R.G. Loc: Scotland

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

ELNikkor

Non-photographers love to be amazed at the dramatic images that skilled photoshoppers create, as though the images were unmanipulated. Maybe being a photographer has ruined my ability to be amazed by those manipulated photos. I usually find them boring and phony-looking.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

The contest or competition rules will determine the acceptability of significantly altered images. Usually, as others here have stated, a certain degree of traditional editing is usually acceptable. Some completions may have a category for special effects or computer-generated art. Some still insist on pure photography.

Even if more radical alterations of an image are acceptable, you better be pretty good at it. Poorly crafted or borderline enhancements will show up and points will be deducted and may disqualify your entry.

This business of ethics and pros and cons in post-processing is very prevalent on this and other forums. Interestingly enough, a current study of social media, which can include these forums, indicates that NEGATIVE and contentious subjects attract the most participation and unfortunately has more impact and influence than POSITIVE and more agreeable subjects and concepts.

The psychologists and other experts conducting the study probably think they have discovered something new, however, it seems to me that bad news, controversy, and scandal and always sold more newspapers and garners higher ratings on TV newscasts. Note that on TV news, the bad news comes first and most of the commercial breaks happen in the midst of reports of war, crime, illness, plagues, starvation, political upheaval, natural disasters, and tragedy. The pieces about folks rescuing puppy dogs and folks being kind to each other left for last.

On this forum, if you want lots of participation in a thread just post something that attracts the anti- editing, filter, flash people and you are good to go!

photoman43

It depends. If the competition rules allow for such changes, then it is OK. If they do not then do not do it. If the rules are silent, then disclose the changes made.

I prefer what I captured in Camera. But that is me. If I were a graphic artist, I would change what I wanted to change but with my own work.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

How is removing spinach from someone's teeth, or brightening a face, or even removing a post sticking out of aunt Nellies head boring or phony looking? The majority of great photographers manipulate their photo's in pre as well as post. When done correctly AND with the intent of hiding the manipulation, you, nor any one, can tell it was done w/o the original to compare.

All beginning editors, and even hard core old time editors like myself, can easily screw up an edit to look phony. It sometimes takes a lot of skill to improve a photo w/o overdoing it, and to be really good you need editing skills and artistic skills to get it right. Other obstacles
beyond editing skills is patience to take the time to do it right (not all pics deserve the time), and a really big one is your eye/brain computer works hard to overlook little errors so you don't notice them until "tomorrow."

If you're bored with pictures, that's another issue. After almost 50 years my interest is waning a bit myself. I spend far more time today editing my kids and wife's pictures than taking them myself.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

This has been a very interesting topic. I remember vividly in the 60's a guy photographed a speed limit sign on a street he was arrested on. He changed, in the darkroom, the speed on the sign from 25 to 45. He entered it in evidence in his own defense in traffic court. The judge, after viewing the photograph, let the speeder off his violation of going 44 miles an hour in a 25 zone.
This is just one of the examples that lead to your statement.
In fact, it has gotten so bad in court, about the only photo evidence excepted by the court now are official police photographs.

LEWHITE7747 Loc: 33773

Thanks for the idea! Have to use this on my next speeding ticket?

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

Ignoring documentary and crime photography, for myself, I don't lay down a bogus line in the sand. I judge any image based on how it affects my mind. I don't give a hoot if it was created on a computer, in a camera with mfg designed processing algorithms, oil paint on canvas or crayons on a pogo stick. I'm just grateful my eyes still work to allow me to appreciate it or not. Many who thump their chests as purists ignore the fact that anything that modifies nature is manipulating the image. Flash, reflectors, colored gels, filters, backdrops, in camera style settings and so on. If I get a beautiful stuffed fox and stick it in my garden then photograph it, is that natural. Do whatever blows a draft up your shirt.

lreisner Loc: Union,NJ

If you are up front with the competition about the editing, I do not see a problem. Passing the picture of as factual would be wrong. Many years ago National Geographic got in trouble for altering a picture of the Pyramids in Cairo, so it would better fit on the magazines cover.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

I belong to a club and it's aloud in it's own category called Composition where two to infinite amounts of images are merged to create your own vision. AGAIN who CARES what other folks do with their images. People CHEAT all the time when it's to win. You can't change other people so why even give them a second thought. Do photography for yourself or just spend all of your time worried about what the other guy is doing. Sorry about the rant but everbody seems hung up on this subject lately......... I recently returned from NYC shooting the city, now I'm looking for a place to shoot the coming fall colors. Booking portrait shoots, where I will change the foreground, background, the sky, the time of day, the weather, what Ever the client wants and I Don't Care. Have already booked the entire month of April 2022 with my guide in Costa Rica doing wildlife. Life is Great when I'm shooting and not worried about the other guy or what people think. Click, Click, Click, Click.....

LEWHITE7747 Loc: 33773

Pure Vida!

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Life is GOOD.............

GEngel-usmc Loc: Spencerport NY - I miss Lakeland, FL

[quote=John N]I'm interested to hear members views on replacing a background / foreground to create a new image and whether the 'new' image should be allowable in a club competition?

Interesting thoughts here. What about the Vermeer that has been revered for centuries as a ‘Masters’ work of art, only to find that we’ve been revering a work that someone partially painted over? It has now been ‘restored’ to its original, with a ‘Cupid’. Should that painting now be called a ‘fake’? Has it lost value? Should ‘David’ be called a ‘fake’ with a fig leaf over his genitals? It’s all in the eyes of the beholder, folks!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

[quote=GEngel-usmc]