The F Word…

I believe it’s nearly impossible for anyone to effectively articulate what should or should not be considered “fine art“. Any attempt on my part to do so would be a certain failure and leave you with far more questions than answers.

Maybe the now-infamous words Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart used to describe hardcore pornography might do a better job:

“I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it.”

-Justice Potter Stewart

That in mind, here are a few contemporary photographers whose work should absolutely be considered by Justice Stewart as… uhhhhhh…fine art.

Joey L

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Gregory Crewdson

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Annie Leibovitz

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Ian Reuter

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Nadav Kander

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Peter Lik

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Craig Cutler

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Mark Seliger

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I often look towards this group of photographers (and dozens of others) for inspiration and have even been fortunate enough to work with/for a few of them. Each brings something very different and unique to the table when it comes to creativity, style and vision, yet all have reached a level that I don’t think could be described as anything but fine art.

After all, I know it when I see it.

– J

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