Photoshop Fine Art Works - Ben Morales-Correa

In its broadest context, the term Photoshop Fine Art implies the use of Photoshop as a resource to provide photos with fine artistic qualities. It can be argued however, that since photography is a visual medium, all photos should contain inner artistic qualities (composition, design, contrasts and color) to enhance its purpose as a communications tool.

With digital technology and its incursion in the graphics art, a Photoshop fine art work has narrowed its meaning to the notion that it's possible to digitally manipulate a photo with graphics software and generate effects that resemble the characteristics of drawing, watercolor, and ultimately, an oil painting. It is within the scope of this definition that we use the term Photoshop fine art or Photoshop art work throughout this website.

But, really, what is the point of altering a perfectly good photo to make it resemble something it is simply not? Or the opposite, why would a fine artist create a painting that resembles a photograph? The fact of the matter is that both painting and photography are visual media that play an important creative role in the contemporary art scene. Comes the digital designer with his virtual art tools and a new generation of visual artists is born.

This intertwining of approaches to visualization and creativity has in reality erased the boundaries among the fine arts, illustration, graphic design and photography. No matter on which category we feel most comfortable, we are affected by the others out of our comfort zone.

Photoshop is the common ground. It provides the means for photographers to explore new possibilities in photographic expression, and for fine artists to create multiple studies in color, texture and design prior to the creation of finished paintings.