Photography is an art accessible to everyone

Photography is a form of visual art in which the artist captures their creative vision in the form of images (photographs) using special technical means. When creating vivid works of photographic art, the master skillfully combines artistic imagination with truthful information. Photography emerged in the mid-19th century and has come a long way from being a mere amusement attraction to becoming a full-fledged form of visual art alongside painting, sculpture, and cinematography.

Photography. A selection of photos of different masters

For many years, photography was only accessible to a limited circle of people. The technologies for printing photographs remained quite complex until the end of the 20th century, and good cameras were expensive. However, with the invention of digital photography and the widespread use of smartphones, photographic art has become a widely accessible phenomenon. Modern technologies allow anyone with good artistic taste to create bright and colorful images.

Genres of Photography

Photography as an art form includes division into primary genres.

Portrait. The earliest genre of photographic art. Initially, photo portraits were made in a strict classical style for albums or print publications, but nowadays, photographers boldly break these outdated conventions.

Photography. Portrait

Landscape. A very popular commercial photo genre. People often decorate their homes with charming images of natural scenery.

Photography. Landscape

Still Life. Often contains deep hidden meaning, although familiar inanimate objects are usually used to create the artwork.

Photography. Still Life

Nude. Used by creative individuals to visually showcase the beauty of the human body. A popular genre among bohemian circles.

Photography. Nude

Documentary Photography. Holds significant social value. Powerful candid shots have a strong emotional impact on viewers.

Photography. Documentary photo

Street Photography. A part of contemporary urban subculture. Thanks to the skills of photographers, the daily life of the metropolis is shown in a new light to the audience.

Photography. Street photo

Reportage. A photographic genre used by professional journalists to cover events or other assignments for editorial purposes.

Photography. Reportage

Reproduction. Perfect for introducing a wide audience to outstanding works of visual art.

Photography. Reproduction

Wildlife Photography. Allows people to enjoy photographs of animals without harming our younger brethren.

Photography. Photo hunting

Macro Photography. Used to obtain high-quality images of miniature objects. It enables people to examine in detail what is usually hidden from our sight.

Photography. Macrophotography

Night Photography. Requires special skills from the artist and the use of specific equipment. Night views of cities are highly demanded by the audience.

Photography. Night photography

Wedding Photography. The times when wedding photos with the newlyweds and guests were taken in studios are long gone. Modern professional photographers create unique artistic albums of the celebratory event.

Photography. Wedding

Photography has a vast array of genres. Unfortunately, the article format does not allow for a detailed description of each one. Moreover, new genres in the world of photographic art continually emerge in our culture. In addition to the ones mentioned above, the following is a list of other photography genres:

• Food Photography.
• Event Photography.
• Concert Photography.
• Newborn Photography.
• Child Photography.
• Architectural Photography.
• Sports Photography.
• Fashion Photography.
• Fashion Photography.
• Pictorial Photography.
• Golden Hour Photography.
• HDR Photography.
• Lomography.
• Infrared Photography.
• Aerial Photography.
• Panoramic Photography.
• Pet Photography.
• Travel Photography.
• Underwater Photography.
• Still Life Photography.
• Reproduction Photography.
• Advertising Photography.
• Stock Photography.
• Real Estate Photography.
• Interior Photography.
• Adventure Photography.
• Forensic Photography.
• Boudoir Photography.
• Beauty Photography.
• Multiple Exposure Photography.

Styles of Photography

Just like in other forms of visual art, photography is divided into different styles. The distinctive features of each direction are noticeable in many manifestations:

• the use of color;
• composition nuances;
• shooting techniques;
• interpretation of the main theme.

The most well-known styles, listed below, are familiar to a wide audience.

Pop Art. A prominent representative of this style is Andy Warhol. The style was created to blur the line between high and utilitarian art. Typical features of works in this style include vibrant colors, abstract motifs, streamlined forms, and high contrast of objects.

Photography. Pop Art

Retro. Allows the viewer to get acquainted with life in past eras. Photographers use special film and shooting techniques. Very often, to realize their ideas, artists abandon color photographs in favor of nostalgic black and white images.

Photography. Retro

Glamour. Emerged in the 20-30s of the last century during the rapid development of the film industry. This style is a paean to elegance and luxury. It showcases immaculate images, often using photos with alluring gazes of beautiful women.

Photography. Glamour

Vintage. Related to retro style but with some differences. Modern technologies make it easy to achieve the desired visual effects, from faded colors to barely noticeable scratches on the photos.

Photography. Vintage

Grunge. Emerged in the 80s-90s of the 20th century. It can be easily recognized by its unpleasant representation of the surrounding space and the presence of disfigured figures. It is a protest style popular among radical young people.

Photography. Grunge

Bright Photographers

Many bright photographers of different styles, genres, and epochs have left a significant mark in the history of world art. There are dozens of worthy masters deserving individual mention, but the author of this article will have to make a difficult choice at their own risk. Several well-known names are presented to the reader's attention.

Marc Riboud - a patriarch of French photographic art and a genius in reportage photography. In 2004, there was a personal exhibition of the works of this great master at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris.

Photography. Marc Riboud

Alfred Stieglitz - an American photographer and a fierce advocate for recognizing photography as a full-fledged form of art. His works became the first exhibits in American museums alongside paintings and sculptures.

Photography. Alfred Stiglitz. Third class passengers

Ansel Easton Adams - a master of black-and-white photographs depicting the landscapes of the American West. He authored several authoritative books on photography. His photograph "Teton Range and Snake River" is among a few other photos placed on the golden records of two Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977, heading to distant stars.

Photography. Ansel Easton Adams. Titon Ridge and Snake River

Guy Bourdin - a French genius in provocative fashion photography. For over 40 years, he collaborated with Vogue magazine and developed brilliant advertising campaigns for fashion houses such as Chanel and Versace.

Photography. Guy Bourdain

Cindy Sherman - an American photo artist, author of the most expensive album of photographs in the history of photography, "Frames from Untitled Movies".

Photography. Cindy Sherman. Images from unnamed films. Shot 17

Most Famous Photos

The list of the most famous photos in the world of art includes works of various themes and genres. However, all of them are easily recognizable at first glance.

"Einstein Sticking Out His Tongue" (1951) - a snapshot capturing the great genius in a very unconventional pose. Widely used in internet memes and other expressions of contemporary culture.

Photography. Einstein with his tongue sticking out, 1951

"Tank Man" (1989) - a powerful and dramatic image of the bravery of an unknown individual who stopped tanks during the bloody events in China's Tiananmen Square.

Photography. The man who stopped the tanks, 1989

"Napalm Girl" (1972) - a vivid testimony to the war crimes of the USA in Vietnam. It became a symbol of global anti-war protest.

Photography. The terror of war, 1972

"The 'Surgeon's Photograph' of the Loch Ness Monster" (1934) - the most famous image of the prehistoric monster. Despite its low quality, the photo caused a sensation and was published in many countries around the world.

Photography. Proof of the Loch Ness Monster, 1934

"Marilyn Monroe in the Billowing Dress" (1955) - a frame from the popular American movie "The Seven Year Itch." The photo remains a symbolic image of the idol of men from different generations.

Photography. Marilyn Monroe in a fluttering dress, 1955

Photography holds a worthy place among other forms of visual art and shows no signs of relinquishing its position in the future.

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