Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]This is an interesting topic. What do people think: Is the digital altering of photographic content "kosher?" Is it a slippery slope we shouldn't step on? Or is it merely a tool to make our photographs stronger? And what about "the truth?" I'm inclined to impose Nathan's restrictions on myself--to do digitally only what one could do in a darkroom. This means that dodging, burning, cropping, spotting, contrast and color balance are OK, but adding or removing objects from the photo are not. Perhaps I feel this way because I learned about photography by reading lots of "decisive moment" stuff. I always thought printing full frame was a bit of a pretentious conceit, because we are allowed to select the slice of time and space we shoot. But putting in a different background or removing a distracting object seems to me to be interfering with "the truth," whatever that is. Once we begin to do it regularly, how can our photos be trusted to show the scene as it actually was? It's sort of like the journalist who does a commercial--the perception of their objectivity is forever altered. Then again, removing the red light in Nathan's picture seems harmless enough. It doesn't change the relationship between the couple and the old man, which is what the photograph is about. So Ken's edit is akin to removing the "ums," burps and belches from a recorded interview. When I was a public radio producer, I had no ethical issues with doing this, or with removing irrelevant digressions so that what the person actually said came through without distraction. A few years ago, this subject came up in the press with respect to wildlife photography, and the discussion broadened to whether *any* photo can be trusted any more. Are we all whores, and it's just a matter of degree, or do some of us still have intergrity? ;-) - --Peter Nathan says, regarding: Original: http://www.geocities.com/belgiangator/24.jpg vs. Ken's edit: http://www.iisaka.org/24.jpg > Hi Ken, > > Undoubtedly your corrected version is better. But...it is no longer my picture, > because removing the red light in PS crosses the line that I have imposed on > myself (and I repeat, on myself, I have no desire to impose my rules on others). > > Nathan > > Ken Iisaka wrote: > > > As soon as Ted pointed out, the red traffic light (?) grabs so much > > attention. > > > > How about this: http://www.iisaka.org/24.jpg > > > > I also think this works better in colour. The dreamy feel from the flare in > > the lens adds some softness. > > - -- > Nathan Wajsman > Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland > > e-mail: wajsman@webshuttle.ch > > General photo site: http://belgiangator.tripod.com/ > Belgium photo site: http://members.xoom.com/wajsman/ > Motorcycle site: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/1704/ >