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10/24/2006 12:43:06 AM · #1 |
| I just went to the library and checked out Ansel at 100. Made me realize that I rely on Photoshop way too much. I read on some forum where a guy thought that if Ansel were alive he would be all over photoshop. I think that photoshop would ruin his images, and turn them into every other thing out there... |
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10/24/2006 12:46:21 AM · #2 |
His images (those I am familiar with anyway) were just as heavily post-processed as most anything done in photoshop -- short, perhaps, of the actual creation of things.
David
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10/24/2006 12:47:57 AM · #3 |
| How much post could be done in 1935? |
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10/24/2006 12:50:56 AM · #4 |
Why would you make that assumption? Why would you assume the purity of his vision would change based on the tools he had available? Ansel was a very technical, "scientific" photographer; one of the things that made his work great was his exploration of the physical possibilities of his media, how he could capture & reproduce luminosity of tones in such a breathtaking way. Photoshop, for all that it is maligned by "purists", is first and foremost a very sophisticated technical tool which allows you to fine-tune your vision very precisely.
For what it's worth, when Polaroid came out with color photography, Ansel was all over it like white on rice; he worked hand in hand with the people at Polaroid to perfect their very unusual, large-format color process, and he also did a bunch of experimenting with the little SX-70 camera and its unique film. He also did a LOT of work with Polaroid's 55 P/N 4x5 film packs, which delivered both a print and a virtually grain-free B/W negative that was unmatched by any other film for the purity of its tonal gradients.
Robt. |
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10/24/2006 12:52:24 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by boomtap:
How much post could be done in 1935? |
Lots of it :-) The man was a master darkroom technician/innovator. I know, I've actually printed in his darkroom from his negatives, and believe me, it wasn't easy...
R. |
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10/24/2006 12:55:19 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by boomtap:
How much post could be done in 1935? |
A hell of a lot, especially on large format negatives. Doging and burning, types of paper and the chemicals used for starters. There were also an assortment of tools for touching up the negatives themselves, pencils and such like.
I've seen a few books on what can be done, er, was done, back in the day. Hollywood retouched portraits then just like today.
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10/24/2006 01:02:21 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by boomtap:
I just went to the library and checked out Ansel at 100. Made me realize that I rely on Photoshop way too much. I read on some forum where a guy thought that if Ansel were alive he would be all over photoshop. I think that photoshop would ruin his images, and turn them into every other thing out there... |
I have seen his images on the net but you will never appreciate his work until you see one of his prints, staring at it face to face. Last weekend I went to view 150 of his work, the man was amazing. The exhibit was appropriately titled "Ansel Adams: Celebration of Genius". He would not deviate from his values, technical skills, and vision just because of newer technology. How can I say this?, I have seen some of his best work. Something I advise everyone to do I they have the chance.
SDW
Message edited by author 2006-10-24 01:05:26. |
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10/24/2006 01:04:01 AM · #8 |
I think he might have gone the way of George Lucas if he had his hands on computer technology. Geroge used creativity and resourcefulness to create the first star wars movies and they were years ahead of their time much like Ansel photographs. Give him(George) the computer and he relied on it so much as a creative tool that he destroyed the vision. I think Ansel would have done the same thing. He would have embraced the creative power of the computer, to the point of killing his vision.
I really would like to see his work not in a book. It is just wonderful. My favorite is the one with the tree...lol
Message edited by author 2006-10-24 12:53:50. |
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