My 2 cents for whatever it’s worth. I have no problem with the image. Would I have liked to know in advance? Maybe. For a contest, definitely (and it wouldn’t be eligible). But for a presentation board, I’m not sure why should anyone really care. So much manipulation of images is done that often the end products are often unrecognizable from the RAW photos….I’d care if it was a baited creature or a captive one but otherwise showing off one’s processing skills should be celebrated and not be berated. There is a valid argument that it should have been disclosed and, as someone else mentioned, that might have stimulated another conversation without animus. We have too much heat in this country as it is…we don’t need more for something as trivial as this… IMHO.
Eric
I'll throw in my two cents. Just about the only thing that inspires me to get my old, worn out, achy self out of bed at 4:30 AM and drag a kayak out of my van before sunrise is because the night before I'm laying in bed thinking ; "tomorrow is the day. The day when it all comes together. That perfect subject, the perfect background, the perfect light." If I remove that from the equation, that hope, then I've removed the challenge, and therefore removed the interest. Personally, I don't want to accomplish that in front of my computer. I'm still waiting for the thrill of viewing that scene on my LCD. Adjusting levels, color balance, sharpening, adjusting shadows and highlights, that's very different than combining two separate images. You either get the shot or you don't. IMHO, if you have to combine two separate images to come up with one good one, you didn't get the shot. You failed, go back to square one and try again. There's no shame in that. And to be clear, the OP didn't fail, he's got some great "straight" shots to be proud of. That to me is what wildlife photography is all about. Trying to improve each time you go out.
And there's no fine line here, no slippery slope. It's really very simple. You take a shot. Do whatever you want in post to that image to get it to suit your vision. Convert to B&W, boost saturation, whatever. But you cross a line when you add another image to the equation and don't disclose that fact.
Now, do I care that people combine composites ? Of course not. They can do whatever they like if they're satisfied with that method. Does it impact the way I view an image ? 100 % I knew that image was fake on first glance. I'm sorry for being honest, but it cheapened the image and I completely lost interest. Same way I lose interest if I know an owl has been baited or someone photographs a captive animal. It just ruins it for me. A few people here have said it doesn't matter. Look at it this way. Eyelaser has a couple of posts with some amazing images from Kenya. Ask yourself this; if you found out that the cheetah chasing the Zebras was added in post, that he never really captured that scene, would it change your opinion of the image ? I can't imagine that it wouldn't. Same thing.
Gary
sum1sgrampa wrote:
I'll throw in my two cents. Just about the only thing that inspires me to get my old, worn out, achy self out of bed at 4:30 AM and drag a kayak out of my van before sunrise is because the night before I'm laying in bed thinking ; "tomorrow is the day. The day when it all comes together. That perfect subject, the perfect background, the perfect light." If I remove that from the equation, that hope, then I've removed the challenge, and therefore removed the interest. Personally, I don't want to accomplish that in front of my computer. I'm still waiting for the thrill of viewing that scene on my LCD. Adjusting levels, color balance, sharpening, adjusting shadows and highlights, that's very different than combining two separate images. You either get the shot or you don't. IMHO, if you have to combine two separate images to come up with one good one, you didn't get the shot. You failed, go back to square one and try again. There's no shame in that. And to be clear, the OP didn't fail, he's got some great "straight" shots to be proud of. That to me is what wildlife photography is all about. Trying to improve each time you go out.
And there's no fine line here, no slippery slope. It's really very simple. You take a shot. Do whatever you want in post to that image to get it to suit your vision. Convert to B&W, boost saturation, whatever. But you cross a line when you add another image to the equation and don't disclose that fact.
Now, do I care that people combine composites ? Of course not. They can do whatever they like if they're satisfied with that method. Does it impact the way I view an image ? 100 % I knew that image was fake on first glance. I'm sorry for being honest, but it cheapened the image and I completely lost interest. Same way I lose interest if I know an owl has been baited or someone photographs a captive animal. It just ruins it for me. A few people here have said it doesn't matter. Look at it this way. Eyelaser has a couple of posts with some amazing images from Kenya. Ask yourself this; if you found out that the cheetah chasing the Zebras was added in post, that he never really captured that scene, would it change your opinion of the image ? I can't imagine that it wouldn't. Same thing.
Gary...Show more →
On a personal level, I agree with you 100%. My issue isn’t with what I do as I have that feeling of failure at some point almost every time I pick up my camera and I won’t do something that would be considered “fake”. But, there are plenty of people who take multiple images at different exposures and merge them to make fabulous art. I’ve never done that nor do I have the post processing skills to attempt it but many like the finished product of those that can.
If the concern is that someone tried to pass off a composite as simply a post processed image then I have no problem agreeing with you…but, I’m not sure there was any intentionality there.
Just wait until AI is so mainstream and perfected that it’ll be almost impossible to tell fact from fiction….it’s only a matter
of time. We may Fred to start an AI forum
Eric
Ps….no cheetahs were added in the making of my photos although I expect the zebras would have preferred they were just imaginary.
I too have made many sacrifices to take these shots I don't see why two shots can't be combined I don't have to participate in a contest or win something mine is a hobby not an obsession it's pure fun, you are free to criticize but my vision is this , I have thousands of photos I could post them all but my primary taste was the main one I posted . I repeat for dynamic situations I could not have taken two shots as in these cases https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1790041https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1790044/0#16135714 Good evening To everyone
eyelaser wrote:
On a personal level, I agree with you 100%. My issue isn’t with what I do as I have that feeling of failure at some point almost every time I pick up my camera and I won’t do something that would be considered “fake”. But, there are plenty of people who take multiple images at different exposures and merge them to make fabulous art. I’ve never done that nor do I have the post processing skills to attempt it but many like the finished product of those that can.
If the concern is that someone tried to pass off a composite as simply a post processed image then I have no problem agreeing with you…but, I’m not sure there was any intentionality there.
Just wait until AI is so mainstream and perfected that it’ll be almost impossible to tell fact from fiction….it’s only a matter
of time. We may Fred to start an AI forum
Eric
Ps….no cheetahs were added in the making of my photos although I expect the zebras would have preferred they were just imaginary. ...Show more →
I certainly hope you don't think I was inferring that. Apologies for using you as an example.
The whole AI thing doesn't concern me in the least. If I was a working pro or a graphic designer I'm sure I'd feel differently.
But I'm doing this strictly as a hobby and to please myself. Nothing AI generated is going to duplicate the feeling I get watching the sunrise over a lagoon and hearing the calls of a Red-winged Blackbird on a misty morning
Karmal wrote:
I too have made many sacrifices to take these shots I don't see why two shots can't be combined I don't have to participate in a contest or win something mine is a hobby not an obsession it's pure fun, you are free to criticize but my vision is this , I have thousands of photos I could post them all but my primary taste was the main one I posted . I repeat for dynamic situations I could not have taken two shots as in these cases https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1790041https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1790044/0#16135714 Good evening To everyone
You should do what makes you happy. You certainly don't need to explain yourself to someone like me. I want to apologize for being a part of turning your thread completely off topic. Mi Dispiace
Gary
although I expect the zebras would have preferred they were just imaginary.