Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/05/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]darrell_jennings@yahoo.com (Darrell Jennings)5/12/022:29 PM > don't see the difference between Photoshop and burning > and dodging. If we're going to have this discussion, let us be a bit more specific. We can certainly agree that there's not much difference between burning and dodging in the darkroom or burning and dodging in PhotoShop. Or adjusting levels in PhotoShop and choosing the contrast of a paper in the darkroom. But this thread began with a question regarding changing a background - putting an individual and a machine in a space that they didn't occupy. In journalistic terms - a visual misrepresentation - a lie. In artistic terms - potentially a work of art. Big difference. > 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, The questions around manipulation only have relevance if we're discussing journalism and/or documentary work. > 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. Fair enough for expressive graphic art. Makes no sense in terms of journalistic, scientific, or documentary work. > 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 Not sure anyone, before now, has suggested looking for "purity" (whatever that means) - simply honesty and integrity in forms of photography where the viewers expect such intentions from the photographers and images. To remain viable - such work - more and more will require notification of authenticity - as more and more visual communication will be about special effects and propoganda. George - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html