Forgive me! I Photoshopped!

Matt Hoffman · Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 701 Location: Grantham, NH

In this digital age, where a person can never be sure if what they are looking at is real or not, I have made it my personal philosophy to keep my photos as unaltered as possible. Part of my reasoning is because I like to get it right the first time, and part of it is because I'm lazy and don't want to learn Photoshop.
However...recently I posted some truly horrible pics of Tony Cabin in the eastern Supes. I felt bad for subjecting all of you to such sub-par photography, and for that I am truly sorry. I recently learned some Photoshop techniques pertaining to black and white photos. I decided since my Tony Cabin pics couldn't possibly be butchered any worse, they were the perfect candidates for some Photoshopping.

Here's what I did: http://www.arizonahikers.com/forum/modules.php?set_albumName=albvk46&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

Have I sinned terribly? I know this topic has been discussed before, but I'm curious what you think.
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azhiker96 · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1419

Matt, I really like your picture 7 of 8 of the cabin. I think it's cool.
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Matt Hoffman · Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 701 Location: Grantham, NH

Cool. That's probably the most basic one. The others have all the effects for 2 reasons:
1. I wanted to try them out.
2. I wanted to cover up some exposure mistakes.
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Canyon Dweller · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 712 Location: Denver, CO

I really liked 3,4 and 6.
3 is my favorite
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IGO · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 4144 Location: Las Vegas

The last one is my favorite. It has bunches of stuff that don't belong but you can bet your bottom dollar that if I got back to New York and found that one Folgers label found it's way into my antique cabin photo, that label would go away.
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wrongway · Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 44 Location: Mesa, AZ

I liked number 6. It had a Blair Witch feel to it. I'll be right back, I need to go stand in the corner.
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Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

forgiven.......it's all good!

Matt Hoffman · Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 701 Location: Grantham, NH

Canyon Dweller, those are my favorite 3 also. Thanks for the compliment.

wrongway, I think I should crop the roof out of that shot. It does have a creepy feel to it. Thanks for the compliments

IGO, I'm not talented enough to make portions of my photos disappear. I could probably clone out the Folgers label, but then again, I probably won't since I'm not trying to get these published or anything. Thanks for checking it out though.

Suz, as always, you are too nice! Thanks.
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BoyNhisDog · Posted: 3/8/2007, 6:39 pm Post subject:

Matt, I think the stove image is exhibition grade. You start working on those type images. Nice impact on an emotional level and good eye.
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Matt Hoffman · Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 701 Location: Grantham, NH

BoyNhisDog · Posted: 3/10/2007, 5:01 pm Post subject:

Matt, the one I am liking is this one;

It is a table instead of a stove. I don't know why stove stuck in my head. I really like this one though. Hope you are getting lots of good images in the Petrified forest.
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Seize from every moment its unique novelty and do not prepare your joys
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IGO · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 4144 Location: Las Vegas

BoyNhisDog · Posted: 3/11/2007, 2:22 pm Post subject:

I do think cloning is a sin. Yes, I have done it and done it recently but I still think it is a sin. In a case such as the above, I would move objects before I shot the image but I would not do all that cloning. I often move objects for the composition when possible. There are times when you cannot. I have a shot where there were a lot of ugly telephone poles. You cannot move those so I cloned them out. One was left because it was behind some chicken wire and was too hard to convincingly clone. It didn't have a lot of impact anyway. I see some things on the table above that I would have moved around and some I might have removed for the shot but Matt had a vision and the overall work is very good.

I heavily Photoshoped the image below and even overlayed some Kodak T-Max grain. For certain types of art, I don't have a problem with Photoshop work beyond the norm but I have always despised cloning even though I occasionally do it. I don't consider this image great but it is a good example of a heavily photoshoped image with some cloning.

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Seize from every moment its unique novelty and do not prepare your joys
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IGO · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 4144 Location: Las Vegas

I do have to restate. I would have wiped out a (1) folgers label. I did all the realier mentioned to prove a point but I would never expend the effort with so much material. Indeed, I would have moved material and also like you, I set up first and I'll wipe out a light pole or crop but I wouldn't work an image the way I discribed in my first post unless to make a point.
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir

Matt Hoffman · Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 701 Location: Grantham, NH

I would have moved all of the "modern" stuff off of the table, but I did not bring any gloves with me. Everything was covered in mouse poop, and I didn't want to get hantavirus just to get a picture. I'm probably going back to the cabin in 2 weeks. I'll bring some gloves and spend a little more time setting up my shots. I'll be sure to watch out for Folgers labels. Wink

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"Your day-glo ballet days are over." Ancient chinese proverb.
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