I am constantly amazed at the genius of many here who do photography. This includes straight photo work and photo work with added postwork. Since this site is here for others to learn about the art of photography and all that it entails, as well as to showcase wonderful artworks, might it be possible that a selected photo artist could list specifically what all was done to a given uploaded piece? What he/she envisioned with the shot. Specifics they did to set up the shot and take it. Detailed instructions on what postwork they did to make the final product? Yes, I have gone through the 'tutorials' section here and I found it to be very helpful. But, it does not get inside the mind of the artist. Many thanks, if so inclined. Just thought it might be helpful for struggling photo wannabes like 'wa', and all other good photo people who want to become great photo people. TallPockets.

I would do that for you if it helps. You could brows through my gallery and if you find something you can post it. I'll do my best to help you than. Chris

...I often think "what did that person do to achieve this result". I try to figure it out,but would be nice to have a detailed step by step. Good idea. I know Donald has given some good ones in the past.

What he/she envisioned with the shot This helps a lot imo...I know I have a good idea on what I am going to shoot with location in mind also...this helps me to focus my mind when I get there. I guess myself and others take it for granted about cam setup, ISO...what lens to use, do I use flash. On my walkabout around the lakes, I tend to put the cam on the settings that I know will get me a good shot in a split second should that moment happen. Tell you the truth, have never though of breaking down a shoot step by step..but now you mention it :) regards jimbO

I agree with Tallpockets, and I quote : "... I am constantly amazed at the genius of many here who do photography. This includes straight photo work and photo work with added postwork ...".
Yes ... I read it all but ... the main issue is in the quoted phrase !
The question is, as always, the frontier between "straight photo work" versus "photo work with added postwork".
And the main question here is not to "know" about anyone secret techniques but to ask politely if the photo is the real one captured with some crop and other minor pw or some fake bad photo hidden behind superb pw managing !
It is time to look at the real photo artwork done with just a cam and be able to appreciate it knowing it is not a fake product achieved with any of the fashionable image software.
So I agree with Tallpockets !!!
Sincere greetings to all of the Renderosity community !!!
Carlos.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Yes&Artist=Egmont

Yes I agree with Cynlee.

In fact Egmont is an honest example of what I meant.

He assumes he is a professional.

He describes how he photographs. Nothing to hide.

Many people should know that a photograph cannot be a "clone" of any other with or without tech explanation.

Never forget that the only person able to that is the photographer who did it !!!

Thanks Cynlee for mentioning Egmont.

Best regards.

Carlos.

i would love to hear how everyone goes about the process of shooting and then to the final stage of uploading, and i would love to know their thoughts and feelings when they are taking a picture. i'm not interested very much in knowing what settings were used. Occasionally i am, but not generally. Carlos, you said, "It is time to look at the real photo artwork done with just a cam and be able to appreciate it knowing it is not a fake product achieved with any of the fashionable image software." I have much appreciation for artists who take exceptional photos with no or minimal postwork; however, i disagree that other images which have moderate/heavy postwork are "fake products." My opinion is that a creation is a creation...art is art...photography is photography...regardless of what technique was used. i just look at an image and appreciate it for what it is. For me personally, i don't put photos with postwork and without postwork in two separate categories. I don't consider one "real" and one "fake." just my opinion... i am not trying to persuade you to think differently, and i'm not saying i'm right and you're wrong. we're all entitled to our opinions. i just wanted to express mine.

I agree with you Sheila ( aka tvernuccio ).

Everybody is entitled to their opinion and I respect them all.

As for pw well one of my FAV is Egmonts Lovely Kay that has the pw he describes.

I shall not mention fake photography in RR because I must respect everyone. But this does not mean that I even consider their work worthy. RRs community knows how to comment (or not) the work posted !

Carlos.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?Form.ShowMessage=2108153

i am someone who takes a lot of crappy photos. i did photography in high school some MANY years ago. i've been doing photography now for 2 years, but i still consider myself a beginner. i have sooooo much to learn, and i learn very slowly.

many of the images in my gallery are posted with very little postwork done. sometimes i don't say...i forget to talk about things like that because i'm usually more interested in talking about what the photo means to me on an emotional level. some images have a LOT of postwork done to them.

anyway, i really struggle with photography, Carlos. Here's an example of one really horrible picture i took...and my attempt to salvage it. Even the postwork i've done doesn't make this an exceptional image. sigh. but i just do the best i can.

i'm still not finished with this one. I want to put this guitarist in some "background."

anyway,

i know that my photography has much to be desired.
for me, it's all a learning process. i know my photography may have very little merit to others and is not considered "worthy" when you compare it to top-notch photographers.

but i think there's something about my photography that IS worthy. I'm still working on the technical stuff, and i have a long way to go. But in the meantime, i just keep practicing and trying to improve.

and as for postwork, hey...if i can make a crappy image look a little better by doing postwork, well, i'm all for it! Are these creations of mine "fake?" Well, some say yes; some say no. i guess that's up to the viewer to decide.

they're REAL to me though because i put my heart and soul into them.

i really am very grateful to everyone here in the forum who has helped me try to improve!!! I appreciate ya'all soooo much!

i appreciate your honesty, Carlos, as well as you respecting my opinion as well. thanks for that!!!

Message edited on: 02/25/2005 11:20

ALL - thanks, kindly for your input. I would love to hear from many others here who have not yet commented. I posted this topic with the only intention of having someone elevate their photography skills and get into the mind of a really good photographer. It was not meant to be a debate about the merits of postwork or I would have said such. I like to think I have a creative imagination (some say 'warped'- wink) and I'm simply looking to try to translate that imagery into real product for viewing. Thanks again, to all for your inputs. MUCH appreciated. T.P.

While explaining the technical details of my post work would be easy, going into my mindset/thoughts while taking an image would probably be difficult for me. While I go in with an idea of what I want, I think for me the moment I trip the shutter is something that is non-verbal. It's closer to a feeling. When I shoot, especially if I'm shooting an event where there is no set plan for what the subject is going to do, I go into a place without words.

In fact, if I start thinking of what I'm doing as I'm shooting I can screw myself up. Thinking can cause hesitation for me and that can make you miss that decisive moment. It's one of the reasons I hate when people want to talk to you when you're trying to photograph something.

As for the other stuff. I have no idea what fake and real mean when talking photography. In my mind, unless you're a photo-journalist, as an artist you do what you need to do to have your image portray what it is you want to get across. I don't think there's any more purity or value in "this image is straight out of camera - no postwork at all".

Digital postwork is no different than darkroom postwork. It's just a lot faster and less smelly. Even photo purists who look down their collective noses at any darkroom manipulation are themselves manipulating the image just by their choice of film, crop, developer (both film and paper), paper, condenser head, temps and timing.

My $0.02 worth.

-=>Donald

I too would be very interested in this. Techniques in Photography and Postwork.. Myself when I go on a shoot I never have a plan.. I love being spontaneous. I just take my camera and shoot.. Until digital came out I could only afford to shoot on vacations and special occasions.. I always have trouble remembering f-stops and aperture settings so I rely on Photoshop to help. An as far as postwork is concerned, to me it can take a boring or an ok shot and bring it too life.. What's important? The way you took the photo or the final image.. It's to my understanding that photographers use to fool around in their darkrooms all the time to change their original images. What's the difference besides digital being a lot easier and having unlimited ways of improving a photo..

I think Egmont and the others who include some information about their images are showing a fine example, I would like to see more details on: camera, settings, post work etc. so in future I will include some info. with my own posts.

Tallpockets, an excellent observation and comment. If I'm not mistaken, many moons ago we had a brief discussion about taking it in turns to do exactly that sort of thing but nothing really happened with it. Mods, wanna consider starting that up as a regular thing? Maybe a volunteer a fortnight? That way we should get a good selection of 'purist' photographers who can shed a bit of light on how they mentally crop an image before pressing the shutter, and 'postworkers' who find it easier to do that with the picture in front of them? (",)

I already have thought of a way to make this into something. That was my first thought. I just had to run this morning to work,so will now take suggestions as to what people would like to see. I think it would be hard to actually pick someone and say ..."hey could you be the photographer this week who will make a turorial on how you did it." Let me work on this a day. In the meantime...load this thread with your suggestions.

All - thanks, kindly. Much appreciated. I love to learn new things in life. Even more so, I love to pass my loves on to others who then follow and continue them. I see many who do not want to divulge 'secrets' if you will. To me, that is truly sad. To use Miss Cynlee's work, for example, if she told everyone everything she knew, we all would be much better photographers. Yet, there would still only be one Miss Cynlee, immediately recognizable. I equate it to a painter who teaches others to paint. They will always maintain their own uniqueness and further the cause of their art form. Just how I work. Sadly, many feel threatened to tell too much of their craft, imho. Thanks, again to all. My best. T.P.

blush TY TP, much of what I do comes naturally... I don't spend a lot of time setting up a shot... I try to compose in cam but find the viewer on my digi hard to see sometimes... I was on the yearbook staff in HS, did mostly the graphics but also some of the photography... we had our own darkroom... I knew I wanted to be an artist all my life & was a 5 year Fine Arts college major... had a lot of art training but sadly no computer training back then... I luv to design but really wouldn't say I was a pro photographer but just "know" what looks good... I do love to experiment with layers & postwork... have shared some of my techniques but it's not anything new that many others have done... someday I hope to have my own eclectic antique/art gallery showcasing mine & other's artwork as I've found since I've gotten older I can no longer work for anyone... lol, except myself :]

p.s. ...but there's always room for improvement & so much to learn & perfect... i literally get overwhelmed too when viewing the talent in the gallery!! your idea is a good one! :]

your idea is a good one! :] ---- "Even a broken clock is correct twice a day". WINK.

I think that Tallpocket's question is very simple but we are all very complicated. To be real the final voice of images is not always a conveyance of intent or true emotion. Motivational reasons (money included) play a strong role in the mind of many photographers and an image can also receive a secondary (mechanical?) voice in postwork. IMO to 'get' a great shot your internal compass and photographic 'eye'need to be pointing in the same direction... the element of joy (and sharing that joy) in creating is something I think is a non-expendable item. Why else does someone shoot flowers &c. all day long? Part of the feeling of vulnerability leads us to cover ourselves with a story, attitude or mask of acceptability, should we get it wrong?