For Those Who Think Luminar is Fantastic: At least one entity thinks sky replacement, etc. isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread, here's one of the rules to a current photography...

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

At least one entity thinks sky replacement, etc. isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread, here's one of the rules to a current photography contest. I added bold to the pertinent text.

"Photo Alterations and Disqualifications: Photo editing and adjustments are allowed in this photo contest. We reserve the right to disqualify any photo that we believe has been overly enhanced (including scene compositing and inserting subjects or backgrounds that did not exist in the original photo). Any plagiarized photo or photo that contains branding or watermarks will not be accepted. We recommend NOT watermarking your images as all winning photographs will be properly credited. High-quality scans of non-digital photographs are acceptable. Decisions and judgments made by our judges will be final. "

--Bob

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Oh goody, another thread soon to be filled with laments about the good old days... the days of serious photography, when men were men and editing was all wet 🙄

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

I suppose you may be trolling for reaction to your opening line regarding Luminar users Bob? With so much to fuss about in our current world, rather than argue with one another over "skies or birds", perhaps let matters rest...those who like to make changes in their "product," and those who don't, are all equally valued in my world. Be safe & stay healthy.

Cheers!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There are no rules for good photographs, great photographs have just one: the photoshop work is exquisite.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

rmalarz wrote:

At least one entity thinks sky replacement, etc. i... (show quote)

With Luminar, how are they going to know?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Linda From Maine wrote:

Oh goody, another thread soon to be filled with laments about the good old days... the days of serious photography, when men were men and editing was all wet 🙄

I do not see why you are saying this. The idea of PP being excluded from contest is not new, far from it.

Also since the thread title is against luminar 'religion' as it is one of the worst offenders due to the limitations of what it can do the 'fight' will be about this software and, as usual, there will be no winner.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Rongnongno wrote:

...the 'fight' will be about this software and, as usual, there will be no winner.

Same old story, different day. Let the people play, I say 🤭

There are sites and contests specifically for digital art, composites, etc. One is Shiftart.com.

"Every month they provide a theme and entrants then create a piece of art according to the theme. The rules: You must use a minimum of three Pixabay images provided in the download packet. You must use a minimum of one of the textures provided by the Shift Art Shop. You must use the model image provided by the Shift Art Shop AND it must be the main subject of your work."

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

xt2 wrote:

I suppose you may be trolling for reaction to your opening line regarding Luminar users Bob? With so much to fuss about in our current world, rather than argue with one another over "skies or birds", perhaps let matters rest...those who like to make changes in their "product," and those who don't, are all equally valued in my world. Be safe & stay healthy.

Cheers!

I agree. I also agree with those who are putting on any contest(s) having the right to decide what is or is not allowed. If you don't like the rules don't enter the contest. It is a free country.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Linda From Maine wrote:

Oh goody, another thread soon to be filled with laments about the good old days... the days of serious photography, when men were men and editing was all wet 🙄

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

But it sounds as if your photo is not "Overly enhanced", it will be acceptable.

So if you do your photoshop work well enough, no problem.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

tropics68 wrote:

...If you don't like the rules don't enter the contest...

What would be the point of entering a competition if your entry is going to be automatically disqualified for not following the rules?

Of course, "overly enhanced" is rather ambiguous so best stick to sooc unless your pp skills are faultless (EDIT: like DirtFarmer just said

).

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Seems easy enough to me, if you don't like the rules, don't enter.

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

There are no rules in photography, it is not a game.
But there may be rules in photography contests, just like any other contests have rules.

Will

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'm not trolling. If you take note of the Luminar ads, that seems to be their main focus. Sort of a let us make you the photographer you aren't. It has nothing to do with the "good old days". It has to do with integrity.
--Bob

xt2 wrote:

I suppose you may be trolling for reaction to your opening line regarding Luminar users Bob? With so much to fuss about in our current world, rather than argue with one another over "skies or birds", perhaps let matters rest...those who like to make changes in their "product," and those who don't, are all equally valued in my world. Be safe & stay healthy.

Cheers!

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

rmalarz wrote:

I'm not trolling. If you take note of the Luminar ads, that seems to be their main focus. Sort of a let us make you the photographer you aren't. It has nothing to do with the "good old days". It has to do with integrity.
--Bob

Thx for the clarification Bob...I stand corrected. It just seemed so by the title you penned.

Although I am not a spokesperson for Luminar, I do use it, along with Capture 1 and PS, etc. I must say that Luminar is so much more than adding a sky or bird. PS & Capture 1 provide various functions that seriously alter a photo as well. However, I presume (stupid me), that because those functions and other AI options are noteworthy in differentiating Luminar from significantly more labour intensive programs such as Capture 1 or PS, etc... I can hardly blame Luminar for including such unique capabilities in their marketing material.

In the end, each "contest" has its unique thresholds. If this doesn't work for a photographer; enter any of the other thousands of contests that are available.

Cheers & stay healthy Bob!