No photograph is reality. I can tell by touching a photo that it's not
real. It's a recorded image on a piece of paper. To imply that any
photo is real is deceitful. Fortunately most of us can tell that none
are real. Make nice pictures. Don't agonize over the method. Tell the
viewers only what you want them to know, but never lie to your mother
<g>.
Paul
On Jun 18, 2005, at 8:31 AM, Tom Reese wrote:
Paul Stenquist replied to me as follows:
"Clone out the fence if it makes the photo better. Doesn't bother me
in the least. The objective is to make as nice a picture as possible."
In my opinion, it's a doctored image and is no longer a photograph.
It's a deception and a fake. I know it's done all the time but, again
IMO, it's not fair to deceive the viewer.
"Sometimes you can move the camera to get rid of the fence. Sometimes
you have to move the cursor. Doesn't matter. Why is the mere recording
of what happens to be in front of one sacred?"
It's sacred unless you're up front about what you did. Otherwise the
image is a fake and the person who is presenting it is a fraud.
"What should be sacred is keeping one's eye on the final objective: a
great photograph."
What should be sacred is truth. Show your doctored images by all means
but warn the viewer that they aren't real.
"From here on out Photography is going to involve a digital workflow
that will open the door to more creativity."
It opens the door to deceit unless the presenter is honest about what
he did.
"The work is ultimately judged on the basis of where you end up, not
how you got there. The image is the thing. The method is unimportant."
If you present the image as art then I agree with you. If you present
it as reality then you are being dishonest.
Tom Reese
