Bill Brandt said that there are no rules in photography. He manipulated some of his images in the darkroom. What do you think? How far do you allow yourself to go when it comes to editing your images?
I don't tend to do it very much. Exposure correction in LR, sharpening, straightening & cropping and I'm generally done. For me - it's because I don't see it as an enjoyable part of photography. Taking something into Photoshop is far more effort than I can be bothered with and unless I've made a real goof (I left my camera bag in-shot in one of my favourite images) I avoid it altogether. I prefer to be out with my camera, trying to make images wherever I am. Watching other photographers who do this (in un-spectacular environments) makes up most of my sub list. I'm not bothered for 'how to do x in photoshop' videos or 'look at me in iceland/some-national-park/insert-exotic-location-here'. However I do think there's a large market for it. Moar film plz :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, it's always interesting to see what others think :) I agree on being out there making images, but one can only do it for so long. At some point, we have to take the time to bring our images to life, be it in a darkroom or computer. It's a very important part of photography, Bill Brandt argued that it was the most important part. Not sure if I agree with him on this, but I understand where he's coming from. About the location, I believe good photography can be made anywhere, in epic national parks and in your backyard. Again, thanks for your comment!
@@aows For me - it's the print that brings the image to life. And I probably spend a bit more time with print dialogues & book making software than I do with selection tools :) It's a good phrase "bringing an image to life". Thanks for your reply. It's good to hear different opinions. Life would be terribly boring if we were all the same.
@@aows My printer is an old Epson SP4800. It's a desk giant but still does fab prints. It has 3 blacks and copes brilliantly with B&W as well as colour. For me, it's all about the paper. Permajet FB Mono Gloss Baryta for that Ilford Multigrade feel. Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Metallic for my IR work, Ilford Gold Fibre Gloss for nice soft muted colours. Museo SIlver Rag for that really special image... I'm a bit sad about paper...
added tis in terms of where you've been and what you did! I was challenged by the folks in USA. I lived in Newport Beach. 4 years! My happiest day, flying back to Canada!
Excellent and inspiring video! Not everyone would be so generous with sharing their techniques. You are a true teacher and very talented photographer/observer of life! Thank you!
Thank you so much for the detailed explanation of how you edit your absolutely amazing photos. I would like to see more of such videos. Your images are ethereal, soulful and meditative.
Adrian, I just "found" your channel a couple of weeks ago. I find your work visually beautiful and emotionally rich. I appreciate this video for its emphasis on *why* you edit as you do! Thank you.
Thanks for sharing your processing techniques. Many aspects on how you used the curves was incredibly useful and actually counter intuitive. Also interesting on how you remove distractions.
When editing out elements, I usually find it easier to remove them before I edit in black and white because photoshop does a better job of it - as the content aware film can make the grain look a little weird as it doesn't flow properly - then apply the grain and bw edit the whole image afterwards, getting a better finish. Great video as always :)
That's a very, very good point, and makes a lot of sense! Thanks, I will try that next time. My only concern would be that when the image goes back to Lightroom is not a RAW file anymore (I think it's a TIF?), so I'm not sure if you still have the same latitude when it comes to adjust exposure and those things. Do you use Lightroom or just Photoshop?
What I do is I do any serious adjustments in lightroom first, such as exposure etc. (which is the primary reason to use raw),then I export to photoshop if I want to remove any elements. Then when I can either put it back into lightroom or use silver fx pro, a lightroom/photoshop plugin, to do my bw editing - it exports as a high resolution tiff so I have never experienced any real loss of quality, and the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. Try it and see - your method is fine but the slight grain discrepancies mean I would definitely add grain as the last stage.
Thank you so much, this is really helpful. I like your workflow and I will definitely be trying that next time I have to remove something. Really appreciate it!
+1 for adding the grain post editing, right at the end. It gets rid of those impressions left behind by healing brushes and so on, and adds in an element of realism to the end result.
@@chrisrigby3694 exactly - it can serve to mask small imperfections as a final layer rather than one that is edited upon. It's simple when you think about it
I really like this video and your philosophy about creating photos. Thank you, you have inspired me to shoot black and white with my a6000!! I also have a canon ae-1 that I love shoooting B&W with!!
Very nice demonstration, and good editing work. You really delivered on your vision for this image. And the aspects of contrast, grain, simplification into shapes more so than items were clearly supported by your actions.
Hi Adrian. I really enjoyed seeing how you process your digital images to look like film. Would love to see more in the future. I agree with you totally- it’s your image, do whatever you like to it 👍
Excellent - this was so eye opening! Making my digital shots square and more film like was right in front of my eyes, but it took this video for me to see that - thanks!! I shoot film in square format and love the look - no wonder I've been having trouble liking my digital shots...
I liked the video. Removing objects, maybe because I can't, makes no sense. I use Film. I lam a masochist seeking pain and humiliation. That's Film. I prefer Digital. I agree, no rules! Bravo.
I liked this video Adrian, pretty much the same workflow as I follow. Only difference is that I go as far as I can with cloning whilst still a colour image. It seems to work better somehow and the gain is the last thing that I add, but your image looks pretty good using your methods...
Thanks, Alan. Yes, that makes a lot of sense, to do it before adding grain. Do you use Lightroom as well? My concern is when the image "goes back" to Lightroom from Photoshop, I'm not sure if it's still a RAW file and you still have the same latitude when it comes to adjusting exposure and those things.
Well that's a good point that you make. I think it should remain a RAW file ? because when you close the file in PS it automatically saves any changes. I know some people who don't use LR because of this issue, I have never had any problems doing it this way though. The short answer is that I don't really know.I have an excellent book by George De Wolf "Black and White Printing" in which it is recommended to just close the file in PS and then the file is automatically saved back into LR.If ever you get an opportunity to get your hands on this book...do so. I have tried a few grain simulations, LR, Mastin Labs and NIK. I do like the Mastin Labs...Like yourself I have found negative clarity and sometimes lens blur in PS is great for adding that filmic look...keep up the great work that you do, it is truly inspirational.
@@alanjones8579 thanks for the recommendation! I will check it out. I think the file goes back to LR as a TIFF file, which is a high resolution file that should give you a lot of flexibility, but we do lose information (for example if the image comes as black and white from PS, the color information is gone). I've tried those simulations as well, I like Mastin too :) I'm experimenting with the NIK collection now, I like what I see but it does complicate my workflow a little bit. Anyway, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
love the edit video! the composition of this image is very nice, and yeah I'm totally with you, I'm totally fine with removing unnecessary things from my photo...it's about creating the image I saw in my head when I took the photo...
just discovered your channel. As a 40 year darkroom based film photographer for black and white and now digital for color, I appreciate your desire to adapt digital to film. I struggle with my digital images trying to get the film look and I too, have found that the minus clarity and dehaze helps; along with lowering overall contrast. Are these snow images and graveyard in Oregon?
Welcome, Steve! They are not, they were taken in NW Spain. Unfortunately I don't live in Oregon anymore, even though I try to visit once a year at least :D
Nice! I think this is the key of photography. If I want to shoot on film but I don’t want to bring my bronica I’m still able to make the contents I like. Which app do you use for the white frame we see on your instagram feed?
Hi, I looked for this image and the last one you shot on your store but didn't see it. I'm interested in buying a print. I must agree that you;'ve inspired me to buy a Bronica and the same lens you shoot. I shoot portraits and street but I would like to get into landscape photography. There is one photo you took I like you posted up on IG. I'll send you a DM .
Fantástico vídeo, Adrián. Como siempre!! Ya que mencionaste el tema de las impresoras... ¿Tus copias impresas las haces con una impresora fotográfica o envías todo tu trabajo, tanto analógico como digital, a un laboratorio? Muchas gracias, enhorabuena y un abrazo!!
Gracias, Javi! No tengo impresora, es uno de los temas que aún tengo pendientes de resolver. Por el momento, uso un laboratorio. Para ambos, analógico y digital.
@@aows Gracias por la respuesta, Adrián!! Yo es un tema que ando mirando, para tener yo el control de mis propias copias, pero de momento siempre he hecho todo con laboratorio, aunque seguramente acabaré imprimiéndolas yo por lo que te comento, hacer todo el proceso de principio a fin. Un abrazo!!
@@javibttero6145 lo entiendo perfectamente, yo quiero hacer lo mismo :) Pero el tema de impresoras es bastante complicado, he tenido muy malas experiencias en el pasado. Al final acabaré cayendo de nuevo, pero en fin. Mucha suerte y un abrazo!
I think the way the image is framed determines what post-processing is acceptable. I want to preface this by saying that I absolutely think photojournalists are artists. I think whether the intent of the photo is to document as a photojournalist or whether it is to create a piece of artwork is the distinction that determines whether you should alter the photo, remove elements, etc. If the photo is being presented as a raw depiction of life, I think heavy manipulation is disingenuous. I think basic color and exposure correction is fine in the age of RAW photos, as film comes out much more vibrant that RAW from the get-go, but for example, the photo by Steve McCurry with the kids running through the water, I disagree with his decision to remove kids from the picture to simplify the composition. That's not how the scene unfolded, and to have that published as a journalistic work in an edited fashion is dishonest in my opinion. If he wanted to take that same photo, however, and post it to his portfolio/social media/duct taped to his refrigerator under the pretext that it is a manipulated photo, that is perfectly fine.
I totally agree, Zach. Removing objects and that kind of manipulation can drastically change the meaning of an image, which is fine if you don't sell it as a true representation of life. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thanks for a great video and sharing your experience with us. As far as i know that the definition of outdoor photography is to capture the moment. And if you have to add or remove objects in post-processing to make your picture looking meaningful, it means that you failed as photographer in general terms. And next point: I probably would agree with Thomas that making digital image looks like film does't have any sense. Digital should look like digital and film should look like film. Otherwise what are digital cameras for? Just to clone film?
Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts! About the definition of outdoor photography, that's exactly what Bill Brandt was talking about. Where do those rules come from? Certainly, they didn't apply to photographers like Ansel Adams, probably the most well-known landscape photographer of all time. He did spend most of his time in the darkroom and perfected the printing process to create what he had in mind. He was hardly the only one who did this, most film photographers I admire do / did their own printing by themselves for the same reason. Digital cameras are tools, there's a reason why they give you a RAW file that you can adjust to your taste. By the way, film can be manipulated in many ways as well. Some would argue that even more than digital. I push HP5 1 or 2 stops to add contrast and grain. You can pull it for the opposite effect. In the darkroom, the range of techniques you can use to manipulate the final result is overwhelming. This is just my opinion, of course. You can use the cameras and techniques you want to create your images, I believe this is the beauty of photography / art :) Thanks again for your comment!
There's more to photography than the mere journalism. When you cook, it's common to add spices, herbs marinades etc to take the dish beyond the basic taste of the ingredients. Why should photography be any different?
@@theboofin the photography is not cooking, it's an art of capturing the moment. If you failed, improve your skills or go and find another location (don't be lazy🥱). But removing (or adding) objects in post processing you're going to degrade yourself as a photographer.
I recently found your channel, and you have a wonderful & cohesive body of work! May I ask why you don't just shoot in a 1:1 aspect ratio while using your digital camera? Or do you simply not have that option? Just curious if there is a reason. Cheers! 🍻
Creating film like digital images is actually what ended up with me plunging into film and learning how to develop black and white myself. there was a music video in particular that caught my attention as it was shot on color film stock. th-cam.com/video/P_SlAzsXa7E/w-d-xo.html I love the look of color film, and black and white is a lot of fun. I think each one has its own advantages and look. As far as editing images, I've come to realize that doing things "in camera" is similar in principal to doing it "in post." The image created is manipulated in one way or another. And sometimes, heavy manipulation is just as interesting as dedication to realism.
Nice, thanks for sharing that video, it's pretty cool :) Photography is about manipulating reality to create an image. Removing something from your image in the darkroom / computer or by framing your image in a different way is very similar in many ways.
Thanks! It's ok to disagree, it'd be boring if everyone thought the same way :) I like my images to have a similar look no matter what camera I use, that way I can be free to use whatever I want. That's why digital cameras produce RAW files, to adjust them to your own taste :)
I am always amused when photographers accuse others of 'cheating'. They often boast that their image is 'straight out of the camera - no messing about' as though that somehow gives it more merit. But they are producing JPEG images that have been 'messed about' by the in-camera software that was written by some anonymous programmer. Right back the the early days of photography, it was not possible to get an image 'straight from the camera', some processing was always required, in fact in terms of time spent, usually far more than is required with a raw digital image. They go further to say a manipulated image is not 'truthful' or 'real' but the camera never was truthful as the main thing it does is produce a two dimensional image from a three dimensional scene. Even the perceived scene is not even a constant as every human being will see the scene differently because that seen image has also been processed by (the most powerful) a computer i.e. the human brain. So you have no need to apologise for the changes you made in the raw software or Adobe Photoshop. I wonder what these purists would do if there was a red chocolate bar wrapper lying on the snow in the foreground. Would they carefully remove it by hand, carefully smoothing out their footprints afterwards, and if so, is that cheating? After all they have manipulated the original scene. Cloning it out with software seems perfectly acceptable to me. For myself, I started photography in the pre-digital era with my own darkroom and fully manual cameras with no exposure meter or rangefinder. I used to enjoy it and learned a great deal. I was never happy with prints from an automated printing machine in the chemist shop on the high street. Now, whilst shooting I love to imagine how the image will turn out after I have digitally processed it and look forward to the work on the computer. Thank you for another superb video, nothing if not very thought provoking.
Bill Brandt said that there are no rules in photography. He manipulated some of his images in the darkroom. What do you think? How far do you allow yourself to go when it comes to editing your images?
I don't tend to do it very much. Exposure correction in LR, sharpening, straightening & cropping and I'm generally done. For me - it's because I don't see it as an enjoyable part of photography. Taking something into Photoshop is far more effort than I can be bothered with and unless I've made a real goof (I left my camera bag in-shot in one of my favourite images) I avoid it altogether.
I prefer to be out with my camera, trying to make images wherever I am. Watching other photographers who do this (in un-spectacular environments) makes up most of my sub list. I'm not bothered for 'how to do x in photoshop' videos or 'look at me in iceland/some-national-park/insert-exotic-location-here'. However I do think there's a large market for it.
Moar film plz :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, it's always interesting to see what others think :)
I agree on being out there making images, but one can only do it for so long. At some point, we have to take the time to bring our images to life, be it in a darkroom or computer. It's a very important part of photography, Bill Brandt argued that it was the most important part. Not sure if I agree with him on this, but I understand where he's coming from.
About the location, I believe good photography can be made anywhere, in epic national parks and in your backyard.
Again, thanks for your comment!
@@aows For me - it's the print that brings the image to life. And I probably spend a bit more time with print dialogues & book making software than I do with selection tools :) It's a good phrase "bringing an image to life". Thanks for your reply. It's good to hear different opinions. Life would be terribly boring if we were all the same.
Printing is something I should be doing more often. What printer do you have, if you don't mind me asking? Do you print in B&W?
@@aows My printer is an old Epson SP4800. It's a desk giant but still does fab prints. It has 3 blacks and copes brilliantly with B&W as well as colour. For me, it's all about the paper. Permajet FB Mono Gloss Baryta for that Ilford Multigrade feel. Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Metallic for my IR work, Ilford Gold Fibre Gloss for nice soft muted colours. Museo SIlver Rag for that really special image... I'm a bit sad about paper...
added tis in terms of where you've been and what you did! I was challenged by the folks in USA. I lived in Newport Beach. 4 years! My happiest day, flying back to Canada!
Excellent and inspiring video! Not everyone would be so generous with sharing their techniques. You are a true teacher and very talented photographer/observer of life! Thank you!
Excellent video, totally agree about the issue of ‘rules’ in photography. I am also a big Bill Brandt fan 🙂
His work is incredible, a true inspiration! Thanks for watching :)
Thank you so much for the detailed explanation of how you edit your absolutely amazing photos. I would like to see more of such videos. Your images are ethereal, soulful and meditative.
Adrian, I just "found" your channel a couple of weeks ago. I find your work visually beautiful and emotionally rich. I appreciate this video for its emphasis on *why* you edit as you do! Thank you.
Thank you so much for your videos. Your presentations are lucid, thoughtful and inspiring.
Loved this Adrian. It's fascinating seeing how other people edit their work. Thank you.
Hi Adrian. Excellent tutorial and insight into your thought process. Thank you.
Nice to see someone with a good eye, for a change. Good work.
Thanks for sharing your processing techniques. Many aspects on how you used the curves was incredibly useful and actually counter intuitive. Also interesting on how you remove distractions.
I really enjoyed this video and your explanations of your decisions! Thanks.
When editing out elements, I usually find it easier to remove them before I edit in black and white because photoshop does a better job of it - as the content aware film can make the grain look a little weird as it doesn't flow properly - then apply the grain and bw edit the whole image afterwards, getting a better finish.
Great video as always :)
That's a very, very good point, and makes a lot of sense! Thanks, I will try that next time. My only concern would be that when the image goes back to Lightroom is not a RAW file anymore (I think it's a TIF?), so I'm not sure if you still have the same latitude when it comes to adjust exposure and those things. Do you use Lightroom or just Photoshop?
What I do is I do any serious adjustments in lightroom first, such as exposure etc. (which is the primary reason to use raw),then I export to photoshop if I want to remove any elements. Then when I can either put it back into lightroom or use silver fx pro, a lightroom/photoshop plugin, to do my bw editing - it exports as a high resolution tiff so I have never experienced any real loss of quality, and the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. Try it and see - your method is fine but the slight grain discrepancies mean I would definitely add grain as the last stage.
Thank you so much, this is really helpful. I like your workflow and I will definitely be trying that next time I have to remove something. Really appreciate it!
+1 for adding the grain post editing, right at the end. It gets rid of those impressions left behind by healing brushes and so on, and adds in an element of realism to the end result.
@@chrisrigby3694 exactly - it can serve to mask small imperfections as a final layer rather than one that is edited upon. It's simple when you think about it
I really like this video and your philosophy about creating photos. Thank you, you have inspired me to shoot black and white with my a6000!! I also have a canon ae-1 that I love shoooting B&W with!!
Very nice demonstration, and good editing work. You really delivered on your vision for this image. And the aspects of contrast, grain, simplification into shapes more so than items were clearly supported by your actions.
Hi Adrian. I really enjoyed seeing how you process your digital images to look like film. Would love to see more in the future. I agree with you totally- it’s your image, do whatever you like to it 👍
Glad you liked it, Wayne, and I couldn't agree more about doing whatever you want with your image :)
Beautiful image, defines black and white photography!
Thank you very much!
Awesome tutorial thank you! Would love to see more examples in the future.
Thanks! Will do.
Very interesting video. Please show more videos about image processing. Best regards.
Glad you found it interesting! I will make more :)
Allways interested in your post production.
Thanks, Stuart! It's a pretty important part of the process that sometimes photographers neglect.
Excellent - this was so eye opening! Making my digital shots square and more film like was right in front of my eyes, but it took this video for me to see that - thanks!! I shoot film in square format and love the look - no wonder I've been having trouble liking my digital shots...
Thanks, Robbie! Glad it helped :)
You are amazing and very talented! I love your work and I will now scan your channel for more great videos. Great work!
I liked the video. Removing objects, maybe because I can't, makes no sense. I use Film. I lam a masochist seeking pain and humiliation. That's Film. I prefer Digital. I agree, no rules! Bravo.
We got 10cm of snow two days ago but we've had some nice days beforehand and more will come
Graciñas por amosarnos o xeito que tes traballando estas imaxes dixitais, sempre aprendemos algo!
Moitas gracias a ti, Ramiro!
I liked this video Adrian, pretty much the same workflow as I follow. Only difference is that I go as far as I can with cloning whilst still a colour image. It seems to work better somehow and the gain is the last thing that I add, but your image looks pretty good using your methods...
Thanks, Alan. Yes, that makes a lot of sense, to do it before adding grain. Do you use Lightroom as well? My concern is when the image "goes back" to Lightroom from Photoshop, I'm not sure if it's still a RAW file and you still have the same latitude when it comes to adjusting exposure and those things.
Well that's a good point that you make. I think it should remain a RAW file ? because when you close the file in PS it automatically saves any changes. I know some people who don't use LR because of this issue, I have never had any problems doing it this way though. The short answer is that I don't really know.I have an excellent book by George De Wolf "Black and White Printing" in which it is recommended to just close the file in PS and then the file is automatically saved back into LR.If ever you get an opportunity to get your hands on this book...do so. I have tried a few grain simulations, LR, Mastin Labs and NIK. I do like the Mastin Labs...Like yourself I have found negative clarity and sometimes lens blur in PS is great for adding that filmic look...keep up the great work that you do, it is truly inspirational.
@@alanjones8579 thanks for the recommendation! I will check it out. I think the file goes back to LR as a TIFF file, which is a high resolution file that should give you a lot of flexibility, but we do lose information (for example if the image comes as black and white from PS, the color information is gone). I've tried those simulations as well, I like Mastin too :) I'm experimenting with the NIK collection now, I like what I see but it does complicate my workflow a little bit. Anyway, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
I enjoyed this very much. Love your work, keep it up!
love the edit video! the composition of this image is very nice, and yeah I'm totally with you, I'm totally fine with removing unnecessary things from my photo...it's about creating the image I saw in my head when I took the photo...
Thanks for watching, glad you liked it :) I agree on removing things that don't add anything to the image.
just discovered your channel. As a 40 year darkroom based film photographer for black and white and now digital for color, I appreciate your desire to adapt digital to film. I struggle with my digital images trying to get the film look and I too, have found that the minus clarity and dehaze helps; along with lowering overall contrast. Are these snow images and graveyard in Oregon?
Welcome, Steve! They are not, they were taken in NW Spain. Unfortunately I don't live in Oregon anymore, even though I try to visit once a year at least :D
You should try Dark Table with the filmic and monochrome modules ;)
Great video as always!!
Thanks, Oliver!
Hi Adrian
Why dont you shoot 6x6 in camera vs cropping in post? great video
cheers
Very interesting, thanks a lot!
Excelente video hermano! For this type of photo, where would you recommend I go to make a print?
Nice! I think this is the key of photography. If I want to shoot on film but I don’t want to bring my bronica I’m still able to make the contents I like. Which app do you use for the white frame we see on your instagram feed?
I use photoshop :)
Hi, I looked for this image and the last one you shot on your store but didn't see it. I'm interested in buying a print. I must agree that you;'ve inspired me to buy a Bronica and the same lens you shoot. I shoot portraits and street but I would like to get into landscape photography. There is one photo you took I like you posted up on IG. I'll send you a DM .
Glad to know you got a Bronica! Hope you enjoy it :) I will reply to your DM. Thanks!
Fantástico vídeo, Adrián. Como siempre!! Ya que mencionaste el tema de las impresoras... ¿Tus copias impresas las haces con una impresora fotográfica o envías todo tu trabajo, tanto analógico como digital, a un laboratorio?
Muchas gracias, enhorabuena y un abrazo!!
Gracias, Javi! No tengo impresora, es uno de los temas que aún tengo pendientes de resolver. Por el momento, uso un laboratorio. Para ambos, analógico y digital.
@@aows Gracias por la respuesta, Adrián!! Yo es un tema que ando mirando, para tener yo el control de mis propias copias, pero de momento siempre he hecho todo con laboratorio, aunque seguramente acabaré imprimiéndolas yo por lo que te comento, hacer todo el proceso de principio a fin. Un abrazo!!
@@javibttero6145 lo entiendo perfectamente, yo quiero hacer lo mismo :) Pero el tema de impresoras es bastante complicado, he tenido muy malas experiencias en el pasado. Al final acabaré cayendo de nuevo, pero en fin. Mucha suerte y un abrazo!
@@aows Pues ya nos irás contando... 😉
Un abrazo, Adrián!!
I like it.
I think the way the image is framed determines what post-processing is acceptable.
I want to preface this by saying that I absolutely think photojournalists are artists.
I think whether the intent of the photo is to document as a photojournalist or whether it is to create a piece of artwork is the distinction that determines whether you should alter the photo, remove elements, etc.
If the photo is being presented as a raw depiction of life, I think heavy manipulation is disingenuous. I think basic color and exposure correction is fine in the age of RAW photos, as film comes out much more vibrant that RAW from the get-go, but for example, the photo by Steve McCurry with the kids running through the water, I disagree with his decision to remove kids from the picture to simplify the composition. That's not how the scene unfolded, and to have that published as a journalistic work in an edited fashion is dishonest in my opinion.
If he wanted to take that same photo, however, and post it to his portfolio/social media/duct taped to his refrigerator under the pretext that it is a manipulated photo, that is perfectly fine.
I totally agree, Zach. Removing objects and that kind of manipulation can drastically change the meaning of an image, which is fine if you don't sell it as a true representation of life. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thanks for a great video and sharing your experience with us. As far as i know that the definition of outdoor photography is to capture the moment. And if you have to add or remove objects in post-processing to make your picture looking meaningful, it means that you failed as photographer in general terms. And next point: I probably would agree with Thomas that making digital image looks like film does't have any sense. Digital should look like digital and film should look like film. Otherwise what are digital cameras for? Just to clone film?
Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts!
About the definition of outdoor photography, that's exactly what Bill Brandt was talking about. Where do those rules come from? Certainly, they didn't apply to photographers like Ansel Adams, probably the most well-known landscape photographer of all time. He did spend most of his time in the darkroom and perfected the printing process to create what he had in mind. He was hardly the only one who did this, most film photographers I admire do / did their own printing by themselves for the same reason.
Digital cameras are tools, there's a reason why they give you a RAW file that you can adjust to your taste.
By the way, film can be manipulated in many ways as well. Some would argue that even more than digital. I push HP5 1 or 2 stops to add contrast and grain. You can pull it for the opposite effect. In the darkroom, the range of techniques you can use to manipulate the final result is overwhelming.
This is just my opinion, of course. You can use the cameras and techniques you want to create your images, I believe this is the beauty of photography / art :)
Thanks again for your comment!
There's more to photography than the mere journalism. When you cook, it's common to add spices, herbs marinades etc to take the dish beyond the basic taste of the ingredients. Why should photography be any different?
@@theboofin the photography is not cooking, it's an art of capturing the moment. If you failed, improve your skills or go and find another location (don't be lazy🥱). But removing (or adding) objects in post processing you're going to degrade yourself as a photographer.
@@Roman-oi7rz That’s just your assumption. It doesn’t mean anything. Typical narrow photographer thinking.
I recently found your channel, and you have a wonderful & cohesive body of work! May I ask why you don't just shoot in a 1:1 aspect ratio while using your digital camera? Or do you simply not have that option? Just curious if there is a reason. Cheers! 🍻
Sadly, I don't have that option on the a6000 :( Weirdly enough, the smaller Sony RX100 series does have that aspect ratio. Oh well.
Creating film like digital images is actually what ended up with me plunging into film and learning how to develop black and white myself. there was a music video in particular that caught my attention as it was shot on color film stock. th-cam.com/video/P_SlAzsXa7E/w-d-xo.html I love the look of color film, and black and white is a lot of fun. I think each one has its own advantages and look.
As far as editing images, I've come to realize that doing things "in camera" is similar in principal to doing it "in post." The image created is manipulated in one way or another. And sometimes, heavy manipulation is just as interesting as dedication to realism.
Nice, thanks for sharing that video, it's pretty cool :) Photography is about manipulating reality to create an image. Removing something from your image in the darkroom / computer or by framing your image in a different way is very similar in many ways.
Great video. We will have to agree to disagree on making digital images look like film. I just don't get it.
Thanks! It's ok to disagree, it'd be boring if everyone thought the same way :) I like my images to have a similar look no matter what camera I use, that way I can be free to use whatever I want. That's why digital cameras produce RAW files, to adjust them to your own taste :)
I am always amused when photographers accuse others of 'cheating'. They often boast that their image is 'straight out of the camera - no messing about' as though that somehow gives it more merit. But they are producing JPEG images that have been 'messed about' by the in-camera software that was written by some anonymous programmer. Right back the the early days of photography, it was not possible to get an image 'straight from the camera', some processing was always required, in fact in terms of time spent, usually far more than is required with a raw digital image. They go further to say a manipulated image is not 'truthful' or 'real' but the camera never was truthful as the main thing it does is produce a two dimensional image from a three dimensional scene. Even the perceived scene is not even a constant as every human being will see the scene differently because that seen image has also been processed by (the most powerful) a computer i.e. the human brain. So you have no need to apologise for the changes you made in the raw software or Adobe Photoshop. I wonder what these purists would do if there was a red chocolate bar wrapper lying on the snow in the foreground. Would they carefully remove it by hand, carefully smoothing out their footprints afterwards, and if so, is that cheating? After all they have manipulated the original scene. Cloning it out with software seems perfectly acceptable to me.
For myself, I started photography in the pre-digital era with my own darkroom and fully manual cameras with no exposure meter or rangefinder. I used to enjoy it and learned a great deal. I was never happy with prints from an automated printing machine in the chemist shop on the high street.
Now, whilst shooting I love to imagine how the image will turn out after I have digitally processed it and look forward to the work on the computer.
Thank you for another superb video, nothing if not very thought provoking.
Use close tool.
The only rule is there are no rules.
Exactly :)