Someone recently asked if I had "manipulated" an image I posted here on Gather. Although I think my response was taken wrong, I stand by what I said to that person. In essence my response was that "ALL images are manipulated". It is just a matter of degree. That millisecond that anyone allows light to be bent and pass through a lens at a preselected focal length, at a preselected aperture, and at a preselected ISO...that scene that you just photographed has just been "manipulated". There is no such thing as "pure" photography. Once again...ALL IMAGES ARE MANIPULATED! It may not be by the photographer who has set everything to "AUTO", but rest assured the camera is definitely "MANIPULATING" the scene it is recording.
With that in mind I have taken one very simple image of a Street Artisan at work creating an earring for my daughter at Mallory Square on Key West. There is nothing really special about this image, which is one of the reasons I selected it. I offer the following interpretations of what was actually there...because that's all a photographer can do...offer HIS/HER interpretation!
This is the original image that I "manipulated" in the camera...
Here is the same image "manipulated" after the fact to a Black and White Image...
Now here is the same image after adjusting the Curves of the image (if you don't understand "curves", feel free to ask)...
Now let's crop the image JUST a bit and add a slight black vignette effect to it...
And, lastly let's apply an antique look to the image...just because we can...
Always remember..."Whoever said the camera never lies?....LIED!
Cheers,
Spartan
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Comments: 57
Excellent article, Spartan. Your "manipulating" talents never cease to amaze me!
hey.. the guys hands aren't glowing in day-glo/cellophane colors!?!?! you SURE you Manipulated the Images
You jealous old Curmudgeon! LOL
Day glo hands are cool. :-)
I simply manipulate men. So much easier!
Hey! Like some of us didn't know...
Oh! manipulate me, Liz...manipulate me! LOL
You know that I simply cannot help myself right? Yeah, just ask Sosne.
I like the last one Spartan. What did you do?
I simply applied a Nik Silver Efex filter. Took about 1 second. It can be done with Photo Shop...but that's too much WORK(whine)!
Hey! I just slent a bundle [actually my entire camera budget] on the D90. So it will have to be Photo Shop. Thanks kid!
If'n ya want I will do a "How to Antique a photo with Photo Shop" article just for you Ms. Liz. :-) You have a great camera...get the most out of it even though I KNOW the manaul looks like a paperback NOVEL! LOL
I'd love to read that article. Can I guess, though? On the last photo, my guess would be, a light, white vignette and monochrome noise?
It is kinda like politics, lol.
Agreed. It irritates me to no end when photographers brag about how they didn't edit an image. Especially when it could CLEARLY benefit from an edit. I remember someone told me only two kinds of photographers think that way. The first is a crime scene photographer and the second is an amatuer.
Lacey...my "pet peeve" is when I read the "Nice Capture" comment on anyone's image! I find that to be rather insulting to whoever took the photograph!
I feel the exact same way, Lacey!!
I wonder what Big Butter Jesus would say about this?
Great job demonstrating the wonders of Photoshopping. I believe a lot of photography is being in the correct place at the correct time and hitting the button, but digital has made it possible for people to really explore photography as an art form.
I like 'em all, and understand your point.
But I am now intrigued by "Big Butter Jesus" ...
Tracy,
You REALLY need to start reading my stuff. CLick my name, and BBJ is spotlighted....
ROFL!!!
I get this question IRL, after I've told people that I've used more than one photo for my creation.....duh......
OK, trying to show off:
Curves:
highlight: C-should be around 6 M/Y around 4 K---0!
And it goes on from there.....
Are you SURE about that? heeheeheeeeeeeeeee
Usually....unless there is no highlight......now, if we're talking artistic, well, that's different!
Just hanging out on the people page hoping to catch a good conversation.
I agree with you, to a point. . . but I have seen a lot of good photos turn in to a mess from photoshop abuse (such as getting happy with filters and other random editing). Editing is good but moderation is key I think.
My favorite of the above is the curves one. I'm not sure how to do that myself, I'd like to figure out though :)
Oh! I agree whole heartedly, Heather! I've seen images here on Gather that have been turned into absolute MUSH in the name of "creativity".
Regarding "Curves"...Imagine viewing an image as logarithmic data. There should be a "heel" at the top with a gentle slope, ending in what is referred to as the "toe". If the slope between the heel and toe is too steep you have a contrasty image with a loss of detail. Too gentle a slope and you have a flat image with lots of detail, but just BLAH looking. Adjusting the curves(that slope between the heel and toe) for each color allows you to alter an image without really changing any colors. When I was in the Navy, Reconnisannce photos were INTENTIONALY processed and printed to be FLAT for maximum detail, but they sure were never going to win any photo contests! I don't know if I've made sense here, it really takes an entire article to explain this, but feel free to email me if you have any questions. I am ALWAYS happy to answer any questions that I can!
I'm not into moderation. I am an extremist who encourages radical digital manipulation. I like day glo hands. Once I take a photo, I believe it belongs to me and I can kick it around all I like. I was one of those kids that didn't like to be told I had to color the sky blue and grass green.
fantastic work and i agree that what they are for. and not just images.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SaFTm2bcac
For someone who started with a Phone cam and worked into getting a coolpix, second generation, you Know I look at your photos and not only admire them but sometimes drool over your software...so there! My secret is out, spartan. Sometimes my brown eyes are Green! :)
Interesting. Sort of like saying the CIA never lies.....(grin)
You are a great manipulator :-) I see both sides. I love getting a good shot that only needs a little cropping. On the other hand, I enjoy lending my own creativity to alter a photo in some way. If I do post photoshopped pics then I just say so in the caption. There are photography skills and graphic art skills. No reason they can't coexist.
The point of this post is that ALL images are manipulated. It is just a matter of degree. :-)
Oh I believe, but good look with the purists.
Thanks for posting this to Texture Photographer
This made me recall the photographer who took the famous portrait of Churchill. He wasn't getting the expression he wanted out of the old boy, so he asked him to remove his cigar - the inevitable glare resulted and the photographer snapped his pic.
Now that's what I call manipulating an image! (Who knows what he did with the photo itself...)
There is no sin to this, is there?
I've done this too with my pictures, mostly with the light exposure thingie. I find I always need to adjust the light exposure/ brightness for my pictures (for them to look good on Gather), otherwise, they appear too dark.
Yeah, it used to be mainly cropping, and dodging and burning in, but even then the manipulation started when you put a frame around the complexities of life, chose what goes in and what doesn't, what angle all of it is seen from, and a thousand other things that distinguish a picture from life.
It's too much work.
I do good to crop and add light to the photo. I still have to read my whole manual!
""""Someone recently asked if I had "manipulated" an image I posted here on Gather""""
How ridiculous! Everybody has seen tree frogs jump from trees with oxygen tanks and a parachute! My goodness!
We all know about YOUR photo(?) skills, Jeff....LOL
Can you make my teeth whiter? bwaaaaaa!
I can make them BLINDINGLY WHITER!! So much so it will drive your Trolls out of what they call their "minds". :-)
I luv u. heh heh!
Umm, can they really get any whiter?
Not according to my dentist, Donna. But then, he's not as gifted as Spartan. *grin
Spartan ~ This is AWESOME! This is an excellent instructional tool for any photographer.
This is FEATURED in Artistic Minds®.
WELL DONE!
Your point is well made and I've thoroughly enjoyed the ensuing conversation!
Well done.
Thanks for the various steps, Spartan. I like the next to the last "manipulated" photo the best.
You've done your your work. ALL photogs manipulate. Anything more is nothing but BS.
You f-ing sold me. Congrats Dude.
if you've ever painted from a photograph, you know the camera lies, specially when it comes to tall objects.
and before the advent of computers, manipulation of images was done in a darkroom, even if it was just to correct the exposure, and then afterwards to "erase" the dust spots.
working with photographing paintings, inevitably i have to do a little photoshop work to erase the glare that happens due to the varnish. i don't manipulate them to where they become another piece of work unless i'm wanting to make it into a whole separate medium/piece.
Wonderful demonstration.
I particularly like the antique look. What I don't understand is the why? I'm lucky to take a picture and upload it.
Manipulating images is fun and it makes me feel so creative. I have to thank you for the nudges to get out there and just do it, experiment and try.
Loved the images.
I have to admit sometimes I write 'nice capture' because I can't think of anything more to say at all, it was that kind of picture.....
Perhaps "nice composition", or "well thought out image"? When I think of "capture" I think of someone taking snapshots at Disneyworld...but that's just me. :-)