Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/05/12

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Photoshop dilemma
From: Darrell Jennings <darrell_jennings@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 12 May 2002 14:29:40 -0700 (PDT)

I couldn't disagree more.  The only justification you
need to alter a photograph is that you wanted to. I
don't see the difference between Photoshop and burning
and dodging. 

If you think the purpose of a photo is to somehow
convey truth, I think that battle was lost long ago. 
A photo, like the written word only conveys what the
photographer or writer wants to convey.  If that is
truth (what one hopes for in a photo journalist), then
great, if not, the only question is do you like the
image?  Does it make you think or feel something that
the photographer wants you to think or feel. 

If you are looking for "purity" in photography, then
why not require all photos to be taken by people with
no opinions or points of view of people with no
opinions or points of view, and print them only full
frame with no burning or dodging. 

- --- "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net> wrote:
> We draw the line where we always drew it: the fact
> that technology now
> allows us to intentionally alter photographs far
> more easilly and in ways we
> could never have altered them before does not give
> us justification to do
> so.
> 
> B. D.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On
> Behalf Of Aram
> Langhans
> Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2002 1:23 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Photoshop dilemma
> 
> 
> Hi Ted.
> 
> I don't think anyone views a painting with the
> expectation that it
> accurately reflects reality.  I do think that most
> people view a photography
> with that expectation.  Perhaps it is because we all
> have those experiences
> with our work.  When we draw/paint, most of us could
> never acheive a
> reflection of reality, so we don't expect it.  If we
> take a snapshot we do
> expect a reflection of reality.
> 
> Where do we draw the line?  It is getting harder and
> harder to decide.
> 
> Aram
> 
> 
> > Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 16:37:56 -0700
> > From: "Ted Bayer" <tedbayer@harbornet.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Photoshop dilemma
> > Message-ID:
> <01c801c1f944$fe371680$74a242cf@bayeramd>
> > References: <20443395323781@mirage.tcinternet.net>
> >
> > This is an interesting question - not just
> reserved for photographs.
> >
> > For example, I paint landscapes.  Do I paint
> everything I see in the
> > scene?  Of course not.  I try to paint the subject
> as accurately as I
> > can, but I may leave out something that might
> detract from it.  I
> > may alter some of the colors, or perhaps feather
> out edges to make an
> > object appear less sharp - sort of the same thing
> Sonny did with the
> > background in this photograph (or rendition,
> whichever you prefer).
> Snip
> 
> > If every picture or painting was painstakingly
> rendered to portray the
> > subject exactly as it is, then, IMHO, we would be
> living in a very dull
> > world indeed.
> >
> > Of course that doesn't answer the question of when
> is a photograph not a
> > photograph.
> >
> > Perhaps that depends upon what the meaning of is
> is.
> >
> > Ted in Olalla
> >
> 
> 
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