Photography & digital editing

[Shari]

I just got home from 'Portobello West'. This is a market the last Sunday of every month in Vancouver. An outside market with hundreds of artists selling their work. My neice worked at the one in London, England and is now involved in this Vancouver one. There were a number of Photography artists showing wonderful work. The thing is - I thought a lot of it was photoshopped but when asking it was not. There were some tulips similar to ones I have done and those Robyn just did. There was expensive black and white photography but I have seen just as nice in our galleries. I actually feel sorry for photographers now because I don't think the same appreciation is there for their imaginative work. Maybe I am wrong but I think they would be pretty upset if they looked in some of our galleries and saw the quality of work from members who have only been around for a year or two. Just wondering what others think when they go into galleries these days.
Shari

[kerriann85]

Shari, interesting thoughts. Think what it's like to be a professional photographer and hear someone say "Oh my neighbor just got a new camera, she's taking my daughter's senior pictures"

The stuff in your gallery looks great. Love the "candy apple" picture.

Question about the b&w little girl. Did you shoot it b&w in the camera or convert it in PS? (great shot)

Shoot me if you want, maybe it's the way you intended, but it looks a bit off (not quite sepia, but a bit on the brown side?) Try doing a levels adjustment, using the white dropper on the whitest point you can find, and the black dropper on the blackest point (handle by her hand) then slide the middle slider to even it up a touch. Just see what you think. Less muddy?

[Shari]

Thanks for the comments Kerriann. You see, that is why I could not be a professional photographer. I fooled around myself and I actually added a warming photo filter and I liked the effect. I took the photo in colour and I also have it in just black and white without any touchups. I appreciate the comments and since I love black and white photography and plan to do several for our den I will try what you say. I guess that is what I was getting at. As a lay person I didn't see the difference between the pros photos and some of what has been posted here. As a professional you notice right away. It is like I am good at interior decorating and I can walk into someone's house and see what is off right away. They are quite happy with the way it is. I myself would like to get better at photography so with the camera course I am taking next month and helpful comments like yours I hope I succeed - whatever I do though I am sure having fun.
Shari

[kerriann85]

Shari, thanks for not shooting me, since it actually was what you intended. :)
If you like it, then it's perfect as is!
I guess I'm so used to (from the pro-photogs forum) people wanting b&w images to be fairly high contrast so the b is b and the w is w that my brain automatically went that way. It really is almost a sepia tone, maybe if it was just a little more on the brown/red side.

Still love the capture!

And you're welcome to come help me with my house! I am NO decorator!! :D

[chas3stix]

Shari,Kerriann,
Have been to an arts&crafts bazzar and found two different "pro photographers" selling the exact same photos. Coincidence? I think not. And then each had the nerve to tell me that no photoshop was used. Two exact European door shots...one was blue and the other red. Fool me once,shame on you.....:(
Chas

[AngelicKim]

In this day and age with digital and programs like Photoshop I find it hard to believe that nothing isn't corrected in some manner anymore. I have also seen what Chas has just said. Then you have to look at the Rueters recent fiascos with the photos being obviously photoshopped. I look at the galleries and think the same things as you mentioned. Look at the things Wendy has done. The store front photo she did (I think it was her) was totally photoshopped, no camera used at all. It was an awesome job. Its like the old ad for Memorex, Is it Real or is it Phopshop.

[chas3stix]

Kim,
There is an "upscale" shopping district near here with a photo gallery that sell fine art photos all shot with 8X10 view cameras. They advertise no photoshop here....but they don't say whether or not they dodge or burn in the darkroom.
Get my drift? IMHO a fine art print from a digital photo is as much a fine art print from film.
Chas

[Shari]

What I was trying to say is I actually feel badly for professional photographers. They have all their training and now so many people are doing their own photography because of digital imaging.

But the pros can tell. Kerriann - thank you. I have never used the droppers in levels before. I didn't even know about them. I don't really know if I have done a good job or not. I did take the white from the whitest and the black from the blackest. The slider was already in the middle. I moved it a bit. This is something I will have to play around with - there is just sooo much to learn. This is what I came up with
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/11NmNSMS1pzFVqCVNOClKFfoGFCcq1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=11NmNSMS1pzFVqCVNOClKFfoGFCcq1)
Shari

[chas3stix]

Shari,
The black and white image you did looks great to me. Old film days rule of thumb for B&W prints .....for image to be effective it should portray as many shades of gray (from white to black) as possible. I think there are around 20 or so....
Chas

[AngelicKim]

Shari, I agree with you. I just got off track on my post after reading Chas'. I would love to become more of a Pro but have alot to learn yet. It does have to be hard for them like you said.