OK I agree Dog Shyte is dog shyte Dont know if we are getting off the point my view is dependant on what you mean by heavily manipulated. I agree also about not questioning the validity of it being art. I have my friend who can do just about anything in a darkroom so thats another Chestnut people are very inventive and creative you would not call that type of manipulation digital photographic art. I go back to the point about being in camera. The term Slynky used for other creative use of digital effects seems to me to be a perfect one Digital Photographic Art.

You think that is a definitive answer Mike?

I dont limit myself I enjoy breaking the rules slynky and the main difference is I dont call it photography! Not unless as I have made perfectly plain it is in camera. When I do take photographs I dont use filters at all if I want to do something more I then do it and happily post it where I happen to think it fits ok!! There is no definitive answer to the what is art question.

He he, well you asked the question in the first place Slynky!! Who says a Painting, a drawing, a sculpture, a photo is simple!! The question should be is it Art! Artistic expression is there for all of us to exploit and interpret in any way we see fit, whether someone else finds it artistic has nothing to do with what ever label someone ascribes to it in the end if you like it thats all that matters! You can break all the rules you want. What do you think your image is? If you dont want to label it then it does not matter to me where you post it, in whatever gallery you consider it fits into.

Oh by the way I print my pictures with an Epsonstylus 895 here in the UK its 2800dpi and I am told the ink should stay colour fast for at least 20 years. This does provide what I consider to be remarkable results given its price here of under 200!

Oh very interesting thread going on here, I am another who scans my own negs having given up on the dunk and dip brigade about 4 years ago. I use an HP Photosmart scanner which is just about good enough for my own needs and was excellent value for money when I bought it about 2-3 years ago. I then select the best images and store them on my HD and once I have a large enough collection burn them onto CDrom wish I could justify a DVD recorder but rather spend my cash on a new Digital Camera probably a NikonD100 I catalogue them with the same utility Chelle uses. For anything better I am lucky to have a good friend who is a wizz in the Darkroom who can produce exhibition quality prints. I have tried my hand at this, but not in the same class. Also been doing my own using Cibachrome etc with fairly good results, but have not bothered for ages. Dust and scratches are such a pain and I welcome my digital camera with open arms!!

I take your point Michelle, but that was my point!! As mysnaptz gave no clue as to how the image was created in the first place! Or if any manipulation as you call it took place? If it is all in camera, then it is in my opinion Photography, it is simply a close-up or Macro of an interesting POV. If the image has been manipulated in another way then its, and I AGREE 2D.

It depends if it was taken with a camera was a close up of an actual object, its Photography! Whats your point?

Yeah I was all set to get one til I heard about the new 13.89 Kodak Nikon job!! Drool!!

Hmmm maybe its OK after all? D100 Eh? OK!!

Me too they are my favourite Three, but I could not get over how this image turned out! I would have binned it well done mate!!

The colour one !

OK first off I use both film and digital, and for me there are merits for both so thats why I use both, as for digital is for the lazy crap!! Well I dont hold with that or only for happy snappers! come on guys! I have taught many people to take photographs, and the ability of the digital medium for all to experiment with a variety of techniques without breaking the bank are obvious! Therefore it will as a result encourage people into the art of photography!! Did you not play with toy cars before you started driving!!

Lovely, we will have to team up !! You keep doing this to me! perhaps the original image may work better now with these effects.

yeah now everybodys happy lol