Photo too far?
As someone who enjoys the rewards of wielding a camera, I’ve spent some time considering what level of digital photo editing is acceptable. Can one edit too much? I guess not, but I’m probably a purist in that I prefer some level of reality in what I capture and present.
In referring to myself, I prefer the term ‘photographic artist’ to photographer – I have no qualification, formal or otherwise. However, I still see a photograph as some representation of reality. It’s a method of expressing my creativity, without the pressure of pretending that I fully understand photographic method. The creativity is in the exposure, cropping, framing, subject, timing, selection of equipment, and a thousand other subtle variables that can help make a photograph unique. You don’t necessarily have to be a master of all of these to get good results – a willingness to experiment is the key.
Some may choose digital editing to express a style, but I think mostly it’s chosen to make up for a lacking in one or more of those many variables.
I fear that while we’ve entered a period where almost anything can be created using digital tools – sadly few stop to consider the Jurassic Park question: Just because we can, does it mean we should?*
For those of you who have viewed some of my work, and have some technical knowledge – you may wish to remind me that from time to time I utilise HDR methods. Isn’t this ‘digital enhancement’?
Perhaps not.
HDR simply means High Dynamic Range – in simple terms the photograph contains a wider range of available colours than has been available in the past in a ‘standard’ photograph.
Using existing equipment, this method utilises three exposures of a single image, where a different exposure time is used for each – one ‘dark’ – exposed for shadows, one ‘standard’ exposure, and one ‘bright’ – exposed for highlights. These exposures are then digitally combined so that the value for each pixel of the digital image contains the combined information from each exposure.
Crafted carefully, the resulting image contains a wider range of visible information than results from a single exposure. There is texture in the shadows, and subtle gradations in the brightest sky. Clouds are visible where normally they wouldn’t be. Skin and stone have beautiful coloured texture. Colours feel richer…. in short, at best, it feels like you can ‘step into the photo’.
All digital photography involves manipulation of some sort – the very act of extracting electronic information from a digital camera sensor involves interpretation. Even a pocket camera has in-built algorithms that make decisions for you, based on best-case scenarios determined by the manufacturer.
HDR is a way of putting those decisions back in the photographer’s hands. Look it up, get an SLR, learn the method, and have a play.
And next time you’re thinking you need to spend six hours in photoshop, on a single image, to achieve the results you want – step away from the computer and try a different method.
It’s more important to ‘break open your eye’ – spend more time with the subject than with the computer, and try some different angles, different approaches. Use digital tools selectively and sparingly.
Get to work! Everyone can be creative!
Note: * In Jurassic Park, Jeff Goldblum’s character asks “Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should?”. It’s a good question!
