He has titled this technique Print-Photo-Fusion. Fichter studied under Jerry Uelsmann and Henry Holmes Smith, who both had a significant impact on his work. In 1966, Fichter met Nathan Lyons and ended up working for him at George Eastman House as an assistant curator until 1968. Lyons started Visual Studies Workshop in 1969, and Fichter has since maintained an association with VSW. Fichter has also been a professor at a number of schools throughout his career.