images, photos, pictures, facebook and more
Since I joined the Facebook community I have taken to viewing pictures almost every day. Facebook pictures fall into just two categories, namely those created by 'photographers' and those taken by everyone else. Just so that we are on the same page this is the definition for a photographer , to wit, one who practices photography professionally. Colloquially, we refer to anyone with a camera as a photographer, and usually find other adjectives to qualify their status.
There is no doubt that given the imaging technology on the desktop today, the demarcation between levels of photographers, in relation to their status, is rather unclear if not non existent. Some folks can argue that this will never happen, and I could agree with that, until such time as the body that make the pronouncements, buckle under the global pressure and rewrite the definitions. Everything on this planet is managed by a body of humans who determine what is what, and sometimes even who is who. Of course we have freedom to accept or reject what they declare, and then live with the decisions we make. Case in point, President Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize. A body of humans somewhere on the planet made that determination. Are we on the same page yet?
Images, photos and pictures are all different but these days it does not matter which word we [the ordinary folks] use to express ourselves. However, in the industry, there are some die hards, who will insist that the correct terminology be maintained, at any and all cost. I am happy for them, but in time they will come around to the fact that we are coming to the end of another cycle, that everything has to recycle and pass "Go", so they should make sure that they have a 'get out of jail' card now, but if they rather fight a loosing battle it is their perogative. It is not unlike the game 'Monopoly'. Some folks seem to think they will last forever, but somebody is always after their spot. It is just LIFE.
Having transitioned from film to digital photography I am in a unique position to appreciate the old and the new, and I tell you, the only way for me is up. I recently met a youngster who wished to do film processing and maybe some darkroom work. I am glad that he is interested, but personally I do not wish to see another developing tank, not have to mix chemicals, nor print pictures in trays or even table top processors. Don't get me wrong, it was great fun making prints and enlargements back then as you pushed the envelope, given the hardware, books and instruction that some of us had access to. It was a joy to switch on the room light to appreciate a 16x20 in the stabilizer tray or coming out of the Durst RCP-40 table top processor.
Today is a different day. Everything is dry, and on the desktop. I do not experience the exhilaration of the print coming of the printer anymore, even if it is a 36x42 glossy print or 36" x 15 foot vinyl banner, made on the HP DesignJet 5500UV wide format printer. It is almost like there is no challenge in the photography now, well at least that part of the photographic reproduction. That seeming lack of challenge may also apply to the image making process too. Many photographers don't even use an external light meter anymore, maybe because they can fix whatever they deem to be "incorrect" in Photoshop. Old school tells me to make the best images possible in the camera, and darkroom the effects and embellishments, if that is necessary or desired..
Facebook has the most images you can effortlessly view in any one day. I have gone past critiquing images, because I think it is unethical to do so. Some people find it natural to critique elements and aspects of Nature, as though they know that they can do it better. Nature is GOD's creative expression, and who are we to find fault with that. It may be our right to have an opinion, but that does not count to GOD, because he created it how he wanted it, irrespectively. So too are our photographic images. The photographer creates what he wants, and how he wants it, what right do we [in the photographic community] have to say that he or she is WRONG, in any aspect of their creation. We may have a preference to a re-composition of the images, but that is our take. Our mind, vision and perspective are our own. Many artists sometimes remake images as it re-appeals to them later on, but we need to stop being judgmental of other people's GOD given creative expression.
Having said that, I saw a rather nice photo on Facebook recently taken by a local photographer, RJ something, and I would really like to view that photo without the catchlight in the young lady's eyes. I would also like to see some element of photographic 'relight'. I notice that many photographers using artificial lights do not modify or remove the catchlight in eyes. When I take photographs outdoors in sunlight I do not see the light source, the sun, or any reflection of it in my subjects eyes, but a trace of the fill-flash, if used, may be evident. But these are now modern times and there may be a lot of new 'digital' photo techniques and things that I still have to learn.
Today is another day for the British Airways and I am getting better at the image capture and developing patience and other virtues at the same time. Today the Canon digital camera will get another Caribbean workout.
Keep watching this space... it is all coming together real soon.
[to be continued]
There is no doubt that given the imaging technology on the desktop today, the demarcation between levels of photographers, in relation to their status, is rather unclear if not non existent. Some folks can argue that this will never happen, and I could agree with that, until such time as the body that make the pronouncements, buckle under the global pressure and rewrite the definitions. Everything on this planet is managed by a body of humans who determine what is what, and sometimes even who is who. Of course we have freedom to accept or reject what they declare, and then live with the decisions we make. Case in point, President Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize. A body of humans somewhere on the planet made that determination. Are we on the same page yet?
Images, photos and pictures are all different but these days it does not matter which word we [the ordinary folks] use to express ourselves. However, in the industry, there are some die hards, who will insist that the correct terminology be maintained, at any and all cost. I am happy for them, but in time they will come around to the fact that we are coming to the end of another cycle, that everything has to recycle and pass "Go", so they should make sure that they have a 'get out of jail' card now, but if they rather fight a loosing battle it is their perogative. It is not unlike the game 'Monopoly'. Some folks seem to think they will last forever, but somebody is always after their spot. It is just LIFE.
Having transitioned from film to digital photography I am in a unique position to appreciate the old and the new, and I tell you, the only way for me is up. I recently met a youngster who wished to do film processing and maybe some darkroom work. I am glad that he is interested, but personally I do not wish to see another developing tank, not have to mix chemicals, nor print pictures in trays or even table top processors. Don't get me wrong, it was great fun making prints and enlargements back then as you pushed the envelope, given the hardware, books and instruction that some of us had access to. It was a joy to switch on the room light to appreciate a 16x20 in the stabilizer tray or coming out of the Durst RCP-40 table top processor.
Today is a different day. Everything is dry, and on the desktop. I do not experience the exhilaration of the print coming of the printer anymore, even if it is a 36x42 glossy print or 36" x 15 foot vinyl banner, made on the HP DesignJet 5500UV wide format printer. It is almost like there is no challenge in the photography now, well at least that part of the photographic reproduction. That seeming lack of challenge may also apply to the image making process too. Many photographers don't even use an external light meter anymore, maybe because they can fix whatever they deem to be "incorrect" in Photoshop. Old school tells me to make the best images possible in the camera, and darkroom the effects and embellishments, if that is necessary or desired..
Facebook has the most images you can effortlessly view in any one day. I have gone past critiquing images, because I think it is unethical to do so. Some people find it natural to critique elements and aspects of Nature, as though they know that they can do it better. Nature is GOD's creative expression, and who are we to find fault with that. It may be our right to have an opinion, but that does not count to GOD, because he created it how he wanted it, irrespectively. So too are our photographic images. The photographer creates what he wants, and how he wants it, what right do we [in the photographic community] have to say that he or she is WRONG, in any aspect of their creation. We may have a preference to a re-composition of the images, but that is our take. Our mind, vision and perspective are our own. Many artists sometimes remake images as it re-appeals to them later on, but we need to stop being judgmental of other people's GOD given creative expression.
Having said that, I saw a rather nice photo on Facebook recently taken by a local photographer, RJ something, and I would really like to view that photo without the catchlight in the young lady's eyes. I would also like to see some element of photographic 'relight'. I notice that many photographers using artificial lights do not modify or remove the catchlight in eyes. When I take photographs outdoors in sunlight I do not see the light source, the sun, or any reflection of it in my subjects eyes, but a trace of the fill-flash, if used, may be evident. But these are now modern times and there may be a lot of new 'digital' photo techniques and things that I still have to learn.
Today is another day for the British Airways and I am getting better at the image capture and developing patience and other virtues at the same time. Today the Canon digital camera will get another Caribbean workout.
Keep watching this space... it is all coming together real soon.
[to be continued]
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