As if the Adobe Creative Cloud argument wasn't enough, I'm stepping into one of my deranged rants again. So buckle up and enjoy the ride...
Manipulation of photography has been around for years, and years. Ansel Adams dodged and burned his images along with the use of various filters. And remember, his photographs were in black & white to begin with - isn't that by true definition, a manipulation of reality?
As my mother always used to say, "
When junk goes in, nothing but junk comes out." It is the same with photography. No matter how well you use a piece of imaging software, like Adobe Photoshop, if it's crap going in - it will be crap coming out. You can't take a fresh bison chip, roll it in sliced apple chunks, and call it an "apple fritter"! (Yeah, sorry about that visual. Just working on some bison photographs...)
99% of professional photographs own either Adobe Photoshop or some sort of photo image processing software. There are those that create imaginary worlds in Adobe Photoshop, but for the most part do not refer to them as actual.
I will continue to crop, dodge, burn, adjust contrast and levels, create the appearance of using actual varietals of film, and most importantly do what is needed to prepare an image for print or digital transmission. In fact, I may even do a composite every now and then, but I will take with great responsibility the onus to let the public know when I do. Even more, I will continue to experiment with new software technologies as they come out so that when it comes to my digital photographs, I will be prepared to create the most realistic interpretation of pixels as possible.
That is my personal belief and stance. Use what you can, but be honest with people about it. Let them know what you are doing and tell them with integrity and honesty. If you are using a $49.00 piece of software, great - learn it and use it well. But don't fling bison chips at the folks that are using $499 software well. And the best time to process an image: before you snap the shutter. Don't think you can just "Photoshop" that away!
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Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...
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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC
