A photograph taken to execute an artist’s originative imagination is called fine art photography or art photography. During the 19th and the 20th centuries, limited photographic prints were made to enhance its worth to the collectors and dealers.


In the present century, the prints are reproduced in bulk at a more distinguished quality rather than making individual fine art prints.

Most commonly the idea of an artist behind fine art photography is to produce pictures that gratify their possessed conotation of beauty. To them a photography is not only a means to some other end but probably also to please the beholder of the photograph. fine art photography is also utilised in  promoting or  upgrading an entity. Fine art  photographs stands rightful to the artist’s perception of beauty. One of the famous fine art photographer Ansel Adams work called Yellowstone and Yosemite showcases his beautiful imagination where  he has has made an attempt to upraise awarenwss among the masses regarding the two locations.

Fine Art Photography: Early Years

In the 1900’s famous work of fine art photography can be outlined to the Victorian era, where Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, Julia Margaret and Oscar Gustave are among the few good practitioners.

In the 20th century, English accepted the fine art photography and introduced it to the gallery system. Edward Steichen, Hugh Edwards and Alfred Stieglitz were some of the conservators in USA, who made a great struggle to locate it there.


In 1970’s large number of galleries recognized that the most adept of photojournalism and documentary photographs was capable of being displayed, besides the art photography.
Photographs of nudes, landscapes and portraits  etc. were largely seen in the fine art photography; but the genre flair dominated till the late 1970’s. artists like Robert Mapplethorpe and Sally Mann were very much inclined towrds the genres style.


By the end of twentieth century, a  drastic change leading to an increse in the prints was seen. Thin and delicate framed prints became obscure and wall sized glossy prints fetched the demand.
Museum of Modern Art and Aperture Foundation are the two renowned American Associations that has made a big effort in  keeping photography at the leading position of fine arts.

Work of Ansel Adam