Fashion photography and Fine Art.

[JamesRene]

Hi guys!

I am currently doing some research in fashion photography for my final dissertation at university.

I am looking for answers, but more so to speak with peoples views on a question i propose to ask.

Basically i am trying to find out the relationship between fashion photography and fine art.
Also, can we say that fashion photography is art?

So please feel free to post your views and answers as this would be very helpful.

Thank you.

[Ben Brain]

First you're going to have to establish what art is.

[Gil Ritchie]

Originally Posted by Ben Brain

First you're going to have to establish what art is.

What a rather supercilious response to what appears a genuine request for help - and from a "moderator" too.

People have spent lifetimes trying to "establish what art is" - surely some member out there can aid the originator of this thread in a more helpful way than by giving such an impossible instruction.

Sorry I cannot assist you James - as fine art and fashion photography - are both way beyond my simple skills - hopefully someone can.

I am sure you have your own ideas of "what art is" - as we all have - the next instruction will probably be "define fashion photography" !?!?!? - now that one is NOT impossible - just very difficult.

There were many threads - on this problem and other similar imponderable questions in the old DCM Forums - but the wealth of knowledge accrued was confined to the wastelands of cyberspace when the move over to Photoradar took place - a pity really - but there you have it - "progress".

Anyway the best of luck in your quest for genuine help to resolve your problem.

Originally Posted by JamesRene

Hi guys!

I am currently doing some research in fashion photography for my final dissertation at university.

I am looking for answers, but more so to speak with peoples views on a question i propose to ask.

Basically i am trying to find out the relationship between fashion photography and fine art.
Also, can we say that fashion photography is art?

So please feel free to post your views and answers as this would be very helpful.

Thank you.

Popping a thinking hat on for a moment

I would think the relationship between fashion photography and fine art will be defined by the individual's perspective and accordingly be as diverse as opinions can be.

Looking from my artistic point of view; The general fashion process starts with the designer's ideas, sketches (inspired by ?) being compiled towards a newness or rebirth - a new look for a period of time, before being replaced by the next generation - fashion photography records / plays various roles withiin this whole process, and in its self, becomes an art form (recording past and influencing future).

[DavidVenables]

The current BBC programmes on art may shed some thing (not necesserily light) or other on your problem.
Grayson Perry said, on a recent show, that most Painters are 'craftsmen' not 'artists'.
As people commonly label any one who paints pictures as 'an artist' this idea may provide you with a different perspective.
Rather than investigate the claim 'Is Fashion Photography Art' look for fashion photographs that transcend the selling of an item, cause they will be forgotten by the next issue.
Here's another question that people like ask students to answer 'What is the Human Condition?' please post no replies at all to this, cause if you do i'll develop a terrible pain in all the diodes down my left side.

[Ben Brain]

James, I do apologise if you felt as Gill did that my response was "supercilious". However, just because it's a difficult questions to answer doesn't mean it's not important, especially in relation to your original question.

[JamesRene]

Ok, not to worry. No worries at all

To be honest i am just looking for peoples opinions, so far so good by the looks of it. With regards to my question, yes i can safely say now it is a very difficult question to answer.

I have done some research in the past about this subject i have chosen, and also because i purely have a flare in fashion photography, hoping to carry on my further studies with a Masters in fashion photography.

I feel that taking this extremely hard set of questions i have asked, will give myself a challenge and hopefully broaden my mind within the fashion photography industry.

[Ben Brain]

I Like this quote by the 'art photographer' Duane Michals: " Fashion photography is often artful but seldom an art". Perhaps his images, words and musing on the photography might be good for your project. I love his work and he's a seminal and outspoken figure in the "art'" photography world. Ben

[Ben Brain]

Here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_Michals

[RMShots]

Hi James,

I'm studying fashion photography at college just now so have been up to my eyeballs in research for it for months too.

The boundaries of fine art are fairly awkward to navigate, so until somebody can say with definition exactly what fine art is then literally anything can be labeled as such.

I would say that fashion photography can definitely be considered as art, not every single area of the genre but certainly the more creative images.

Ross