neue Haas Grotesk font (1957), later renamed Helvetica. With the rise of personal computing in the 80s, Helvetica was replaced by Arial as a digital standard.Minimalism played critical role in advertising as well. Among clustered and flashy ads appeared a new, simplified advertising approach. “Think Small” ad campaign (1959) for the Volkswagen Beetle became the No. 1 campaign of the 20th century.Highlights of the period:1951 The Universal Automatic Computer (Univac).
1956 Videocassette recorder.
1961 The first human to orbit the Earth.
1968 First computer mouse.
1968 Computer video game, compact discs, and email.
1974 Personal computer.1980 – 2000 Postmodernism.With the release of first Macintosh computer in 1984 a new era has began in technology and design – an era of collaboration. Technology continues to open new doors in consumerism and every day life, but design drives the esthetics and usability of the most tech innovations. Apple computers gained popularity not for its unique technology (first personal computer was created a decade before Mac), but for its unique design and simplicity.Apple created a new standard in design – in web, print, advertising, marketing, product design, but didn’t invent any of the above. It surely was the first to successfully leverage symbiosis between technology and design.In 1990 first Photoshop software was released and at that point technology gave everything it could at that time to invite design on its side.Highlights of the period:1984 First Macintosh computer from Apple, featuring bitmap graphics.
1985 CD-ROM; digital imaging processor by Pixar.
1990 World Wide Web.
1994 Online Advertising.
1995 DVD.Ever since industrial revolution technology began developing rapidly and today it occupies every corner of human life. Though art as a form of communication existed way before technology (since cave men), it only became a powerful communication tool after merging with technology in the mid of 20th century.So, even though art and technology had different roots and developing process, both are now parts of one inseparable unit. One cannot exist without the other.

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Overseas Air Travel to Get Cheaper

People hoping to travel overseas can now rejoice. The sharp climb in fuel prices and their adverse effects on the price of flight tickets had initially made travellers hesitant to take up flights under anything but the most urgent of circumstances. However, it seems that flight carriers are determined to change that trend. In an effort to boost air travel, carriers are now joining hands. Their efforts are aimed towards decreasing the cost of air travel. In fact, it may well end up that travelling overseas is going to be cheaper than domestic destinations in India. Low cost carriers are increasing their flight capacities in their circuits, ensuring that more and more people are open to travel.There are agreements or MOUs between airlines. For example, IndiGo airlines is in talks with airline giant SkyTeam. Another example would be the talks between Tata Sons, AirAsia and Amit Bhatia, in the hopes of expanding AirAsia’s brand in India. AirAsia, Asia’s biggest low-cost carrier, expanding into Indian territories can only bode well for the average traveller. The promotion of certain programmes aimed towards attracting a specific crowd also adds incentive to travel. Ethno-tourism, geo-tourism and so on are highly attractive packages that allow travellers to explore new cultures and new regions. One particular crowd that packages are aiming at is promotion of ‘women-only’ trips, which take into account the comfort and safety levels of women. The increasing number of customised holiday packages allows people a choice, which in turn ensures that there is an increase in the number of travellers.With the cost of travel going down, more people are willing to travel and take up travel insurance. To seal the deal, carriers are also offering domestic and overseas travel insurance to travellers. You want to watch out for the coverage offered by carriers though. They might offer policies that are cheaper – but they only partially cover you and certainly only for the duration of the trip. They come with many built in loopholes, so be sure to read the fine-print before you opt for it. For example, they might not cover mishaps before or after your flight – so it’s generally better if you buy your insurance from a reputed insurance company instead. Because travel insurance companies are ensuring they don’t disappoint either. A vast array of insurance has cropped up, from the usual coverage like baggage loss and travel delays to covering extreme sports, that is now covered under international travel insurance. So what are you waiting for? If ever there was a time to travel – now is it!

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