A very nice puddy. You can use it as a wall too!

Photography does require luck. And Patience. AND Photoshop.

Photography does not require photoshop unless you are doing it wrong

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Photography does not require photoshop unless you are doing it wrong

I'm a fairly decent photographer, and I almost always feel compelled to tweak my photos a bit. Either crop a tad here or a tad there. Maybe increase the contrast, adjust the levels, stuff like that. Just to brighten things up a bit. I shoot exclusively digital now, and unlike film, it does need some tweeking. Particularly if I'm shooting on a gray or cloudy day. And, I don't think I'm "doing anything wrong". Having said that, though, I'm enrolled in a digital photography workshop at the end of March with my sister. I KNOW I've got room to learn.

dabe - I agree with you about the use of Photoshop. In the digital age, use of something like photoshop gives the photographer the control that would "normally" be possible in the dark room. Of course, it can be over done and the result then becomes computer graphics rather than photography

The bit I was refuting is "require".  Cropping is a typical function (even with film), but doesn't *require* photoshop.  If you know what you are doing with a digital, you can get the same results as film.  My photo wall  (low key pottery) was taken on a digital camera.  The only change that was made to it was the size of it (it was originally over 4 megs). 

Photoshop is a great digital darkroom tool, but it should never replace general knowledge of photography.  I feel that the digital age has brought about a lot of mediocre photographers who use photo editing tools to "correct" their mistakes.  Too many people use it as a safety net.

I started training in photography when I was 12 and worked doing darkroom for a professional photographer when I was 13.  I've done extensive darkroom (know some pretty advanced darkroom techniques) but I also learned that the least amount of time spent in the darkroom the better.  It's best to learn how to deal with different lighting then to "fix" it later.

A fun thing to do if you have some spare B&W prints and want to make people wonder "how the heck did you do that?"  Take a india ink pen (a permanent ink pen of any type should do) and make a pen and ink drawing over the B&W photo.  Once it is very dry, mix 1 part iodine with 3 parts water and rinse photo in it until it is faded away.  Rinse print in water for about 10 minutes, then dry.  Makes you look like you are a talented pen an ink artist when you are not.  That was one of the projects that I taught my senior art class (meaning- my art class when I was a senior....I was one of those "honors" kids who had extra time, so I ended up teaching an art class in photography techniques...was also the lead photographer and darkroom instructor for the school yearbook and paper....man...I was a geek.......was?)

Karmagirl - RE:Require - in that case, I agree with you too...I didn't catch the emphasis on that bit of your phrase

the thing about the pottery photo, is that it's not the same sort of photo as the other ones discussed. sorry if i'm about to miff you off, but i'm trying to not be too harsh, its just not my cup of tea. that photo is dark, with few fine details, and any glitches or artifacts in the picture are hidden by the darkness. many other photo's are bright and more detailed. for example, a scenery shot might have trees (very detailed things), grass, clouds, the sun, water (damn reflections), and animals in one shot. thats a lot of illuminated, complex objects to capture without and errors or unwanted features. the photo might also feature a fleeting moment, like the final moment of a race, where multiple attempts are impossible. therefore utilizing photoshop to fix little things makes much more sense than if you look at photography as merely a tool for still-life. the world of photography is vast, and encompasses all the complexities of art. it is a gross oversimplification to rule any tool of the trade amateurish. different styles and different photos have different needs. personally, i have used not only photoshop, but paintshop pro, and, yes, even microsoft paint to get the effects i require

-end of rant

see you later, and sorry if i offended anyone.

wideareaintelligence, I guess you missed the meaning of "low key" in the title of the pottery shot.  Have you ever done low key work?  The entire point of low key is that everything *is* black except what you intend to be seen.  Low key lighting is also *extremely* challenging (odd glares off from surrounding objects can really ruin it.  Too much light and everything is shown and the "black" looks grey, etc.). 

The point of the Wallpaper section is also to make...well...wallpapers.  The photo needs to be well done *and* work well as a wallpaper.  Since most people use white for their icon text, black works well as a main color.

Look at the overall download numbers of the "photography" section.  The real light walls don't do well.  Most of them have only had a couple downloads today.

This is not a photography site.  If we want to keep the photography section in wallpapers, they need to be more than just a snapshot of something- they need to be images that work well as wallpaper.

ooh, youve done it now WAI... youve wakened the sleeping giant. *wink*

Listen to KarmaGirl....

Last time I did any photographic 'work' during schooling was in 1972/73.....part of the Fine Art 'subject' in Architecture.....since then it's been about catching snap-shots of fast-moving cars and bikes, using my 'position' of proximity.

I'll try for some happy-snaps next week at the Aussie GrandPrix....but turn 1 may get a little too 'busy' for shutterbugging....)

uploaded one of my low key walls.

It's really a nice one!

It's really a nice one!

Thank ya'....thank ya' very much!

I have a few concepts for some low (and high) key walls that I've been working on.  Hopefully I will have time to shoot them this weekend or next week.  A couple of my set ups just were missing something, but I think I've figured them out.  I'll upload a few high key for people who use black icon text, but I will probably only upload one or two (Spring themed ones).  The next low key one that I will upload will be very much my style and kinda' moody.  It's actually something that I've been working on to hang on my wall.

The f1 season starts so soon?? Yikes! I've got to get cracking on geting the fantasy f1 database for work sorted out and getting people to pick teams and things in a week! I've not even looked at who's racing with who, or even which teams are running yet...I think I'll have to stop faffing here and get on with that!

Sput...yes...we just got back from the track after picking up our gear....strange looking photo IDs for us....probably thanks to Terrorism and such....seven days from now we'll be in the midst of F1 first qualifying....

The f1 season starts so soon?? Yikes! I've got to get cracking on geting the fantasy f1 database for work sorted out and getting people to pick teams and things in a week! I've not even looked at who's racing with who, or even which teams are running yet...I

Sput, new season, same old ..... um ... 'stuff'.
MotoGP is the 'real deal'.
My Dad took me to my first 'Grand Prix' as a wee tacker in 1956 .... I returned the favour in 1996!
Once the last couple of real racers retired (Jean Alesi and Mika the Flying Finn) I ceased to attend, even with freebie VIP passes ....
If one has been present when Moss, Clark, Brabham, Amon, Surtees and McLaren ran wheel to wheel for the entire race (OK ... I'm almost as old as Jafo!) it's pretty hard to get enthused by a bunch if video gamers .... I was once asked how to 'fix' Effwun .... (aside from infection Ecclestone and Mosely with Ebola!).... I think the same applies today, kill at least 3 'drivers' each season.
Bit extreme but it certainly make the 'drive your opponent off the track' (Red car ...Blockhead .. Wink! Wink! Say no more!) experts think twice!
Wombats are known for taking a 'firm' line and sticking to it!

Back to the topic .... it requires a lot of luck, a certain amount of training, decent gear, but most of all, an instinct for knowing in a fraction of a second when to fire off a shot.
The same old attributes that make a good 'artist', composition, lighting, a 'feel' for the subject ..... a good photographer can get exceptional results with less than perfect equipment ..... while a schmuck with the best and the latest will only turn out snappers!
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