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04/08/2007 09:57:04 PM · #51 |
Originally posted by aerogurl:
...to win a ribbon around here you have to either a) have some great PS skills or B) Luck up and take one of those once in a lifetime images, and 9 times out of 10 a PS'd image will ribbon above it anyway. ... |
Not quite. To win a ribbon IMO, you need to produce an image that draws attention... an emotional subject, a dramatic landscape, an interesting concept, a cool lighting effect, a fascinating macro or stop-action image... basically something you don't see every day. If an entry looks like anybody could have shot it, then it will get a score to match. Good post-processing can help elevate an image and make it more "special," but that alone will never secure a ribbon. In fact, the reverse is probably true: poor post-processing will rob an otherwise-great shot of the score it deserves.
You could almost equate post processing to lens quality... a sharp, well-crafted lens enhances the capture while a cheap, low-quality lens will result in cheap, low-quality images even if you're shooting exactly the same thing, and both are entirely dependent upon what and how you shoot. I see people complain that the expensive equipment usually wins about as often as I see people complain that the best Photoshopping usually wins. The reaility is that the best vision usually wins, and I've taken ribbons with some pretty lousy Photoshop work!
Message edited by author 2007-04-08 21:59:55. |
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04/08/2007 09:59:38 PM · #52 |
TO further support  scalvert heres a bunch of his images. Now while im sure some PP is involved NO AMOUNT OF EDITING WILL MAKE UP FOR HIS PURE CREATIVITY
All of these are good because of creativity and they are not digital art and have not been overly PP'd.
   
a couple of how they were dones
 
Id love to have even 1/4 of this mans creativity.
Message edited by author 2007-04-08 22:01:45. |
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04/08/2007 10:24:40 PM · #53 |
I thought I'd add my 2 cents worth to the mix since one of my images is being used as an example...
Back when I first started at DPC I didn't know anything about editing. My first entry had no editing done at all other than resizing and a basic sharpen (I think). One of my early entries is this post-processing disaster:
I have learnt a lot since then and I think my sunflower shot shows that:
The editing rules on DPC allow for different levels. To start with I was afraid of anything but Basic editing. I'm still dubious about Expert editing but I'll give it a go for this months Free Study. I think it is about evolving as an artist. Photography is art after all.
Do I think editing an image is wrong? No. Digital cameras "do stuff" to photos anyway. They sharpen, they add contrast etc. We are just doing similar things in photoshop. Doesn't rumour say that Ansell Adams added clouds to the sky in some of his images? We'd be DQ'd for doing that here!
Exploring my sunflower some more...did I see it like that? Almost but not quite. I would have liked to as the result is closer to how I "see" them in my mind, a giant vivid yellow flower standing tall on a wonderful summers day.
Originally posted by Qart:
You would have absolutely no idea what changes were made unless the photog wasn't gracious enough to display his original. Which I'm afraid he may be reluctant to do again after this thread is dead and gone. |
I'll continue to do so and to post my editing steps in what detail I can. I have learnt heaps from this site and reading about others images. I think it is a great way to learn and I'd like to be a part of that process.
Originally posted by Artyste:
had they copied in a few bees buzzing around |
That's quite funny as there were a lot of bees buzzing around and it was hard to get a sunflower without them for the shot :) |
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04/08/2007 10:24:50 PM · #54 |
Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
TO further support scalvert heres a bunch of his images. Now while im sure some PP is involved NO AMOUNT OF EDITING WILL MAKE UP FOR HIS PURE CREATIVITY
All of these are good because of creativity and they are not digital art and have not been overly PP'd. |
For me, I would say they are good because of creativity and just leave it at that. My opinion of his creativity or his photography wouldn't change if I latter learned that these were composites put together in photoshop. Either way it would still be photography just like it always has been.
Message edited by author 2007-04-08 22:27:20. |
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04/08/2007 10:36:40 PM · #55 |
When my daughter was young enough to have stories read to her at bed time, I often did not read from a book at all but made them up ad hoc and on the spot. Now, I don't know how many of you share my experience of making up stories. To those who have never done this before, I want to point out that the process is a magical one in that the teller usually has no idea at all as to the nature of the plot or as to where it might be going. Good story-telling is not a self-conscious process. The teller, instead, uncovers a story by venturing into the unknown. If he remains true to the process (not consciously borrowing any elements elsewhere), a story will tell itself.
Every now and then, my daughter would ask, if a particular story was true. Well, of course, it was. What can be truer than something you just lived through?
- I certainly can't read the paper or watch the news with that kind of confidence.
- It also shows that what we commonly take to be reality is no more than a tangible surface.
- What's beneath it, should be of interest to a serious photographer, especially when nothing else appears to be visible.
Message edited by author 2007-04-08 22:36:54. |
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04/08/2007 10:57:31 PM · #56 |
| I find that working with a photo in post gives me another realm to explore what's underneath and my response to it. |
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04/08/2007 11:05:53 PM · #57 |
I have something to say to people who get discouraged looking at the post processing that others are able to do.
Don't be discouraged!!
I know it's easy. I myself took a look a while ago at the before and after thread, and was like oh my gosh, I'll never measure up. But now I am able to do more in post than I could before, and the final product sometimes really excites me. I've actually done a few writeups to show *other* people how to do some stuff in post. I never thought I'd be able to do that!
Just keep practicing. You will get better! And then you can choose if you want to apply heavy processing or not, and maybe you won't want to. But all I'm saying is to turn that discouragement into hard work and practice practice practice, and you might be surprised at what you are able to do. :-)
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04/08/2007 11:07:06 PM · #58 |
Originally posted by Nuzzer:
I have learnt a lot since then and I think my sunflower shot shows that:
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Wow, I remember commenting on "Advance to Go". You HAVE learned a lot. Congrats!
Message edited by author 2007-04-08 23:07:31. |
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04/09/2007 09:23:10 AM · #59 |
I don't mind a lot of postprocessing and I even think the current expert rules are too limited. I am not that good at pp myself yet. But the quality of most photoshop work, even of high rated work here at dpc, is pretty sucky most of the times.
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04/09/2007 09:59:41 AM · #60 |
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Adapt or die. |
No, its adapt, migrate, or die! I been using that quote since 1973, when I migrated and adapted to finding a job in the real world in biology. ;0 |
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04/09/2007 10:00:31 AM · #61 |
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04/10/2007 02:24:56 AM · #62 |
I just wanted to say thanks for giving us an idea of how you edited this photo, it really tought me alot
I would love to see you at work!, you do some amazing things
I know some people dont like the fact you edited so much
IMO,you should keep it up!, i learn so much from you
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04/10/2007 10:53:41 AM · #63 |
Part of what I love about photojournalism is the lack of extreme post-processing. You can still create incredible images without going crazy in photoshop.
Some examples from the AP:
Photos by Katsumi Kasahara, William Fernando Martinez, and Rafiq Maqbool respectively. |
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04/11/2007 01:12:35 AM · #64 |
Thanks for some good education! :)
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04/11/2007 08:28:57 PM · #65 |
There are other websites for photoshop digital art competition. They are great examples of how digital art is distinct from the fantastic photography we get here at DPC.
www.worth1000.com - A picture is worth 1000 words.
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04/11/2007 09:01:25 PM · #66 |
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