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Nikon DSLR Cameras
General Digital SLR Cameras
Photo Editing is No Substitute for Photography Technique
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<blockquote data-quote="Horoscope Fish" data-source="post: 179947" data-attributes="member: 13090"><p>My Take on What Photography Means to Me:</p><p>While I agree the name of the class was misleading and an unfortunate ploy (I assume), I have to disagree with saying "...photography is about capturing memories, to revisit and share with others". I really do take exception to sweeping statements like that to justify a viewpoint. If you (meaning the author) don't mind, I'll determine for myself what my photography is all about, thank you very much. Now, that being said, photography is my creative outlet and the final image is rarely if ever about, "I Was Here" or, "I Did This Amazing Thing" but rather about creating an image that captures and reflects a concept or communicates an idea and then (hopefully) evokes a response from the viewer. It's what I call, "Wow Factor". An image that moves the viewer; that's Wow Factor and that is my goal. I suppose there are times I want to capture a moment. But here too what elevates a snapshot into a photograph is thought and planning. </p><p></p><p>My Take on Digital Manipulation:</p><p>A snapshot is taken with little or no consideration. The very word snap... shot... conveys the idea of it being, quite literally, "pointandshoot". A photograph, on the other hand, is considered. It is thought out, planned, choreographed and yes, sometimes manipulated. A real pro I've had the pleasure of working with once told me, "Rule #1: Photography is work." Years ago I worked in a special room completely light proofed. It reeked of chemicals. It was, typically, somewhat hot and stuffy. I used enlargers. I cropped. I burned and dodged and rubbed developer and stop solution and spent hours getting what I wanted. Now, I sit in my comfortable office chair, fire up my computer and do in a couple minutes on that computer monitor what used to take a couple hours in the darkroom. What I have gained is convenience and an immediacy of result. It allows me to do more and learn more because the entire feedback loop has been shortened immensely.</p><p></p><p>The question, however it's worded, comes down to, "How much manipulation is 'too much' manipulation?" I guess I could ask a painter the same the question. Is Impressionism wrong? How about Cubism, Abstract Expressionism or Art Nouveau? If your only acceptable viewpoint is absolute Realism fine, but leave room for artists who want expand the borders of what's possible. I think photography gets a hard time because for so long a picture was considered "absolute"; manipulation ranged from impractical to impossible and what little that could be done was crude. Digital photographs are really digital images and for many a digital photo is nothing more than a blank canvas, a jumping off point for something else; not an end unto itself. In some weird way I agree that snapshots should not be altered. They are "pointandshoot" and so should reflect the moment, the scene and so forth exactly as it was. A photograph on the other hand lends itself to my creative impulse. It is mine to bend and shape into whatever my creative Voice is crying out for. I'm not trying to have a "Kodak Moment" with my family about Debbie's 3rd birthday and oh look at so and so in a funny hat! (everyone laughs)... I'm trying to convey a deeper concept about the world and how I view it or how I feel about it. Maybe I want you to think about something in a different way. Maybe I want to "wow" myself... To achieve these ends I reserve the right to manipulate my images in any way I choose. And I wouldn't go back to the dark room for both love and money.</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #FFFFFF">.......</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Horoscope Fish, post: 179947, member: 13090"] My Take on What Photography Means to Me: While I agree the name of the class was misleading and an unfortunate ploy (I assume), I have to disagree with saying "...photography is about capturing memories, to revisit and share with others". I really do take exception to sweeping statements like that to justify a viewpoint. If you (meaning the author) don't mind, I'll determine for myself what my photography is all about, thank you very much. Now, that being said, photography is my creative outlet and the final image is rarely if ever about, "I Was Here" or, "I Did This Amazing Thing" but rather about creating an image that captures and reflects a concept or communicates an idea and then (hopefully) evokes a response from the viewer. It's what I call, "Wow Factor". An image that moves the viewer; that's Wow Factor and that is my goal. I suppose there are times I want to capture a moment. But here too what elevates a snapshot into a photograph is thought and planning. My Take on Digital Manipulation: A snapshot is taken with little or no consideration. The very word snap... shot... conveys the idea of it being, quite literally, "pointandshoot". A photograph, on the other hand, is considered. It is thought out, planned, choreographed and yes, sometimes manipulated. A real pro I've had the pleasure of working with once told me, "Rule #1: Photography is work." Years ago I worked in a special room completely light proofed. It reeked of chemicals. It was, typically, somewhat hot and stuffy. I used enlargers. I cropped. I burned and dodged and rubbed developer and stop solution and spent hours getting what I wanted. Now, I sit in my comfortable office chair, fire up my computer and do in a couple minutes on that computer monitor what used to take a couple hours in the darkroom. What I have gained is convenience and an immediacy of result. It allows me to do more and learn more because the entire feedback loop has been shortened immensely. The question, however it's worded, comes down to, "How much manipulation is 'too much' manipulation?" I guess I could ask a painter the same the question. Is Impressionism wrong? How about Cubism, Abstract Expressionism or Art Nouveau? If your only acceptable viewpoint is absolute Realism fine, but leave room for artists who want expand the borders of what's possible. I think photography gets a hard time because for so long a picture was considered "absolute"; manipulation ranged from impractical to impossible and what little that could be done was crude. Digital photographs are really digital images and for many a digital photo is nothing more than a blank canvas, a jumping off point for something else; not an end unto itself. In some weird way I agree that snapshots should not be altered. They are "pointandshoot" and so should reflect the moment, the scene and so forth exactly as it was. A photograph on the other hand lends itself to my creative impulse. It is mine to bend and shape into whatever my creative Voice is crying out for. I'm not trying to have a "Kodak Moment" with my family about Debbie's 3rd birthday and oh look at so and so in a funny hat! (everyone laughs)... I'm trying to convey a deeper concept about the world and how I view it or how I feel about it. Maybe I want you to think about something in a different way. Maybe I want to "wow" myself... To achieve these ends I reserve the right to manipulate my images in any way I choose. And I wouldn't go back to the dark room for both love and money. [COLOR="#FFFFFF"].......[/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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