jbarrettash
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2012
- Messages
- 67
- Reaction score
- 9
- Location
- montreal, QC
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Simply saying that a photo is underexposed is neither helpful nor kind,
Stating over/underexposure is simply describing a quality, just like stating that the horizon is tilted, and we don't often see people getting all butthurt over the latter, do we?
It's when one defends to the death, that something works, simply because they "think" it does, is where most people here have a problem.
Case in point...Nightclub photography is about about showing people having a great time. Dark, dingy, dim, flat, images showing green/yellow/grey people simply doesn't convey "fun". It's visual language. Those qualites express specific feelings, even if you pretend they don't. Nightclub photography is commercial photography. It's purpose is to draw people in. While there is some room for artistic style, the genre provides little creative leeway without destroying the intended message. The images should be saying "look what an awesome time we had" rather than "look how sickly we look".
I'v ehad people suggest some of my images are underexposed. The comment IS helpful. It's not meant to be hurtful, or kind. It reminds me to pay attention to how it's percieved. I am free to state my intent, and why I feel it works. It doesn't make me right though. If everybody says it doesn't work, I would definitely spend some time re-evaluating my choices. I wouldn't get my dander up and tell everyone they they are ALL wrong.
Case in point again, we are talking about a specific genre of commercial photography, with a limited message, NOT fine art photography. Nightclub photography is not something that is meant to provoke deep thought and challenge the viewer. No more so than this dim, dingy, flat style would work with boudiour, child, family, engagement, wedding, or infant photography. Geez! Who the hell would want baby pictures that make the child look sickly or dead???
If you wish to argue about intent, use, or merit of underexposure, use this as an example. It's a great example.
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/black-white-gallery/315074-s-not-new-york.html
The knee jerk reaction is to say it's underexposed, until you think about it. Till you let the image sink in. The message in that image is not "superhappyfuntime."
But alas, this is not nightclub portraiture, is it?
Great points! And I agree with you. The business side of this is very important. Had more people concentrated on this aspect, and phrased it more specifically and kindly as you have here, maybe the thread would not have gotten so venomous. BUT, I repeat, he did not ask for CC...
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