We are living in an era of constant connectivity, bombarded by an endless stream of images on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest...making it hard not to feel overwhelmed by the volume of visual content. Everyone has something to say, whether it's a sunset they caught on a walk or a perfect angle of their latte. It's easy, quick, and accessible. And while there's a place for this content, there's a bigger question beneath it all: Where does fine art fit in?

With a couple of taps, we have a photo that can reach thousands, if not millions. It's seductive, quick, and personal, and accessible, but does it have the depth, the intention, the grit that fine art photography offers?  iPhone photos, while fun, often lack what I like to call "soul." They document the world, but rarely challenge it.

Fine art photography isn't just about pointing a lens at something interesting. It's about seeing the world differently, capturing something beyond the surface.  Artists spend decades figuring out how to provoke thought, stir emotions, and force the viewer to ask questions, and at the end of the day, fine art photography doesn't disappear into the void of social media—it stays. It lingers. It makes a lasting statement.

Another idea that starts to feel like an afterthought is curation of art. We snap a photo, hit "share," and it's gone—replaced by the next photo, the next trend. Fine art, on the other hand, is about deliberate choice. It's about picking the right frame, the right lighting, the right moment, and crafting something intentional.

Take a photographer like Dorothea Lange. Her iconic shots from the Great Depression didn't just document a period in time—they told stories, captured humanity in its rawest form. And those stories aren't about getting likes—they're about evoking a reaction, about forcing you to stop and think. You're not just scrolling past her work—you're sitting with it, absorbing it.

Fine art isn't about chasing virality. It's about making something real in a world of fleeting.  This isn't just about posting pretty pictures. Photographers now manipulate images, create conceptual works, and push boundaries like never before. The art world has evolved, and social media's part of that evolution. It's a new kind of marketplace, where emerging artists have a platform and can bypass traditional galleries, where collectors can stumble upon the next great photographer with just a scroll.

Social media never sleeps, constantly demanding more, faster. The pursuit of authenticity is replaced with a rush to share, to 'like', to move on to the next thing, not leaving much time to contemplate the deeper meaning behind a piece.  Artists who used to spent years perfecting their craft now have to get it out there fast, raw, unrefined, and messy.  Despite the flood of content that's generated by millions of phones every day, fine art photography has staying power. It demands attention. It makes you think. It doesn't get lost in the noise.

This evolution allows fine art photography to stand as a reminder that the value of an image isn't just about how quickly it can grab your attention or how many times it can be shared. It's about depth. It's about leaving an imprint on your soul. So, while we scroll endlessly through our feeds, it's worth taking a moment to step back and appreciate the real art—the kind that forces us to pause, reflect, and maybe see the world a little differently.

Nadia V. Volchansky, M.S., M.B.A.

Assistant Professor

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE | CORCORAN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS & DESIGN

COLUMBIAN COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

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