Fine Art Photography vs AI
With declining auction prices for traditional photographs and the advancement of technology, has AI captured the public's attention on how we see the world?
More than a painting or sculpture, photography is the most mobile of traditional art forms. In the past, prints were reproduced on mugs, cards, and T-shirts. It was a great way to express a fondness for a family dog or celebrate the birth of a grandchild.
Photo albums may have been a prized family heirloom of shared memories. There was a time when photographers would hang strips of film negatives in a darkroom to dry. [Archived in Hollywood films for photography buffs.]
Photographs hold a 'stillness', capture a 'moment in time' that had a 'rawness' that expressed the artist's intent; yet, could reveal a 'truth' or the 'unexpected' as seen in the documentation of war film footage.
When using a Polaroid instamatic or disposable camera, there was a limited number of pictures available, so there was more of an emphasis on quality vs quantity. The photographer 'captured the moment' and 'witnessed' the outcome of the photograph.
Today, we are encouraged to take a series of consecutive photos to choose the best of the lot and discard the worst. We share photos on our smart devices in texts and on social media.
Photography as marketable fine art began in the early 1970s and accelerated in the 1990s with museums dedicating departments to the subject matter.
In 1995, MoMA photography department purchased Cindy Sherman's "Untitled Film Stills" for $1M. Her work peaked in 2010, but today, auction prices have fallen sharply to one-half of original prices.
Adobe Photoshop was released in 1990 to "create, edit, and produce digital art" for the public. It was revolutionary, but not as advanced as today's AI.
Photographs can be manipulated, and collages created with photos. Andy Warhol famously saw the impact of the repetition of photographs reproduced in a widely circulated newspaper.
In his silkscreens of Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, Warhol manipulates the color's tone/intensity and uses multiplicity to emphasize the intrusiveness of fame. [Their faces are everywhere!]
A camera's flash is capable (intentionally or not) of 'erasing' a person's identity and/or historical facts. It can also be used as a 'light source' or to 'highlight' as a technique implemented by film directors.
Many outstanding fine art photographers from the past continue to influence the artists of today and tomorrow.
Swiss American photographer Robert Frank was unconventional as he used "unusual focus, low lighting, and cropping."
American Diane Arbus spoke of her black-and-white photography by saying, "A secret is a secret about a secret."
NFTs are digital assets that represent ownership of "one-of-a-kind" art, music, and collectibles.
Because of our ability today of 'altering' reality with AI, we are less likely to recognize what is the truth. Clearly a troubling proposition.
More than a painting or sculpture, photography is the most mobile of traditional art forms. In the past, prints were reproduced on mugs, cards, and T-shirts. It was a great way to express a fondness for a family dog or celebrate the birth of a grandchild.
Photo albums may have been a prized family heirloom of shared memories. There was a time when photographers would hang strips of film negatives in a darkroom to dry. [Archived in Hollywood films for photography buffs.]
Photographs hold a 'stillness', capture a 'moment in time' that had a 'rawness' that expressed the artist's intent; yet, could reveal a 'truth' or the 'unexpected' as seen in the documentation of war film footage.
When using a Polaroid instamatic or disposable camera, there was a limited number of pictures available, so there was more of an emphasis on quality vs quantity. The photographer 'captured the moment' and 'witnessed' the outcome of the photograph.
Today, we are encouraged to take a series of consecutive photos to choose the best of the lot and discard the worst. We share photos on our smart devices in texts and on social media.
Photography as marketable fine art began in the early 1970s and accelerated in the 1990s with museums dedicating departments to the subject matter.
In 1995, MoMA photography department purchased Cindy Sherman's "Untitled Film Stills" for $1M. Her work peaked in 2010, but today, auction prices have fallen sharply to one-half of original prices.
Adobe Photoshop was released in 1990 to "create, edit, and produce digital art" for the public. It was revolutionary, but not as advanced as today's AI.
Photographs can be manipulated, and collages created with photos. Andy Warhol famously saw the impact of the repetition of photographs reproduced in a widely circulated newspaper.
In his silkscreens of Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, Warhol manipulates the color's tone/intensity and uses multiplicity to emphasize the intrusiveness of fame. [Their faces are everywhere!]
A camera's flash is capable (intentionally or not) of 'erasing' a person's identity and/or historical facts. It can also be used as a 'light source' or to 'highlight' as a technique implemented by film directors.
Many outstanding fine art photographers from the past continue to influence the artists of today and tomorrow.
Swiss American photographer Robert Frank was unconventional as he used "unusual focus, low lighting, and cropping."
American Diane Arbus spoke of her black-and-white photography by saying, "A secret is a secret about a secret."
NFTs are digital assets that represent ownership of "one-of-a-kind" art, music, and collectibles.
Because of our ability today of 'altering' reality with AI, we are less likely to recognize what is the truth. Clearly a troubling proposition.
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