What does contrast means to you?
Apr 8, 2024 09:12:07 #
billnikon wrote:
Contrast to me is showing extreme differences, rough vs. smooth, light vs. dark, good vs. evil, white feathers vs. blackish backgrounds.
Another great example.
Good vs evil? Err... Not in photography, I should hope,
Apr 8, 2024 09:18:49 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
"The human visual system perceives higher contrast as sharper. " .../...
This the concept used when using 'clarity', 'texture' and 'remove haze' in ACR. It is also used when using blend modes on pixel/smart object layers. This more efficient than using sharpen filters as this does not mess with the pixels but their luminosity.
As to the 'sharpness fixation', it comes from the origin of digital photography cameras sensors that almost all used an aliasing filter to prevent moiré and softened the images.
Apr 8, 2024 09:24:53 #
billnikon wrote:
Contrast to me is showing extreme differences, rough vs. smooth, light vs. dark, good vs. evil, white feathers vs. blackish backgrounds.
Yes this too with textures and lines and shapes can really be amazing ways to show contrast. Such a beautiful example too!!
Apr 8, 2024 09:27:37 #
Delderby wrote:
Does photographing sunsets / rises need particular photographic skills? 
Definitely. But nothing technical.
Apr 8, 2024 09:39:43 #
Diving bald. In black and white, the lack of mid tones while showing black and white. Good question.
Apr 8, 2024 09:53:22 #
Apr 8, 2024 10:08:54 #
greenwork
Loc: Southwest Florida
This has been a great discussion. Super examples & thoughtful dialogue. Thanks for sharing!
Apr 8, 2024 10:10:27 #
Mega kudos to all who posted these images! Simply spot on! đŸ¤—
Apr 8, 2024 10:14:11 #
Rongnongno wrote:
Why not? Juxtaposition is one way to show. Or, did you mean the act of taking the photo? There's certainly evil intent in much of that too....
Good vs evil? Err... Not in photography, I should hope,
Good vs evil? Err... Not in photography, I should hope,
Apr 8, 2024 10:14:56 #
Rongnongno wrote:
Thanks very much for the info on the tools, and re anti-aliasing. Good stuff!This the concept used when using 'clarity', 'texture' and 'remove haze' in ACR. It is also used when using blend modes on pixel/smart object layers. This more efficient than using sharpen filters as this does not mess with the pixels but their luminosity.
As to the 'sharpness fixation', it comes from the origin of digital photography cameras sensors that almost all used an aliasing filter to prevent moiré and softened the images.
As to the 'sharpness fixation', it comes from the origin of digital photography cameras sensors that almost all used an aliasing filter to prevent moiré and softened the images.
Apr 8, 2024 10:16:53 #
Nalu wrote:
Breathtaking, high-impact photo! Imagine if with a blue sky - or worse, a fake sunset Diving bald. In black and white, the lack of mid tones while showing black and white. Good question.
Apr 8, 2024 10:17:09 #
Barre wrote:
Thank you!Linda fully understands contrast. Nice pics
Apr 8, 2024 11:09:37 #
[quote=Linda From Maine]Depends on how you use the sun.
Those are good photos - but are they sunsets?
Those are good photos - but are they sunsets?
Apr 8, 2024 12:25:08 #
Strodav wrote:
... The human visual system perceives higher contrast as sharper...
As Linda said, that's an interesting statement, but I have my own take on it. Yes, increasing contrast does increase the perceived sharpness, but I believe that sharpness isn't the determining factor. I believe that vividness is what determines how we perceive a scene and sharpness is just one aspect of vividness. Increased sharpness leads to increased vividness (and the inverse is also true - increased vividness can create an impression of increased sharpness). Contrast is also an aspect of vividness where increasing contrast increases vividness.
The point I'm making is that if you make sharpness an end in itself you're missing the point. Sharpness is relevant only insofar as it enhances vividness. And vividness is something that we may or may not want more of. In fact ofttimes we want less. But in either case vividness is the determining factor and sharpness is just one aspect of vividness. So is tonal contrast. And colour contrast. And textural contrast etc etc.
Apr 8, 2024 12:31:52 #
A thought-provoking discussion. I'd just like to mention one point that hasn't been raised so far. There can be a contrast between ordinary and different. Usually if something (or somebody) is different, it (or they) will stand out and be noticed. I haven't any examples of that because I don't do street photography or even people photography but I can think of many examples I've seen in the past where it was the different thing or person that became the obvious main subject of a photo. Our attention is automatically drawn to what's different and it can be the starting point of any storytelling that's being told by an image.
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