cogitech Offline Upload & Sell: On
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surf monkey wrote:
I think there are many photographers on this forum that care about how their equipment can affect the quality of their photos. And some photos have qualities that are difficult to describe in obvious, unambiguous terminology and even more difficult to quantify. Hence the use of some difficult to explain "colorful" language. I just wish that when people use such terminology that they could explain it in a more useful way.
Silky bokeh is an easy one, by the way. I.E. smooth out-of-focus areas.
Indeed. Furthermore, "micro-contrast" is an objective, measurable term. Somebody didn't just make that shit up. It is also referred to as "local contrast" and it is exactly what you are modifying when you adjust the "clarity" slider (or similar) in your RAW app. The "3D" aspect is a combination of many things; some measurable, some more subjective. None of it is BS.
It's like all the terms people use to discuss wine. Until you really make an effort, it all sounds like BS. I know for a fact that it isn't, just like I know that these so-called "colorful terms" are not BS either. Just because one doesn't understand something does not necessarily mean it is BS.
Many people do care to use these terms, because they do convey meaning. What else is language for? So either learn what the terms mean or just "roll with it". Complaining about the words or rejecting them entirely has no effect on what meaning they convey for those who use them.
As an example, I know for a fact that I can use the following terms to discuss bokeh in the Alternative forum and 90% of the photographers there will know exactly what I mean:
- Smooth (creamy, buttery, etc.)
- Charged (nervous, electrified, edgy, etc.)
- Funky (bubbly, wacky, etc.)
- Swirly (twirly, spinny, etc.)
- Ugly (fugly, dizzy, distracting, etc.)
These terms do have meaning, whether anyone likes them or not. Those who would express their annoyance with these terms would only be displaying their ignorance.
Edited on Jun 16, 2010 at 11:13 AM · View previous versions
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