ABSTRACT
Fine art photographs are a reflection of the aesthetic, social, moral, conceptual, and technical imperatives of their time. The Association of International Photography Art Dealers was founded in 1979 and grew along with the expanding number of galleries over the next two decades. Prices were low as the genre was just finding a foothold in the marketplace. The popularity of photography grew substantially during the 1990s along with the number of galleries and an expanding collector base. The first international photography fair, Paris Photo, was first held in 1997, signaling the strength of fine art photography in a global context. The growth of the art market in China has coincided with the increased visibility of a select group of fine art photographers from the country. Alfred Stieglitz edited the new group's magazine titled Camera Works, a now legendary publication of extraordinary photographs printed in the highest quality. Major photography exhibitions also began to travel between museums, often attracting substantial crowds.
