Old fashioned thinking?

[JeffW98]

I was wondering how people feel about photo editing...

I use to subscribe to a photo mag from the U.k. when I started shooting digital. I loved the images and how they achieved them. The more I read these mags, the more it seemed they push for digital editing. Then, I started to look through some photos of Authors whose names I regurlarly heard. Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eugene Smith. They blew me away.

I wondered if theses GREATS would edit their photos as many do today.

I don't use Photoshop. I do use PSP from time to time if I feel realy creative. I feel that using a program such as Photoshop is kinda like cheating. I do understand it is a godsend for such things as commercial photography, like in advertising. But, when I went to a gallery in D.C a while ago, I stood there wondering, is it "REAL".

How do you feel about photographers that push the "shoot now, edit later" philosophy? How do you feel about photographers that might 'edit out' a stray branch, an electrical wire, or add a Beautiful Blue Sky with cotton-y clouds?

I myself love to push color and contrast. And yes, I am still learning how to 'CREATE' a photo like one of the GREATS. I'd just rather spend hours behind my camera then in front of a monitor. Should I continue with that old fashioned way of thinking? Or should I just shut my yap and jump on the wagon?

[AcadieLibre]

This post might be along what your thinking about.

http://www.photography.ca/Forums/showthread.php?t=2698

[tirediron]

I'd just rather spend hours behind my camera then in front of a monitor. Should I continue with that old fashioned way of thinking? Or should I just shut my yap and jump on the wagon?

As would most of us I'll wager, BUT remember that no image is ever as good as it can be SOOC, whether in the form of a negative or digital file. ALL images will benefit from some form of post-processing. The big difference with the transition to digital editing is that you can do more faster than you ever could before. While there are a few things that were beyond the reach of someone with a wet darkroom, most things that are done to digital images can and were done in wet darkrooms (They just took longer, cost more and smelled worse).

The end result of all of this is that you must produce an image that you are happy with; whether that means SOOC, or hours of work in the pixel-room is immaterial; it's what you like.

[Greg_Nuspel]

If you take Ansel Adams quote: "The negative is comparable to the composer's score and the print to its performance. Each performance differs in subtle ways."

Some people like to ad-lib more than others and some just play the notes. Photography is a form of expression and being individuals we all can set our own rules and then break them. I would hate to have never seen the work of Jerry Uelsmann (http://www.uelsmann.com/) I think he is one of the greats and his focus is on heavy manipulation in the darkroom. So just because we couldn't do it before doesn't make it wrong it may just not be for you.

[Iguanasan]

If you take Ansel Adams quote: "The negative is comparable to the composer's score and the print to its performance. Each performance differs in subtle ways."

Some people like to ad-lib more than others and some just play the notes. Photography is a form of expression and being individuals we all can set our own rules and then break them. I would hate to have never seen the work of Jerry Uelsmann (http://www.uelsmann.com/) I think he is one of the greats and his focus is on heavy manipulation in the darkroom. So just because we couldn't do it before doesn't make it wrong it may just not be for you.

Thanks for the link to Mr. Uelsmann... There were some cool images there.

[jellotranz]

It’s actually funny that you picked on 2 of my favorite photographers (Cartier-Bresson and Smith). I can tell you that Ansel Adams and Smith were very big on Dark Room technique. I have never read anything which stated that Henri Cartier-Bresson was much into the Darkroom. Cartier-Bresson always seemed to me to be more absorbed into the photography and didn’t want to be bothered with the printing aspect, which seemed strange to me as he always insisted that he was really a painter, so I figured he would be more into Darkroom Manipulation.

What would they do if they were here today.. My guess is the same as they did back then. If they were shooting today, they would probably all be dead set in shooting film.. (Just my opinion) but.. I do think they would be big time Photoshop users.. Cartier-Bresson, I just don’t see him doing it. If anyone ever comes across an article that talks about Cartier-Bresson’s darkroom work, please let me know, I would love to read it.

I know for me personally, I have about a minute limit on my images, (If I’m doing studio work they may get 2 minutes) if I can’t get what I want in around a minute, I move on to the next image and deem the previous image no good. That’s just me… Luckily I have always mostly done photojournalism where imagine manipulation is really kind of a no no once you get beyond basic adjusting of lightness, contrast and cropping.

I liked the scene in War Photographer where James Nachtwey is getting ready for a show. He sends a large print back several times for adjustments in the dark room. When I saw this I immediately thought.. YES I need one of those people.. Someone who will take the time to dodge and burn my prints over and over until I like them. This way I don’t have to do it.. But then again.. I’m really lazy in regards to this; I would rather shoot than bother with manipulating the final prints.

[JeffW98]

First, thaks for the replies. I guess I am mostly against using Photoshop to edit certain elements within the photo because I would rather spend my time shooting. Such as jellotranz...

[QUOTE=jellotranz; I’m really lazy in regards to this; I would rather shoot than bother with manipulating the final prints.[/QUOTE]

And maybe, it's because I don't fully understand the process of photo editing(within Photoshop... and others).

I am like a boy at Christmas when I decide to get up early to go out and shoot. Sitting there waiting for the sun to rise... walking around the scene before it does. And when it finally does, and if I create a photo that I like, it's as though I got that 'Red Ryder' BB gun I've been waiting for.

I try to follow the 'RULES' of photography. And break them easily. Am I a hypocrite for frowning upon the 'edit elements within a photo' philosophy? Even though I sometimes push color and contrasts within my own photos?

WOW! I frown at myself while I ponder that question...

[jellotranz]

[QUOTE=JeffW98;18906]Am I a hypocrite for frowning upon the 'edit elements within a photo' philosophy? QUOTE]

I don't think so at all.

Let me share with you my philosophy on photography. At the end of the day, I don’t care what equipment you shot with, nor does it matter if you spent 15 minutes or 15 hours post processing your image, all to me that matters is the end result. How you personally choose to get there isn’t really all that important. In the end its all about the final image. So having said that, do your photography for you, how you want to, and in a manner that works for you.

I do things how I want to do them. Is my way always right, I seriously doubt it! Does everyone like how I shoot things.. Nope, I have had plenty of editors really blast me. Bottom line. I have always loved photography and I try very hard to shoot and do what makes me happy. If the rest of the world enjoys what I have shot, great, if they don’t…. Well… that’s ok too; I didn’t create the image for anyone but myself.

If I try to shoot things the way someone else wants me to, or a subject I am not interested in or inspired by… My photo’s clearly show it. They suck every time, and I mean really suck. So I do things my way or I don’t bother. I find this philosophy works well for me and how and what I shoot. Will it work for you? Maybe, maybe not.

On one final note, when I talk about shooting, I mean the complete process from start to finish including printing and or posting to the net, so it’s not just the actual in camera work I am talking about.

[JeffW98]

[QUOTE=jellotranz;18974] I didn’t create the image for anyone but myself.

QUOTE]


EXACTO!!! my way of thinking also. Thanx again for the replies.

SEE YOU ON THE WALL!