Comments on: Photoshop is not a bad word

By: Mike Langer

Mike Langer — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:55:30 +0000

Photoshop has become an essential artistic tool for photographers, much like oil paints and brushes were for the Great Masters. These types of editing programs help us to create a more accurate depiction of our conscious or unconscious ideas in the images we choose to produce.

All art is manipulation, including those images we refer to as “photo-journalism”. The latter should always be viewed with that in mind. Read Susan’s Sontag’s essay, “Regarding the Pain of Others”, she’s right on target.
Mike LangerÂ´s last [type] ..Sweet Corn

By: wjd

wjd — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:49:18 +0000

There are times when stunning colors come SOOC and I like people to know it is not enhanced or photoshopped.
As an old timer (non-auto film camera, wet darkroom) I tend to keep my PP to enhancements similar to what I could’ve done in a darkroom. Though I have removed an offensive power cable or annoying bird or fixed red-eye..
Surreal images are a style I don’t like, but as with all style of art in all the different media it comes in – to each his or her own.
I have Photoshop cs2, but rarely use it. Acd Pro3 fulfills my day to day corrections n enhancements needs.
wjdÂ´s last [type] ..today

By: Matt Needham

Matt Needham — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:40:45 +0000

I am also frustrated with the lack of knowledge of the history of photography. Most photogs seem to think photography started with film and the straight photography school of thought of the traditional western landscape photographers. Study what came before such as the Pictorialists. The debate about “manipulation” has been around since the beginning.

“It is rather amusing, this tendency of the wise to regard a print which has been locally manipulated as irrational photography – this tendency which finds an aesthetic tone of expression in the word faked. A manipulated print may be not a photograph. The personal intervention between the action of the light and the print itself may be a blemish on the purity of photography. But, whether this intervention consists merely of marking, shading and tinting in a direct print, or of stippling, painting and scratching on the negative, or of using glycerin, brush and mop on a print, faking has set in, and the results must always depend upon the photographer, upon his personality, his technical ability and his feeling. But long before this stage of conscious manipulation has been begun, faking has already set in. In the very beginning, when the operator controls and regulates his time of exposure, when in dark-room the developer is mixed for detail, breadth, flatness or contrast, faking has been resorted to. In fact, every photograph is a fake from start to finish, a purely impersonal, unmanipulated photograph being practically impossible. When all is said, it still remains entirely a matter of degree and ability.” -Edward Steichen, Camera Work 1, 1903 from photoquotes.com

By: Matt Needham

Matt Needham — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:34:53 +0000

The problem with purists is that I can’t seem to find two that agree 100% on what is the true way. Photographers have always had to struggle to be recognized as artists. It’s frustrating to be told by some photographers that I am limited to a set of technical characteristics defined by the device, and that being creative and stepping outside the common box is cheating. So be it. Anyone can be a photographer. Apparently all it requires is a camera. I long to be an artist, which requires imagination.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:14:51 +0000

Thanks for the input – and an excellent article!

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:14:24 +0000

Just goes to show you – the only thing that remains the same is change!

By: Tyson Robichaud

Tyson Robichaud — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:06:51 +0000

In many art forms there are purists and those looking to use new tools to advance the medium. In my opinion, photoshop is merely a new tool. I find the argument against new digital technology and its relationship to photography to fall into a similar realm when looking at electric instruments in music. Did it “kill” the purity of music? Maybe from a ‘purist’ point of view, but now, what we know of music has incorporated many electric (and even electronic) instruments. I wrote an article on this debate after I’d read someone comment that “anything done to a picture after it has been captured is not photography” which I found to be ludicrous.

my article: http://tysonrobichaudphotography.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/photography-vs-art/
Tyson RobichaudÂ´s last [type] ..*Selective Color use in Black and White Photography

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:02:49 +0000

As some are known for saying – pixels are born to be punished!

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:02:24 +0000

Excellent point – even the best ooc digital needs sharpening, so the purist mentality really doesnt fit anymore!

By: Nicole Young

Nicole Young — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:59:41 +0000

I always thing it’s funny when you hear the digital photography “purists” who think that a photo should be un-touched out of camera. When I shot print film there was no way to avoid any type of “post-processing”. Out-of-camera meant the film still had to be processed with chemicals (which could vary the results depending on the temperature, age, etc. of the chemicals) and then developed in a darkroom. You have to choose exposure time, paper, aperture, filters, how long to soak each sheet, etc. when using a darkroom. Shooting slide-film is really the closest thing I can think of to SOOC images with film. Other than that, with digital, it’s silly IMO.
Nicole YoungÂ´s last [type] ..Trying Out the Canon 50mm f/1.4

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:54:07 +0000

I consider photography as art. An artist can do what ever he wants to achieve the result he is looking for. All that counts in art is the final image, not how it was achieved.

Of course, photo-journalism is another story. There should be nothing done that changes the reporting accuracy of the presented image.

By: Tweets that mention Photoshop is not a bad word | Canon Blogger -- Topsy.com

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:38:42 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jason Anderson and Cap Reg Photo Meetup, Kirsten Schmelzeisen. Kirsten Schmelzeisen said: Photoshop is not a bad word: A lot of photography conversations revolve around the question of how much editing ha… http://bit.ly/d7J4Ab [...]

By: Michael (@TCRPMG)

Michael (@TCRPMG) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:19:05 +0000

I used to be a SOOC guy, and was extremely offended if people thought I doctored up my photos. Over time, I got bored and wanted more, so I would make slight adjustments in Photoshop.

Fast forward to today, and I am a huge fan of PP. With things like HDR and Topaz plug-ins, how could you not? I wanted more from my pictures. The rich colors, the incredible details. I couldn’t help but try out new things.

So, in my humble opinion, No. Photoshop is not a bad word. It is a very good word. I think this applies to a lot of things in life – it’s the 2000s. It’s not the 80s or 90s anymore. Get with the times!
Michael (@TCRPMG)Â´s last [type] ..Review – LowePro FastPack 350