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Introduction
Marc Adamus is an American landscape photographer based in Oregon, though he travels worldwide to collect his images. His photographs have been published extensively in a large variety of media ranging from calendars, books, advertising and the publications of National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Popular Photography and over a hundred more. He has won numerous landscape photography awards. Adamus was a pioneer of a particular style of grand landscape that is fairly easy to recognize, with rich saturated colors, dramatic skies and water, and impactful elements in focus from front to back of the frame. He has had a profound influence on much of the landscape photography that we see on sites like 500px.
Adamus' career has mirrored and been enmeshed with some of the controversy about photo editing, photoshop, and hyper-realistic images. Early in his career, he was quoted as denying the use of computer work in creating his imagery, insisting that his signature “look” was achieved entirely through shooting technique and physical filters. Someone even created a website accusing him of lying about his work. Now, about 10 years later, Adamus acknowledges his use of editing tools and teaches workshops on how to achieve that “look”. We have had similar battles on this website, with many members having strong feelings one way or the other about how much and what kind of editing is acceptable.
b Introduction /b br Marc Adamus is an American ... (
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Lying & cheating, what is there to love?
Even the like minded would hate that amongst themselves.
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Though any of his images would have worked just as well, we are only asking you to review this one. Below are links to his other work, some articles about him, his technical approach, even some information about the great controversy that swirled around him some years ago. Here are some questions to help spur your thinking. Answer any that you find interesting.
Questions to Consider:
1. What do you think of this image? What about the composition? The color? The angle of shooting? The treatment of the flowing water? Would you want this on your wall? Why or why not?
Though any of his images would have worked just as... (
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As previously stated, for me, its a 6 out of 10.
Composition is aesthetic but technically flawed.
The treatment of the water and the whole image itself is a formula shot. The formula might be his so called "look".
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2. Do you feel your own landscape photography has been influenced by this type of work? If so, please post an image and tell us about that.
Nope, i take no influence from any photographer. If there is any influence at all, it would be from painters. I just take pictures to capture moments, by their natural pleasing look/possibilities or if it is a requirement.
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3. What is your feeling about editing in landscape photography? How much is too much? Does Adamus cross that line for you? Is this an ethical issue or simply a matter of taste? Please explain.
The ethics of photography is always on the intent of the shot. Was it meant to show the reality? Was it meant to be an expression? et cetera...
In his case, he is doing it mainly to please an audience and to earn. His photography is a product so he does not have to toe any editing line. If he was lying, that would be the ethical issue.
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4. How do you feel about copying another photographer’s techniques? Is that a form of intellectual property theft? What if you take an image at the same location and also copy the photographer’s technique? Share your thoughts.
Many photographer teaches. To use what they teach is to copy another's technique and intellectual property.
To copy same location? As long as the location do not belong to them and has trademarks and liabilities bound to them, why not? It's just proving the technique works. But dont make money out of the copy.
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5. Adamus travels the world looking for dramatic landscapes. Is that something that appeals to you? Do you find more inspiration when traveling to iconic locations, or when shooting in your own "backyard", the area you live
Travel is the next best thing to free air. It will always give more & varied opportunities.
But if the backyard is all someone has, go for it. The smallest imagination in the backyard can also take one far.