Unveiling Beauty: Exploring the Aesthetics of Fine Art
Learn 5 essential Techniques to improve your Fine Art Photography
Fine art photography is more than just a photo it is a visual experience, unlike commercial photography which often aims to sell a product or service, Fine art aims to capture the viewer’s attention and tell a story, at its core it is about invoking emotion as well as expressing an idea all while leaving the viewer thinking about the photo even after it has been seen, I recently photographed a series of Bullets showcasing the imperfections of mass-produced goods, fine art is not only about the photo but about the intent and the feeling that the image elicits, for this series I originally shot it in the studio but was unhappy with the results, after some trial and error. I ended up shooting the final images in my college dorm bedroom with a small tabletop lamp. Proving that gear only sometimes matters and that knowledge and experience are what bring a fine art photo to life.
The 5 key components of fine art photography
Composition is one of the key components of fine art photography, pay close attention to elements such as leading lines, symmetry, rule of thirds, and framing. All of these compositional techniques will invoke a feeling towards the viewer, for example, an off-centred or A-symmetrical image will create a feeling of chaos or disorder whereas a symmetrical and balanced photo will create a sense of relaxation and calm.
Lighting plays another critical role in fine art photography, dim and contrasty lighting will produce a more dramatic and eerie photo than a bright and evenly lit photograph. Lighting also allows you to direct the viewer’s eye to the main subject.
Creativity makes the fine art image, you won’t remember a subject you’ve seen photographed thousands of times but will always remember a unique and distinctive image. Try and think out of the box and don’t be afraid to experiment.
Post-production is another essential aspect of fine art photography. Editing your photographs allows you to create a specific mood as well as direct your viewer’s eye towards the main subject, Post-production also enables you to add specific colours to your image which will add additional layers of complexity to your photo.
- Explore different ideas and think outside the box, fine art is all about pushing boundaries, some of the best fine art photographs are created in the least expected conditions and time, play with different angles, compositions and colour tones to create your final image, embrace the weirdness and allow yourself to be inspired by the unexpected.
Fine art photography from the shooting range to the studio
My idea for this photo series came to me when I was out at the shooting range with some friends and saw thousands of empty bullet shells on the ground, being recently inspired by Peter andrew's photographic style of images. I quickly picked up the empty casings and later that day headed into the studio for my first attempt at the Ammo series, I excitedly brought the photos into Lightroom and was unhappy with the results so the next day I set up my own personal “Studio” in my room, and after some trial and error and a few hours of editing, they were up on my website and the project was finished. All because of an idea and some empty bullet casings.
