Wildspirit Loc: Dallas, Texas

I have experienced the arrogant purist/arrogant perfectionist and with the exception of one individual whose shell was unbreakable, found them to be very focused and compassionate human beings who want to share their knowledge. Bear with them but let them go if touchy and rude.

Wheezie

what the eye sees and what the camera records are two different things! especially if you are on automatic! take a flower for instance. you shoot it and loose some detail because the camera is set wrong. so to retrieve what your vision was of this flower you do some photoshop to bring in the details and now you have something closer to what you actually saw! most people will look at a flower or a person and do not see what's behind it for a background! Here is where you sort of get in trouble with distractions, blown out backgrounds, stuff sticking out of their heads etc etc...., so a little PP there shouldn't matter!

If you are detailed oriented, shoot on manual select your flower, one may be chewed up but the one next to it is flawless you have a decision! what YOU DECIDE is what you are going after! You will make the best possible image with your decision based on your talents as a photographer! If you know color temp, composition, f stops, shutter speeds and their relativity to your subject matter you will create a beautiful image and the need for PP will be minimal. however if you don't have a clue then you are going to need PP a lot!
We strive for perfection everyday. some people will shoot a flower and it has a brown spot, that is all they see, not the beauty of the flower, so it's gets fixed that is their DECISION! Is it wrong to fix it???? according to YOUR vision???? For 25 years I've competed in the many levels of print competitions... state, regional & national. doing so raises the bar with absolutely stunning images, some with a lot of PP and others with hardly any.... I don't think there is a right or wrong here with PP. You are the "creator".

People experiment with photoshop perhaps in hopes of finding the next new Process... what will come after HDR????? what is going to WOW everyone so that they need to buy that plug-in?

A lot of people take issue with their looks, brunets want to be blond, straight hair wants it to be curly & vice versa, short want to be tall, etc....and a lot of them do something to change it! If someone has a bad tooth but a gorgeous smile, I'll ask if I can change it! after all I am cheaper than an orthodontist! LOL Maybe wrinkles can be softened, after all we were not born with wrinkles on our faces! a mole or birthmark is a different story, that was your gift at birth! you should embrace it!

We as human beings continue to evolve why shouldn't photography? We have our visions and our skills and make our own decisions on using them. There are purists, minimalists & extremists in our world, thats what makes it unique! imagine if all of us looked the same? BORING!!!!!!!!!

DougW Loc: SoCal

who determines the correct exposure and color?
The potographer who made the image. High or low contrast, film or digital, filters, white balance, composition, verticle, horizontal, closeup, wide angle etc. etc

The art is in your head and trying to express your vision to others. :-)

camerabuff58 Loc: Ontario, Canada,

Absolutely right on. I have my opinions also,but it is just that..An opinion..different strokes for different folks

:-D

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Getting the camera to get the pic as close to 'as it is', is one form of art. When you use a program to change what the camera saw is a different form of art.

I have never changes any of my pics as it came out of the camera. If I don't like how it came out I delete it and take a better one.
The difference between taking a lifelike picture right from the camera and altering it with a program is the same difference as comparing an oil base painting and a watercolor painting. It's still art but of a different type.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I turned 4 photos into this. Before you say it I know it isn't for everyone but I enjoyed doing it and practiced my Photoshop skills along the way.

Wildspirit Loc: Dallas, Texas

Ansel Adams put it simply and succimtly:
There are no rules for good photography, there are just good photographs.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

Fstop12.....WQW!!! Way over the top outstanding....you are a very creative person. If this is just a hobby...you have way too much money....you could be making real bucks....

picturedude Loc: Yosemite natl. park, Ca.

My dad always said that a person with no hemeroids was a perfect A-hole.

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

Perfection is a state of mind it doesn't even enter the picture taking process. Just simply achieve the level that ones training/learning permits. The state of perfection is perceived in ones brain through ones eyes. Your idea and the next persons idea will probably not agree on anything being perfect.

There have been some folks here of the opinion that simply because they take a couple of really good shots they have reached the level that gives them the priviledge of saying" I am now a professional" well does hitting a home run make a ball player a pro, shooting 72 on a golf course a pro I think not. Maybe after spending YEARS of shooting good pictures, like many of the folk here at UHH have done than one can assume that distinction. Keep in mind that true professional photographer has probably shot 100's of really good pictures that was to the best of their ability in that time frame.

Perfection is a state of mind, to each it is the accomplishment of succeeding at 100% of their true ability. Perfection is seen in their eyes and perhaps their eyes only.

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

Only one shot has a copyright?

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

f stop 12, What a fantastic concept. reminds me of the animation in an episode of monty python's flying circus. when popular photography has their annual photoshop imagining contest you should enter

Robin Anderson

When someone is taking a picture of me, I tell them them to do whatever makes me look better. My daughter on the other hand felt flawed when suggestions were made to change anything. The customer is always right no matter what their preference is. I'm a perfectionist so I'm always trying to find flowers without a blemish, etc. to photograph. Now someone else wouldn't even see a flaw.

dblackard Loc: Rockport Texas

ok but what about the 80 yr. old woman who just wants a pic put in her church book and you take a few wrinkles out for her and make her eyes sparkle. i think it makes my day to make that 80 yr. old woman happy.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

As long as she can recognize herself, that's fine.