Combination Printing

[Kev M]

You're not really comparing apples with apples there though Clive. One is a record shot where the photographer has little control over their subject and the other is pretty much the complete opposite.

[Trevor Crone]

Out of interest I 'Googled', "integrity in photography", and found this interesting link; http://www.luminous-landscape.com/fo...?topic=46466.0 Also within this click on the link, "cloning out the can: where do you draw the line?"

I feel it will always be a 'grey area' and is very much down to personal choice, a bit like morality

[PavelDerka]

any skillful art, reduced to "easy" quickly loses meaning and respect. So while I have nothing against all the photoshop work in and of itself, it has gotten so easy, so overboard, that I find "real" photography to be the last practice of the photographic arts that feels worthwhile.

For me it is not only the quality of the final product that is meaningful. It is in equal measure the skillful practice of all the steps in the making of a photograph that makes me value it.

In that sense digital is like shooting fish in a barrel (or having someone shoot 'em for ya) and hardly worth a yawn now, while the struggle of the wet darkroom makes the results always worth it BECAUSE it is a struggle.

Digital is all too often like someone found a can of fluorescent orange paint - and used in on the whole world. neat for ten seconds, somewhat nauseating however, once the novelty wear off.

[Kev M]

Anyone who thinks photoshop is easy is sorely mistaken. Simple or bad photoshopping is just as easy as bad darkroom work. The difference is that the former is more prevelant and easily shared so you see more of it. Nobody is going to bother sharing their rubbish darkroom work are they.

But really good photoshop work is just as difficult to master (although cheaper and has a quicker feedback process) as really good darkroom work.

[Graeme]

I prefer darkroom work to Photoshop - obviously - I'm a FADU fan.

I agree though Kev - photoshop ain't easy - when working with a D*** camera I try to get as much right in camera as when working with film. Silver Gelatin prints remain a thng of beauty to me, whilst d*** is appears merely ink on paper, inferior.

Sorry if I'm off topic Dave.

[cliveh]

Originally Posted by Kev M

You're not really comparing apples with apples there though Clive. One is a record shot where the photographer has little control over their subject and the other is pretty much the complete opposite.

Then I suppose what I am saying is that in my opinion straight record photography has more integrity than staged or manipulated imagery.

[Kev M]

So record photography such as landscapes/sports/wildlife (not the tame stuff) has more integrity than fashion/portraiture (posed not candids)/still life/macro?

[cliveh]

Originally Posted by Kev M

So record photography such as landscapes/sports/wildlife (not the tame stuff) has more integrity than fashion/portraiture (posed not candids)/still life/macro?

Regardless of the subject matter or genre, where there is less intervention, there is greater integrity.

[MartyNL]

Originally Posted by cliveh

Regardless of the subject matter or genre, where there is less intervention, there is greater integrity.

Just a minute Cliveh, you know this statement doesn't hold water!
Following your assumption;
A paparazzi photographer with a mighty long lense, taking pictures of people completely without them knowing; thus no question of intervention. And then, selling them to the highest bidder.
Has greater integrity than a documentary photographer who spends days, weeks months even years collaborating with his subjects.


Ummm...

[Trevor Crone]

Originally Posted by cliveh

Regardless of the subject matter or genre, where there is less intervention, there is greater integrity.

I would agree with this statement.