Whats the point? Input please!!!

[greybeard68 41]

On the subject of the weeds and the waterfall, they appear in upper left hand 1/3 sweet spot of the picture and they do draw my eye and I can see how some might find them distractive. From an artistic standpoint, it would improve the picture if they were removed. (jmho)

 

[sm4him]

I base how much I edit on the "potential" of the photo--if I believe that I have a really strong image that would become something special with just a few adjustments, then I take the time to make the adjustments.
But if it's a mediocre photo to begin with (understand that when I say "mediocre" I don't mean it's not "good," just that it's not "great," it's not got that quality that can take it to the next level), and making edits is not going to change it into a 'great' image...I generally don't waste my time.

In business terms, I guess I think of it as ROI--return on investment. Am I going to get enough of a "return" on my time and effort to edit the photo to make it worthwhile? In this case, if it were MY photo, I wouldn't bother. It's a nice photo of a waterfall (and like SCraig, I do love me some waterfalls!), but it's not spectacular and cloning out the weeds isn't going to give it that "wow" factor to take it to the next level.

All of that is, admittedly, always-an-amateur-never-a-pro opinion.

 

[sm4him]

There are a few levels to it, none of them are very big but its a really pretty area!

I've been to Montgomery Bell many times, but I didn't realize there were any falls there. I chased all over Tennessee for waterfalls about 3 years ago. I Really like them in winter when there is ice in places. Bunch of pix Here.

You've got some nice waterfall photos there, SCraig, and I love your idea of documenting which ones you've visited and photographed--I may have to start my own log.

 

[jriepe]

jriepe - its an attachment using the sites software - if you look just under the picture there is a black bar and the pixels of the fullsized version uploaded displayed. Clicking on the attachment (ie the photo) will open it in fullsize (at the uploaded size of course) in your browser.
If you rightclick on it you can choose to open it in a new tab or you can click it using the middle mouse button (normally located under the scrolling wheel) to auto open it in a new tab (in most browsers).

Thanks Overread, I wasn't aware of that but I guess an old dog can learn new tricks. When I see it enlarged the weeds still do not bother me but I feel the very bright area of the water is distracting.

Jerry

 

[WesternGuy]

Well Melissa, you started a good discussion here, I mean who would think a few weeds would be the focus for an artistic discussion. Personally, I would agree with those who are of the opinion that it is YOUR image, you do with it what you will. I think (hope) you will find that as you gain experience with your imagery, what you like or dislike will probably change - even your own personal style will change - it is how we all evolve as "masters" of our chosen "interests". I was going to say "profession", but not all of us are necessarily professionals and yet we still strive for some form of artistic improvement in our work. I know that if I look at some of the images that I shot ten years ago, when film was in vogue, I look at them and wonder - "did I shoot that?" - so I know that my imagery has evolved - has it gotten any better - I think so and so do a lot of my contemporaries - mine and their opinions mind you - so you will see your imagery evolve as you grow and try new things. So I would reiterate what has been said that if you like it and you are happy with it, then that should be sufficient, at least it is for me. I think that greybeard says it all in his sig - "If it looks good, IT IS GOOD." What you do to the image to get it to the point that you like it and think it is good is again, up to you, after all YOU are the artist. HTH.
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WesternGuy

 

[Joel_W]

To answer your original question, as others have already stated, to what level one manipulates, removes, changes anything, is up to them. My main focus is on proper exposure above all else. I do the vast majority of my cropping when I compose the picture, not in PP editing. I do remove imperfections if they jump out at me. It's not always nature that puts them there. Many a time while photographing in a Arboretum or greenhouse, leaves and petals are stained with liquid fertilizer. I remove them. Some times, ok many times, I can't control the lighting well enough to prevent harse shadows, so I just kind of rework them. Leaves overlap flowers, I move them.

As for your picture, I dont' mind the vines from the weeds. It's nature. It's natural, and it fits the scene for me. So I'd leave them. Besides, as Overread said, it's a lot of work to do it correctly.

 

[spacefuzz]

as everyone else said, its personal opinion on what you want your art to represent. In my work, I would remove the weeds if they didnt fit with my vision of the photo. My personal vision is a mix of how I saw it and how I wanted it to be. I would advise determining your vision and then the answer of wether or not to edit extensively will follow naturally from that.

 

[Skhigh]

Thanks everyone!! Everyone's opinion has really helped!!

 

[Overread]

as everyone else said, its personal opinion on what you want your art to represent.

I would also add to this statement with a clause.
Often people say - your camera your rules - your art your creation your choice.
However, its my feeling, that whilst such viewpoints are valid and that you should always maintain a (humble) pride in your own achievements; when it comes to anything you also need to consider the wider context.


For a beginner what I mean here is learn things - theories of composition - theories of exposure - look at the works of your peers, try to come to understand them. Try to view as wide a range and diversity as you can. Often you might not like what you see, but at least try to come to understand why others might - is it the content; the message; the exposure; the composition; a combination of the mentioned.

This development is the ongoing part of learning photography (or any art) and its something that will change overtime. Shots that, once were your best you might find, in time, come to be only childish works by your own view.

I guess what I'm trying to say is avoid falling into the trap of "its art it can be whatever it wants" without first learning art and without viewing lots of it.

 

[greybeard68 41]

Here is a 10 min clone job............quick and dirty but it will give a good idea if it would worth the trouble to do it right.


waterfall-no brush by GREYBEARD12, on Flickr

 

[Skhigh]

I see your point, it does help to focus your eye on the waterfall. I know this touch up was a "quick and dirty" one, but maybe because I know there is suppose to be stuff there I think it looks funny. I just dont know. *sigh* I think I will go back and re-take it and by now there should be greenery on that rock so it wont be so distracting..lol.

 

[WesternGuy]

Melissa, I would like to add just a bit more to what overread has said - look at the works of your peers, try to come to understand them - not only look at the works of your peers and contemporaries, but also look at the works of some of the older "Masters" - Ansel Adams, Galen Rowell, Eliot Porter and many others. When you look at the works of others, try to discover what you like and don't like about any particular image.
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WesternGuy

 

[KenC]

There are a lot of Nature Photography purists out there (or just Photography purists in general) who will tell you that any manipulation is bad, that is anything beyond cropping and brightness adjustment. Purists of any sort always give me a PITA as the world is more complicated than they try to make it and there are all sorts of reasons for doing things differently, especially in "art". I've known people who take photos of animals in zoos and consider any photo that shows bars, walls or any man-made object unacceptable, as if they were pretending they took the photo in the wild. I once told one of them that if I could stand going to a zoo at all I would make the bars, etc. obvious to make a point about captivity and he looked at me as if I had lost my mind. Oh well, enough rant ...

 

[greybeard68 41]

I once told one of them that if I could stand going to a zoo at all I would make the bars, etc. obvious to make a point about captivity and he looked at me as if I had lost my mind. Oh well, enough rant ...

I agree................as for photo editing, it really depends on the subject matter. If you are trying to capture what is actually there then cloning out objects won't work. If you are wanting to use a photo as source material for creating an image then all sorts of manipulation is OK, as long as you don't misrepresent it.