PhotoSchoolDropout.com
thoughts
technique
When is a Photograph Just Too "Fake?"
Ever since the first camera obscura was invented, we "serious" photographers have tweaked and manipulated light, movement, framing, exposure, focus, chemicals, films and papers to optimize or in some cases completely transform our images before presentation. This is nothing new.
We've filtered light both in front of the camera lens, and in the enlarger. We've cross-processed, pushed, and pulled film. We've hand-colored, dodged, and burned enlargements, and pushed and pulled paper processing. We've solarized and posterized and multiple-exposed and time-exposed.
The difference is that today, with our digital world, what once might have taken many hours, significant practice, and prudent application, is now done at the push of a button—and sometimes in the most basic of digital image editing applications.
Those of us who once spent hours before even seeing our image materialize before our eyes in darkroom tray are now sometimes spending hours tweaking our photographs after seeing our the images pop up in our photo editors. Why?
Because the line between an over-the-top "fake," kitschy photograph and one that is received by viewers as an artistic expression is thin one, and for many of us, there's more to finishing a photograph than just trying out filters to make "cool" FX.
Allowing for the fact that one person's art is another person's kitschy, and some folks even collect kitschy, here are some rules of thumb I use in my post-production:
Only you can decide for yourself when you've crossed the line from enhancing self-expression to "too fake" in one of your images—and then your viewers will decide for themselves.
What is your philosophy and approach to editing your images?
~MKP
The difference is that today, with our digital world, what once might have taken many hours, significant practice, and prudent application, is now done at the push of a button—and sometimes in the most basic of digital image editing applications.
Those of us who once spent hours before even seeing our image materialize before our eyes in darkroom tray are now sometimes spending hours tweaking our photographs after seeing our the images pop up in our photo editors. Why?
Because the line between an over-the-top "fake," kitschy photograph and one that is received by viewers as an artistic expression is thin one, and for many of us, there's more to finishing a photograph than just trying out filters to make "cool" FX.
Allowing for the fact that one person's art is another person's kitschy, and some folks even collect kitschy, here are some rules of thumb I use in my post-production:
- I let the light do most of the work. Photography is all about light. I try to use the light that I have at my disposal to make the photo. I don't mess with the basic chiaroscuro in an image. I will adjust for detail in darks and lights, but unless an art director is telling me to put something into the photograph that isn't there, I won't use Photoshop to add a key light or down light or spotlight where there isn't one.
- I go for delivering and/or amplifying the "feeling" I perceived when I took the photograph. I'll experiment with grain and filtering and contrast and sharpening... but not beyond the point where it isn't adding to the feeling or statement I want to get across. I'd rather hear "beautiful" or "moving" or "great photograph!" than "cool effect," but I'm happy (anytime) I can make an image that makes a difference to someone.
- I stay "connected" to the image during the process. This is a subtle thing that is hard to explain, but I don't make post-production about impressing someone, or using every feature in my software. It is about self-expression, and this means of self-expression, and delivering on the chance to optimize this particular expression in front of me. If any adjustments make me feel like I'm disconnecting or like I'm going in the wrong direction, I undo or go for a complete reset.
Only you can decide for yourself when you've crossed the line from enhancing self-expression to "too fake" in one of your images—and then your viewers will decide for themselves.
What is your philosophy and approach to editing your images?
~MKP
blog comments powered by Disqus