Your point about emphasizing a particular element is right on. Photographers/printers have long done that, and it is really fascinating to see the differences between their original negatives (or raw files) and the final interpretations.
It is partly a matter of emphasizing things that you want to predominate and, relatedly, de emphasizing things that might distract from that. Perhaps the simplest and most common example is using a bit of vignetting to darken corners and edges and direct attention into the center of the image.
Your final comment echoes Ansel Adams’ famous comment: “ The negative is the equivalent of the composer's score, and the print the performance.”
In music, as in photography, it is useful to be able to imagine the potential of that “performance” as you create the “score.” That’s what I was referring to when I mentioned that I expose for what I’ll do with the image in post rather than for what it looks like straight out of camera.
derekrath wrote:
I get your process- it is almost identical to my own. Sometimes I use PP to 'abstract' the image a bit from being a straight forward photograph, or to emphasize a particular element or feeling I want to get across. I also prefer Photoshop (and DxO) to working in Lightroom. The Art of an image rests with its creator more than the camera, the lens or the software. They are the orchestra, he/she is the composer and conductor.
Beautiful set! As others have commented, colours are portrayed elegantly yet natural. This is one of the things i am often vary of. When colours look too intense on screen, the image can become a bit busy - even when the photographer has aimed for the opposite. I think you have found that balance very well. My favourites are probably number 6 and 7, but i generally have a strong preference for simplicity and few objects. Number 1 is also very nice.
OleAndre wrote:
Beautiful set! As others have commented, colours are portrayed elegantly yet natural. This is one of the things i am often vary of. When colours look too intense on screen, the image can become a bit busy - even when the photographer has aimed for the opposite. I think you have found that balance very well. My favourites are probably number 6 and 7, but i generally have a strong preference for simplicity and few objects. Number 1 is also very nice.
Well done, and looking forward to the next set
Thanks. And, yes, there are a lot more from this fall's time in the Eastern Sierra. I'll probably share some more in the next week or so.
derekrath wrote:
I remember shooting a lot of 4x5 film ( especially for architecture) the exposure process was also reversed to preserve highlights.
True. If you shot negative film, the issue was blocked shadows, but if you used positive media the highlights were the issue, as they often are with digital.
