Thanks for posting before/after shots. I enjoyed your work.

Everyone has their 'bridge too far'. Or maybe most people. I believe in using mostly what exists and selectively editing/altering to help keep the image/the vision of what I wanted to achieve in the end result. Sometimes, you might 'discover' a different image or viewpoint when working with a picture. But, I try to (from film days) pre-visualize what I want before pressing the shutter release.

For me, sorry guys in the macro/micro section, I draw the line at not doing like the fellow who posted a youtube of his creation of the image he wanted. He glued 3 freeze dried dragonflys to a stick and then put the stick as a prop in the foreground of a picture of a pond. (I've never seen 3 social dragonflys in close proximity. It may happen, but I haven't seen it.) -

But, I do understand and greatly appreciate the dedication that it takes to stack dozens to over 100 images of a macro subject like the eye of a fly. That kind of image opens new vistas of images that I don't think was possible before the 'digital age' of photography.

Your work is always interesting Bob, whatever subject you choose it’s a wonderful example of what the Masters of the zone system preached, and you’ve certainly helped me understand it better. I am however, as the longer-standing members here know, usually up to no good with multi-layer composites - and it’s the fact that we can all post our processed work here that, for me, makes this the best section of UHH. And I must add, Linda does a fine job of keeping the whole thing acceptably pleasant for us all. Getting back to your images, the depth you achieve is quite remarkable.

In a thread in another section, the discussion started out focused on manipulating photographs. That is putting things in that weren't there in the first place. This also involved the idea that the software makers will be able to sort of make you the photographer you aren't.

It's here if you wish to read it. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-648772-1.html

Within that thread, I mentioned posting some of my photos as a SOOC/Processed comparison. I'm somewhat of a purist in that I'm going to work with what's there. However, I'm going to use my photograph processing skills to produce a final photograph that is the result of my vision of the scene as I viewed it and contemplated photographing it. So here are the SOOC / Processed images. I will reveal, as a lot of UHH members know, that I'm a big proponent of using The Zone System. I use that in my initial captures as well as in processing.
--Bob

I think most of us respect, even envy, your "clean approach" to photography although I sometimes think the respect for our PP skills doesn't flow in the other direction.

I work as hard creating my picture as you do taking your photograph. You spend hours or even days waiting for the right conditions to express your vision. I spend hours taking sharp and sometimes not so sharp pictures of things to use in my vision of the composite or heavily processed image I will produce.

Some people don't like post processed images and that's all right. They shouldn't, however, denigrate the time, effort and skill necessary to produce them. No, they are not traditional, nor are they meant to be.

I don't know how to fix this conflict but a good first start would be a little more tolerance from both sides.

Jack

In a thread in another section, the discussion started out focused on manipulating photographs. That is putting things in that weren't there in the first place. This also involved the idea that the software makers will be able to sort of make you the photographer you aren't.

It's here if you wish to read it. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-648772-1.html

Within that thread, I mentioned posting some of my photos as a SOOC/Processed comparison. I'm somewhat of a purist in that I'm going to work with what's there. However, I'm going to use my photograph processing skills to produce a final photograph that is the result of my vision of the scene as I viewed it and contemplated photographing it. So here are the SOOC / Processed images. I will reveal, as a lot of UHH members know, that I'm a big proponent of using The Zone System. I use that in my initial captures as well as in processing.
--Bob

Jack, I admit that I have run of patience with some of the stuff posted here and my tone has reflected that. I am glad that people take pride in their work. However, the results do not always measure up to Bob's exemplary posts. This applies to natural looking pictures as well as the flights of fantasy. Many of the practitioners of the latter strike me as not having much artistic vision or command of the tools. People just cannot keep putting up their work and expect only compliments which rarely have any meaningful comments while ignoring negative comments or suggestions on how to improve a post.

Everything here is post processed, whether natural looking or flight of fantasy. What I denigrate is not taking the time to study photography, to learn the tools and to create one's own idea of what his or her pictures should look like.