Fine Art Photography? You Be The Judge.

My friend, Jerry Feist, arranged an introduction with Ellen Zaslaw, a local psychologist but also an avid photographer. She sent me an email wanting to get together and chat and explaining that she was not destined to be a pro photographer, but she seems headed in that direction, investing in pro gear and posting her photos on a website (click here to see her site). I realize a lot of non-pros put work up on the web, but a lot of it is hardly worth looking at. Looking at Ellen’s work, she obviously has a great eye for the subject, and great composition. A good sense of color, nice black and whites as well. I wrote her back saying I thought her work was really well suited for magazine and books. Good travel documentary type stuff and sensitive captures of local flavor and landscapes.

She said she was interested in meeting me because she didn’t find many local photographers who approach photography from a fine arts perspective. And that got me thinking about “fine art” photography. I think many people associate fine art photography with the work of the well known, Adams, Weston, Abbott, Steiglitz, Evans, and on and on. The names from museums and galleries. But what qualifies you as a fine art photographer?

Working in an art museum, I’ve been in close proximity to so many great photographers’ works. Our permanent collection contains hundreds of important works. Many of these are from less familiar names. Many began as other than “fine art” endeavors, such as the works of Margaret Bourke-White. Yet they have come to be museum works so qualify as fine art. So I suppose “collectability” contributes to the qualification. My work is not in the collections of museums, with the exception of a portrait I took of Eliot Porter and his wife that I gave to the Amon Carter Museum.

I think many people associate fine art photography with large prints, from large format cameras. Platinum and palladium and silver based prints with rich toning hand pulled in the darkroom by master printers from big negatives. But in today’s world of digital photography, fewer and fewer photographers seem to be remaining with film and darkroom printing. In our museum and others I have seen large prints from today’s high-end ink jet printers that were absolutely stunning. I certainly spent a lot of hours in the darkroom years ago. But haven’t had my hands in the chemistry for probably fifteen years now.

Many of the large photos in the Johnson Museum’s collection were machine printed by large commercial labs and flush mounted on aluminum. Not your typical matted, hand printed, paper image, but a product of the current technology and done in a way that delivers them with impact in a contemporary gallery.

I believe most of us who are “serious” photographers like to think of our work as “art”. I think people can generally recognize an artistically done image. All the normal art terms apply when looking at photography just as they do with other media. Color, line, form, composition, subject, interpretation, control, presentation, etc. It’s what makes an image stand out from just an average picture. Something special.

We strive for art. But “art” and “fine art” are highly subjective terms. Anyone who has been to an art gallery knows that. The judgment of one curator or critic can make an artist’s name or reputation, or destroy it. There is a wealth of art being created in the commercial photography realm, but even there I think most commercial photographers like to differentiate between their “commercial” work and their “art”. There seems to be a line drawn.

I shoot for my own pleasure these days, for the most part. I do offer my work for sale through Imagekind, and expect to promote my work through galleries and shows. I have several book ideas in the works. But it is an evolution and not a drive to be a commercial or professional artist. I’ve done that already and the pressure of depending on it as a business was never good for my creativity where photography was concerned.

I don’t want to think about whether every shot I take is marketable. I want to shoot what appeals to me. And I want to do it in a way that communicates something to others. That makes them want to stop and look, to think, to question, to imagine, to feel, to wonder. If my work moves the viewer in any way, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do. Does that make it fine art photography? I hope so. I like to think of myself as a “fine art photographer”. But I guess there’s also that line between good and bad, or good and mediocre, that something special, that is still necessary. Just as there is a difference between a velvet Elvis at a roadside sale and a masterpiece at Christie’s auction. (That’s a little extreme but you get my drift). It’s that subjective thing.

What’s fine art and what’s not? You be the judge.

All Images are Copyright © George Cannon, All Rights Reserved

More from Florida

We are back from Florida. It’s been a hectic week. I had an extra day off to be able to pick up the pets from the kennel. There has to be two trips since the dog and the cats can’t travel in the car at the same time. At least we’ve never ventured to try that. Seems dangerous. But as is always the case, the vacation was wonderful, but too short. In between picking up the animals I was also able to pick up my new computer and get it set up this week. This is my dream machine. A Mac Pro with a terabyte of storage, quad core processor, dual DVD writers, 4 GB of ram, bluetooth and airport, and a 23″ cinema display. I’m in heaven!

I miss Florida already. The humid air, the mornings so rich with atmosphere that it’s like water flowing over my face as I ride my bike along the bike paths. I miss the smell of the ocean, the soft sand, the sound of the surf, the warmth of the sun. I miss the lushness and the comfort and the manicured landscapes and rich colors. It would seem that on vacation I would sleep late and move slower, but instead I wake at 5:30 or 6:00 like I usually do at home and want to get up. (We were on Central time there so I guess I am sleeping in a bit for my internal clock, though.) The mornings there are the time I love the most.

The morning joggers are up and down 30A. People in the South, where the weather is good for being outdoors so much of the year, are so trim and athletic and tan. I imagine it’s much the same in California or anywhere where people are not prone to hibernate for the winter as they do in the Northeast, where people tend to be more sedentary and overweight and pale. The old idea of Southern Hospitality really exists there as well. I’m amazed that as soon as you cross the Mason-Dixon line people begin to call you “honey” and “sugar” and “darling” at every turn. You hear “Sir” and “Ma’am” and no one seems upset for asking for help or simple questions. A contrast to the North where I sometimes feel like I’m often stepping on someone’s toes just to expect even a modicum of customer service. I grew up in the South so it’s what I was used to, but years of living in New York make it so obvious to me when I return to the South that I miss that feeling of kindness that pervades everyday discourse there.

The last stained glass window was installed on this trip. It’s number four for my Father-in-law’s house and I was so pleased that he and Cheryl were so pleased with this one. It gets the bright morning sun and spreads light and color all down the stairway walls. The installation was lengthy, having built the frame here and working from templates that weren’t able to account for the irregularity of an oval window frame construction that is not exactly true. But with belt sanding and numerous trips up and down the ladder, it was finally fitted. A glowing finish to a stained glass career (he says with fingers crossed).

My daughter and her friend Maria were great companions on the trip. They made great card partners and the games went well into the night with much laughter. We also took in the midnight show of the new Harry Potter movie while there. And as usual, ate at the Red Bar and Angelina’s and the little Thai place in San Destin. My wife left us early to fly back home and then to leave on another trip with friends, her friend Alice’s birthday trip to Paris and Provance where she is still. She will return home next week only to leave again with my daughter in another week for two more weeks in Florida again. (I’m very jealous). Tessa is going for a two week Zoo Careers camp at Bush Gardens and my wife will likely be going back to her Dad’s to stay and do a little writing for work rather than making two more plane flights here and back again. She’s not a big fan of flying, so better to just stay down there. It leaves me here with the animals, but at least my night work at the computer doesn’t disturb anyone and I can eat when and what I please without worrying about when everyone’s going to be home and what they want to eat. I do the majority of the cooking in our house and with a family that’s as busy as we are, I never am sure when I’m cooking for one or two or three.

I want to say a special thanks to Art and Cheryl for being the gracious hosts they always are. You make it so wonderful for us there with your beautiful home, your generosity and hospitality. We love you.

The grass will get cut today. Tessa will spend her third and fourth days at Grassroots music festival here in Trumansburg, so I won’t see her much. And I will keep dreaming of Florida. It’s only about eight or nine months until I return. It’s just waiting for me. (He said quietly sobbing.)

All Images are Copyright © George Cannon, All Rights Reserved

Finally on Vacation

Last Tuesday and Wednesday we drove 1300 miles to finally have some vacation time in Florida. The weather has been so dry and the risk of fire so high that we decided not to pick up the usual supply of fireworks as we passed through Tennessee. But we arrived early enough on the Fourth at Art and Cheryl’s to still see a great show on the beach. There had been enough rain in the last week, evidently, to allow some of the regulars to still put on a nice display, so the festivities commenced at 9:00 and this time I got to photograph them instead of setting them off myself.

I love being at the beach on the 4th. We used to go to the Cape, but Florida has become the tradition in the last several years. The water is much warmer and the sand softer, and the sun much hotter.

Where we stay is just west of Panama City. It’s far enough west to be out of the typical “spring break” strip and into the newer developments along Highway 30A. If you have ever visited my website, you may have seen the section on 30A. I have been shooting a series of images here for the last several years and always find it rich with imagery every time I come.

Perhaps it’s just being away from it all year that makes it so stimulating when I return. Perhaps it’s because it’s so different from home in upstate New York. Regardless, it’s an amazing mix of old Florida that is gradually being replaced by the new high end developments and the new Florida architecture that started several years ago with Seaside.

You might have seen Seaside featured in the Architecture and Home magazines after it was originally developed because it was such a fresh and radical departure from typical Florida design. You may have also seen it in the movie, The Truman Show, with Jim Carey. The movie was filmed in Seaside. In the past we’ve usually been involved with the 4th of July parade in Seaside, but this year arrived too late. But I love wandering about in Seaside because of its atmosphere.

A wealthy vacation area of Florida’s new gulf beach front that still has some of the old flavor lingering among the beautiful landscaped greens, brick streets and private neighborhoods, art galleries, and signature architecture.

Old Florida is disappearing here. The old single story concrete block houses with slab floors and linoleum tile, screen porches, window unit air conditioners, a block walk from the beach like the one I stayed in when I was twenty. These are being replaced by condominium complexes, tightly packed houses in private developments that rise three and four stories high on a small foot print, architect designed, and landscaped carefully with sprinkler systems and private beach access.

Old Florida looked something like this.

New Florida looks more like this.

Some new homes here reach the extreme. This place has been under construction as long as we’ve been coming here. I believe they are almost done.

Just down the road here is the new development of Alys Beach. Unlike Seaside with its pastel ocean colors and white trim, Alys Beach is all bright white stucco with amazing architectural details subtly placed and with incredible attention to fine craftsmanship. It’s still in its infancy as far as developments here go, but promises to be a stunning visual experience as it grows with great lines, light and shadow, and intense accents.

What is consistent here are the beautiful beaches. They vary from year to year with the weather and storms, but nature has a way of healing its wounds and they are sun washed and white and beautiful and are a place where I can lay my body and close my eyes and lose the world. A slice of heaven at 92 degrees. I believe the water’s edge touches a primitive place in our being similar to what we feel when sitting around a burning fire at night.

The Gulf coast here is a jewel. Beaches comparable to the best in the world. I thank God and Nature for this place. I thank Art and Cheryl for so generously sharing it with us. I hate to leave here and count the days until I can return.

All images are copyright © George Cannon / All rights reserved.

A Great Party in Ithaca with Eddie and Cortney

Another late night last night at The Statler Hotel in Ithaca on the Cornell Campus. Once again I was second shooter with Frank DiMeo for another terrific wedding. Cortney and Eddie are both Cornellians and chose Sage Chapel on the Cornell campus as the location for their wedding. A terrific couple, teamed up with a large, fun loving wedding party made for a great party.

I hooked up with Frank at Julie Stone’s Hair Salon where the girls were getting their hair and makeup done. Then went off to catch the guys getting set for the wedding at the Statler.

The group was very laid back and relaxed. I shot a lot of images at the hotel then we all walked to Sage and stopped along the way for a few more pictures.

The ceremony was a traditional Catholic service and quite beautiful in Sage with the high beamed ceilings, beautiful stained glass and mosaics. Music was from a string quartet.

After the formalities and some group shots outside, Frank and I climbed into the limo with the bride and groom to go find some locations.

We went back to a couple of nearby spots where Frank likes to shoot and got some beautiful images from a very cooperative wedding couple who were really into getting something great. Watch Frank’s blog for pictures that will knock your socks off of these two.

Back at the hotel the party was in full swing. DJ Nicky Wood kept the music going non-stop with masterful transitions and a great selection. You know it’s good when everybody on the dance floor is singing at the top of their lungs to “Living on a Prayer” and the parents are out dancing the fraternity brothers.

It was a great party in spite of the very long day. I’m mostly recovered, but still yawning. Weddings are amazing events, the way they bring out the love among everyone. We all need the stimulus of this kind of over flowing of love and family and friendship and emotion. It’s inspiring.

Thanks Cortney and Eddie and thanks again Frank. You’re one of the hardest working guys I know.

All images are copyright © George Cannon / All rights reserved.