The period of time called “modern art” is posited to have changed approximately halfway through the 20th century and art made afterward is generally called contemporary art.

Rather than a style or set of ideas, Post-war American Art merely defines a time period, and is most often by auction houses to refer to art created between 1945 and 1970 (differentiating from Modern and Impressionist before and Contemporary after.) READ MORE.

Influenced by: Dada, Surrealism, Pop Art, Conceptual Art, and Neo-Expressionism.

Modernism was essentially based on a utopian vision of human life and society and a belief in progress, or moving forward. Modernist ideals were far-reaching, pervading art, architecture, literature, religious faith, philosophy, social organization, activities of daily life, and even the sciences.

From the late 19th century through the first half of the 20th, their work forever changed the perception of photography. Most importantly, they brought photography into the world of art galleries and museums, where they revealed its true potential through pioneering work. And that’s how photography became art.

As any visual art form, photography exploits vulnerabilities of the human visual perception and can make us experience emotions that move us and compel us to do things that we otherwise would not even think of. Unlike painting, photography requires a real physical object to be there to take a picture of it

“The photographer reacts to the surroundings and takes a photo when he/she sees something interesting. The artist has a concept in his mind and is looking or creating something specific that relates to a particular set of ideas.” Art, in itself, is to imitate life. However, art photography is to see beyond life

In other words, photographs are both document and art. This documentary aspect means a photograph can, in a sense, never be entirely art. But ‘part art’ does not equal ‘not art’. Yet many – art critics even – still look at photographs and see all document, and no art

Photography becomes art when certain controls are applied. So, a fine art photograph must go beyond the literal representation of a scene or subject. It must deeply express the feelings and vision of the photographer and clearly reveal that it was created by an artist and not by just the camera

Art has elements of SKILL, just like learning to write an essay has techniques, or playing football has techniques. If you never learn those basic skills and steps, then of course you will have limited skill! But, if your education incorporates those techniques and skills, you will become more skillful.