4A Photography

“Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in establishing tonal relationships.”

~Ansel Adams

Photoshop gets a bad rap.  So-called ‘serious’ photographers disdain its very existence.  They think anyone using it must be sub-par as a photographic artist.

 Really…?

 Let’s talk about that. 

 My first class for my Master’s degree was a History of Photography class.  In it I learned an astounding truth — photographic manipulation has been practiced since the beginning of the medium!

The phrases “dodging” and “burning” quoted by Ansel Adams above refer to the conscious lightening or darkening of particular parts of an image as it’s being printed in a darkroom. 

But it goes way beyond that!

The first photograph was captured in 1826.  The first glass negative enabling multiple copies were created in 1851.  Almost immediately those negatives were being combined to create ‘manipulated’ pictures.

It is nigh impossible (even with today’s equipment) to get a properly exposed landscape shot without sacrificing detail in the sky – particularly if it is high overcast.  An image just isn’t as compelling if there a plain, overexposed sky.  Wouldn’t it be better to combine a picture of dramatic clouds with a picture of an interesting foreground?   

 

Here it is done masterfully by Gustave Le Gray, a French photographer in 1857.

The sky is taken from one picture and the water from another.  They were combined in the darkroom.

  “Well, that’s not that bad,” you say. 

 

 Just wait.

 

In 1858, Henry Robinson created a composite image titled “Fading Away.”  The image shows a young woman on her deathbed accompanied by grieving family members in various poses.  He made this picture by combining 5 separate negatives.

 

 

 Okay, let’s take it one step further.  What about a complete construction of a scene whose end bears no resemblance to the reality of the actual location. … That couldn’t be done without Photoshop … could it? 

Here’s a simple photograph.  Looks straight-forward, doesn’t it?  Again, just wait …

 

Henry Robinson describes how this image was created:  “the two figures were placed in position on the bank I have described, and a negative taken of them. At the top of the bank was a brick wall: this was objectionable, and had to be removed from the picture; to do which a print was taken of the plate, but neither toned nor fixed, the figures and bank carefully cut out, and the remaining portion of the paper neatly pasted on the negative. Another print was then taken, in which the sky appeared too white; therefore the print was laid on a board, the figures and bank covered exactly with the impression from which the sky had been cut, a clean glass placed over the whole, and the board was carried into the light and the sky graduated down. This proceeding is very simple …” 

If that was ‘very simple,’ the implication is that this type of work was commonly executed by experienced photographic artists of the day.

 

So, all you who think that Photoshop is of the devil and the crutch of talentless goofs…

 The joke’s on you!

 

Cited references:
Photojournalism, an ethical approach
A paper written in 1860 by Henry Robinson regarding “Printing photographic pictures from several negatives.”

The camera always points both ways. In expressing your subject, you also express yourself.

Freeman Patterson

What do your photographs say about you?  I have just spent 6 years studying for my Master’s in Fine Art in Photography at the Academy of Art University.  During that time, I was completely surrounded by other photographic artists.  To them, this kind statement is as familiar as a favorite sweater.  For those who have not studied photography (beyond the user’s manual of your camera), this statement is a bit ‘out there’. 

 You ask “What is there beyond pushing the shutter button and capturing a moment in time?  Isn’t a picture just an documentation of that event or person?” 

 As I have stated in previous entries, I believe that you cannot truly ‘take’ a picture until you give a bit of your soul.  What kind of image do you want representing your soul?  A blurry image?  An image that is so cluttered you can hardly tell what the subject is?  What about a family picture that cuts people off at the knees but leaves 2 inches of sky above them.  These are expressions of yourself that are laid out for all to see!

 I LOVE Facebook, but may I be open with a pet peeve of mine?  (And all my wonderful friends, I apologize in advance, what I have to say here might be hard to hear!)  I really don’t like it when people upload every single picture they’ve taken at an event.  Sometimes there are two or three of the same person in the same pose at the same time, differentiated only by the slightest camera movement.  And out-of-focus pictures … Really?? 

 My point is, even the act of uploading those pictures says something about your personality.  I’m not going to say what it says – that’s for a shrink to decide. 

Truthfully, you express yourself through the care you take in composing your picture, by choosing the correct settings, in taking the time to know your camera.  These all give the careful observer an insight into your soul. 

 So, as you again pick up your camera to capture an event, person or location – please stop and take the time to think not only about your subject, but about yourself and how you want to express yourself through that picture.  Then, snap away!

If you want to photograph a man spinning, give some thought to why he spins. Understanding for a photographer is as important as the equipment he uses.

Margaret Bourke-White

There is so much more to photography than simply snapping the shutter.  (or pushing a button – since many people don’t know what a camera shutter is anymore!)

To capture the essence of a location, a person, an event or a moment, you must give of yourself.  It reminds me of the idea that some cultures don’t like getting their picture taken as it could steal their soul…  I believe that you cannot take a truly meaningful picture unless you GIVE a bit of your soul.  Only in that way will your pictures reflect an emotional attachment that draws people to it.  Otherwise your pictures are simply snapshots – easily viewed and easily forgotten. 

So, next time you begin to push that button, ask yourself if you have given any thought, time or attention to your subject.  If not, stop, draw a breath and do so.  Then – shoot away!

Welcome to the new 4A Photography WordPress website. This is my first post … more coming soon.