Help me with this Art Terminology
July 29, 2015 5:54 PM Subscribe
I've recently started noticing the phrase "lens-based artist" popping up everywhere. I would like to understand what exactly this means and why it has supplanted other terms that refer to an artist who primarily works in photography.
This came about because I currently work on a project that accepts online submissions from artists who work with all types of media. I've read a number of cover letters from these artists wherein the submitter refers to themselves as a "lens-based artist." I've been unable to find a through-line in these artworks that would help me make sense of why this phrase is invoked. Some of these artists are very obviously digitally manipulating their source photographs, while others seem to use the term as a fancier way of saying "Photographer." When did the descriptor "lens-based artist" come into prominence? I mean, I understand that there are ways to produce a photograph in the absence of a camera, but why make a distinction? Is this a new affectation, or has it been around longer than I assume?
This came about because I currently work on a project that accepts online submissions from artists who work with all types of media. I've read a number of cover letters from these artists wherein the submitter refers to themselves as a "lens-based artist." I've been unable to find a through-line in these artworks that would help me make sense of why this phrase is invoked. Some of these artists are very obviously digitally manipulating their source photographs, while others seem to use the term as a fancier way of saying "Photographer." When did the descriptor "lens-based artist" come into prominence? I mean, I understand that there are ways to produce a photograph in the absence of a camera, but why make a distinction? Is this a new affectation, or has it been around longer than I assume?
I've never heard the term used anywhere, ever. It sounds a lot like something invented by people who feel "photographer" is too pedestrian or doesn't adequately describe them as an Artist!
posted by Thorzdad at 7:00 PM on July 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 7:00 PM on July 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
Maybe they're trying to distinguish themselves from scruffy non-lens-based photographers like me.
posted by moonmilk at 7:36 PM on July 29, 2015
posted by moonmilk at 7:36 PM on July 29, 2015
Best answer: Interestingly the term is used by a college and a museum and... Try Googling not "lens-based artist" but "what is lens based art." There are more colleges and exhibits using the term to be found via the latter search, and collectively they give a good general overview, even if the question as to whether or not it's an affectation is still a bit up in the air. "Lens based image making definition" also gets some good hits and a cursory look at Google Scholar says it was used as early as 2007 and was "gaining ground" in 2012.
posted by kmennie at 8:04 PM on July 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by kmennie at 8:04 PM on July 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: That is excellent. I'm so glad you were able to find a time frame for when this term started to appear--that was probably what I wanted to figure out the most. I was studying art in college from 2007-2011 and never remember seeing it used in any context.
posted by blixapuff at 8:30 PM on July 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by blixapuff at 8:30 PM on July 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
More usage here in an academic context:
Candidates should work in one or more areas of lens-based and light-based media such as those listed below. They may explore overlapping and combinations of areas:
Portraiture
Landscape photography (working from the built or natural environment).
Still Life photography, (working from natural or manufactured objects).
Documentary photography, photo journalism, narrative photography, reportage
Fine Art photography, photographic installation
Photography involving a moving image, (television, film and animation).
New media practice such as computer manipulated photography and photographic projections.
As well as the increase in post-shot digital manipulation that you mention, SLR cameras have in the past few years become increasingly powerful and popular for video filming as well as photography.
I suppose "lens-based artist" is more succinct than "photographer / videographer / digital image manipulator"... but that doesn't make it sound any less pompous.
posted by protorp at 6:22 AM on July 30, 2015
Candidates should work in one or more areas of lens-based and light-based media such as those listed below. They may explore overlapping and combinations of areas:
Portraiture
Landscape photography (working from the built or natural environment).
Still Life photography, (working from natural or manufactured objects).
Documentary photography, photo journalism, narrative photography, reportage
Fine Art photography, photographic installation
Photography involving a moving image, (television, film and animation).
New media practice such as computer manipulated photography and photographic projections.
As well as the increase in post-shot digital manipulation that you mention, SLR cameras have in the past few years become increasingly powerful and popular for video filming as well as photography.
I suppose "lens-based artist" is more succinct than "photographer / videographer / digital image manipulator"... but that doesn't make it sound any less pompous.
posted by protorp at 6:22 AM on July 30, 2015
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posted by ndfine at 6:02 PM on July 29, 2015