Creative examples of conceptual photography & artwork

Conceptual photography, as part of conceptual art, is a genre in which the photographer attempts to illustrate a specific concept or idea, or get across a message.

Usually the conception of the idea precedes the realization and the making of the photograph, and the underlying meaning or theme behind that photograph is often not so bluntly stated, having a certain level of abstraction, and leaving room for the viewer to interpret the scene and use their own past emotional and environmental experiences to resolve the somewhat mystery behind a specific photograph.

This kind of photography often involves the use of photo editing software to achieve the desired effect and look, though a lot of photographers don’t incorporate digital technology in the work flow of their process. They arrange the elements of their composition in such a way that those elements and their placement within the frame build the concept, the idea, and the final outcome

Conceptual photography and artwork gives room for creativity and inspiration. The portrayed messages and ideas can be anything from deep personal emotional experiences, to political or environmental incidents and facts, to even mundane commercial ads.

Conceptual photographers and artists make use of well-established, carefully chosen symbols in their work to help embed their message and carry out the idea behind their image. One issue a conceptual artist faces is, whether to go with a universal type of symbolism or not. Whether to have their photo interpreted in a subjective or in an objective manner. That is, whether to symbolize their concept in such a way that would be interpreted similarly by everyone, or whether to play on abstraction and implication in such a manner that would trigger all kinds of different reactions and interpretations.

Another decision a conceptual artist faces is whether to go with a minimalist or with a complicated approach. Some people like to keep their image clean and simple. They use plain backgrounds for example, and compose their frame in such a way that focuses all viewer’s attention on the subject matter. On the one unique message or concept behind their photo. Others utilize a multitude of subjects, and incorporate varying elements within their compositions. Having each element serve a particular message, and giving rise to a plethora of different interpretations and emotional reactions. Those elements sometimes complement and emphasize each other, and other times they even clash and detract from one another’s purpose and message.

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