I just don't understand what they want for this photo contest: I am sure you all can answer what I do not understand. I want to enter this contest, but it has the restriction saying...

pooralice Loc: merced, ca

I am sure you all can answer what I do not understand. I want to enter this contest, but it has the restriction saying "images maybe be digitally altered using standard optimizing techniques that can also be done in a darkroom." So what can I do digitally in photoshop and lightroom that I can not do in a darkroom, or the other way around. To me, it leaves a lot to my imagination.

MtnMan Loc: ID

It does leave a lot to the imagination. I suspect an expert could do anything in a darkroom that digital processing can do.

I suspect their message is in "standard optimizing techniques". They'd need to define that to communicate effectively. They probably want to allow simple cropping, exposure adjustment, dodging, and burning but not more advanced techniques such as cloning and warping.

ggttc Loc: TN

MtnMan wrote:

It does leave a lot to the imagination. I suspect an expert could do anything in a darkroom that digital processing can do.

I suspect their message is in "standard optimizing techniques". They'd need to define that to communicate effectively. They probably want to allow simple cropping, exposure adjustment, dodging, and burning but not more advanced techniques such as cloning and warping.

I would think that your interpretation is correct...in other words no cloning out of telephone poles, no changing backgrounds etc.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

pooralice wrote:

I am sure you all can answer what I do not understand. I want to enter this contest, but it has the restriction saying "images maybe be digitally altered using standard optimizing techniques that can also be done in a darkroom." So what can I do digitally in photoshop and lightroom that I can not do in a darkroom, or the other way around. To me, it leaves a lot to my imagination.

Confusion reigns supreme on this in photography. The digital programs of today, to some degree, simply mirror what was done in the darkroom. I'd say no removing of large items but you can do spot removal, no altering with a plug-in program to make it look like something other than a photograph, no adding anything (like a new sky!). You can edit using the customary techniques of light, dark, contrast, sharpness, tone curve.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

pooralice wrote:

I am sure you all can answer what I do not understand. I want to enter this contest, but it has the restriction saying "images maybe be digitally altered using standard optimizing techniques that can also be done in a darkroom." So what can I do digitally in photoshop and lightroom that I can not do in a darkroom, or the other way around. To me, it leaves a lot to my imagination.

I think they need to be a lot more specific. They probably mean adjustments in contrast, color balance, burning and dodging and such. But if they mean to exclude compositing or adding or removing objects, those things can be done in the darkroom, and have been since the very beginnings of photography.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

ggttc wrote:

I would think that your interpretation is correct...in other words no cloning out of telephone poles, no changing backgrounds etc.

When my grandson was three years old (naw, that can't be right; I'm not that old. He's an NCO in the Navy now), I took a picture of him at the local zoo - with a light pole growing out of the top of his head! A friend took the negative and, a week later, gave me a negative, sans pole. It was all done in his studio and/or (wet) darkroom. Even AA was known to remove a stray branch or sprig of pine needles.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

pooralice wrote:

I am sure you all can answer what I do not understand. I want to enter this contest, but it has the restriction saying "images maybe be digitally altered using standard optimizing techniques that can also be done in a darkroom." So what can I do digitally in photoshop and lightroom that I can not do in a darkroom, or the other way around. To me, it leaves a lot to my imagination.

Yes, that is pretty vague. I wonder how they plan to police that. If it's a photo contest, they should just let people submit photos. Every image is processed these days.

MtnMan Loc: ID

jerryc41 wrote:

Yes, that is pretty vague. I wonder how they plan to police that. If it's a photo contest, they should just let people submit photos. Every image is processed these days.

You can say every image is processed: full stop. Even the old drug store print machines had to process the negative and print it. All steps are variable and controlled by someone.

National Geographic has a similar policy for their photographers. There have been several fuss ups over it in recent years.

http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/photo-guidelines/

It will never stop.

CO

Like another UHH member said, they need to be more specific. We have end of year competitions in my camera club. Basic enhancements are allowed for all digital images - levels, exposure, tonal changes, sharpening, cloning, contrast. They have two categories for digitally altered images. Here is how they are specified.

Altered Realism (AR)

CATEGORY CRITERIA: Images where the photographer can use the full capabilities of photo editing software or the darkroom to enhance the image, while maintaining a realistic looking picture. Elements, such as clouds, plants, animals, people, buildings, etc., from one or more images may be combined into a single image.

Creative or Digital Art (CD)

CATEGORY CRITERIA: This category is designed to show the creativity of the photographer, as well as his or her digital editing skills or skills in the darkroom. Images in thiscategory will be judged on their imagination, creativity, uniqueness, and editing skills.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

BHC wrote:

When my grandson was three years old (naw, that can't be right; I'm not that old. He's an NCO in the Navy now), I took a picture of him at the local zoo - with a light pole growing out of the top of his head! A friend took the negative and, a week later, gave me a negative, sans pole. It was all done in his studio and/or (wet) darkroom. Even AA was known to remove a stray branch or sprig of pine needles.

In 1971 the press did the same thing with the famous Kent State photo. Removed a pole that seemed to be stuck in the young woman's head.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

For a long time I was in a group who used this type of nomenclature. Basically, they meant that corrections such as dodging/burning, saturation, spot removal (but not item removal), and the like could be done. No layer usage. Corrections were to be done on the base image.

pooralice Loc: merced, ca

OK I am just going to do the basic PS and Lightroom stuff and go for it. I don't know all that much of altering a photograph and I do not at the time. It is only a judge's opinion.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

dsmeltz wrote:

In 1971 the press did the same thing with the famous Kent State photo. Removed a pole that seemed to be stuck in the young woman's head.

Stalin was known for regularly having former associates removed from pictures.

pooralice Loc: merced, ca

A few of my relatives need to go

Kevin Sauer Photography

I say go to town. If it's not specifically a documentary, or photojournalism contest than basically anything done in photoshop can be done in a dark room. As example a couple images from one of my favorite photographers/darkroom guru's Jerry Uelsmann.