The hosts of the Fine Art of Photography group ( Paul Louis Villani Mark German David Librach Gracey Patrick Morand and Mike Finley) are currently working on the guidelines for the Fine Art of Photography.

One of the issues we are trying to address is the dividing line between digital photography and digital art. There are many cases where it is clear which side of the line images sit, but not all are so clear.

Clearly digital photography

• a single image that has only been cropped, and adjusted for correct colour and tone.

Clearly digital art

• fractal images
• vector images
• images that are entirely created by packages such as Bryce
• photographic images that have any of the above added to them.

---

Grey areas

Where there has been extensive postprocessing that changes the nature of the photograph it is harder to decide what has crossed the border to digital art, and sometimes we as hosts will have to make a decision on accepting or rejecting an image for the group.

Some adjustments will probably be accepted:

• conversion to monochrome, or selective colouring
• addition (or removal) of single photographic elements to improve the original image without changing the nature of the image (eg adding a more interesting sky (though if done well, this should be very hard to spot), or removing or softening an obtrusive background or unwanted feature)

Some will probably be rejected:

• using filters or other software to substantially change the appearance of an image – eg filters to give the apperance of a watercolour or oil painiting.
• combining several images to create a new image substantially different from any of the original images, or to create a clearly ‘fantasy’ image.

---

We’ll extend these descriptions as time passes, but for now we’d like to open these up for general discussion (especially as we recognise these descriptions may impact some existing or new members).

Hello Mike,

What di you think about HDR images ?

Rejected if tone mapping produces too fantasy effects and accepted if not ?

Hi Patrick.
I think you’re right about the approach to HDR, except that I haven’t seen anything thats obviously HDR that I’d immediately accept. There seems to be a risk of the tone mapping producing objectionable or fantasy effects, either of which I’d reject .

I must get round to trying it out some time to see how it really works!

I am relatively ok with it, providing that it the process is performed to slightly enhance the dynamic range of a photo, and not to create the ‘cartoony’ effect often seen.

I had a landscape rejected. Its not fantasy it is just a landscape shot. I am confused on the guidelines. I understood why devastation was rejected, because its a fantasy pic, but this is a landscape. Can you tell me what exactly is wrong with it?

Hi Yvonne :)
Would you post the image/link to get an opinion?

The correct forum (just created) is Here

I would be happy too if you can tell me how lol

Never mind I figured it out. been a long day…

Hiya,

I just had this rejected:

Was wondering if this stepped over the post processing mark?

Many thanks,

Jen :-)

I’m afraid I was the culprit – I actually love this image, but did feel it stepped slightly over the processing line-please don’t let that phaze you though – we’d love to see more work from you.

We have other mods here who may have a differing opinion which is why we have the forum called “Appeals Board”, so hopefully one of the others will also leave an opinion.

We are varied (the hosts) so we often differ.

I’m with Gracey – I also like the image – it has a surreal feel to it. Agree about the processing. Like Gracey says – don’t let it stop you – this is a specifically ‘photography’ group, so many beautiful works that step over that mystical line get rejected :)

Many thanks for both of your replies, much appreciated. I think I’m a photoshop junkie! Seriously though, I do love editing, and that kind of photography will always get me going, but it’s also nice to step out of the comfort zone every once and a while… oh, and I’m getting a new camera soon, so I might feel that little bit better about those naked shots… ... I mean taking shots without editing them! ;-)

I like to know why all my image i have loaded in have been rejected they are all photos that i have put in.. without any reason you have reject them all your not fair to one that have great phots you just choose the well knowns. it seems like..

Nancy – when I go through the submissions, I do not even look at who the photographer is.

It also doesn’t help us if we don’t know which images you have submitted. If you could please give us some links to the images in question one of us may be able to tell you why.

The reason we have this forum…is for appeals.

I can’t say I recall any images specifically with your name, but I don’t usually look at the names unless I have to view the images in larger size.