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verybiglebowski
Lives in
Prague, Czech Republic
Works as a
Film and TV director, advertising expert
Has a website at
www.verybiglobo.com
Joined on
Nov 24, 2009
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Comments
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| Blue Jay by Fotorequest from Blue Bird | Sproing! by BrassGlass from My Best Photo of the Fortnight | Roman snow globe by Surfwalker from Lens Ball Challenge III |
Astro Landscapes: What is going on here?
Nobody's saying this isn't art. In fact, the more you edit a photo, the more it becomes art. That was literally what got painters etc to recognize photography as having artistic potential in the first place.
However, at a certain point, it stops being a photo. That's not elitist/purist snob talk. That's literally just grammar. Most of these images are not *A* photo.
This is a digital dreamscape photo-editing contest.
But, what's wrong with that? Nothing. When you reword it, it makes perfect sense: beautiful imagery doesn't have to be *photography* in order to be beautiful.
So, why are some artists still clinging desperately to "I'm a photographer!" instead of just saying "I'm a digital artist!"
Many got their first taste of passion for the craft when they captured a beautiful moment of something unique, but the final result didn't match up to the emotion they felt. Thus, they dive into Photoshop to recapture that emotion.
All we need now is honesty.
@AstroLandscapes
It’s not that photography is about capturing the reality at the first place.
It has nothing to do with it.
Capturing reality is the domain of the documentary genre and many of its sub-genres.
I agree though, that the full disclosure should be made (even I doubt it make sense from the long term perspective of image existence).
Are those images landscape? Yes.
Are those images realistic landscape? No. (some are)
Was that the condition of the competition? I have no idea, didn’t study the rules.
That is the context you mentioned I believe.
If you are writing the book about this, good luck.
Especially when it comes to the word “Art”.
Astro Landscapes: What is going on here?
Nobody's saying this isn't art. In fact, the more you edit a photo, the more it becomes art. That was literally what got painters etc to recognize photography as having artistic potential in the first place.
However, at a certain point, it stops being a photo. That's not elitist/purist snob talk. That's literally just grammar. Most of these images are not *A* photo.
This is a digital dreamscape photo-editing contest.
But, what's wrong with that? Nothing. When you reword it, it makes perfect sense: beautiful imagery doesn't have to be *photography* in order to be beautiful.
So, why are some artists still clinging desperately to "I'm a photographer!" instead of just saying "I'm a digital artist!"
Many got their first taste of passion for the craft when they captured a beautiful moment of something unique, but the final result didn't match up to the emotion they felt. Thus, they dive into Photoshop to recapture that emotion.
All we need now is honesty.
For me, the only important thing is the resulting image.
Post processing is an integral part of the photography.
To differentiate between genres and techniques is enough to draw the line, no need to call the “real” photography.
Or, is there a more photography value in the documentary style snapshots, than in the arranged studio photography?
What we like more, is another story though.
BTW, I like second and third place the most.
rntbot: Amazing image! Well deserved.
Thank you, much appreciated!
Albert Valentino: Wonderful capture
Thanks a lot!
Sue Anne Rush: An excellent photograph of the the old Man Of storr.
Thank you very much!
themountainphotographer: Super lush image, very dramatic.
Thank you, much appreciated.
Rod McD: Hi Viktor,
Congratulations. Very nice and clearly the result of a lot of work. Almost like a romantic style painting with that sky.... A wonderful and atmospheric place. I went there many years ago. All I saw was rain, an experience in which I believe I am not alone.
Cheers, Rod
Thank you Rod, much appreciated. Scotland is a beautiful country with a moody, mostly overcloud weather. A year before this image was taken I spent a week on Isle of Sky with no signs of sun at all and lot of rain. It’s a demanding track in fact (with all the equipment that I use to carry). but a truly magical place to visit.
Cheers,
Viktor
thxbb12: Woah, very beautiful landscape and impressive processing!
Congrats on a well deserved 1st place.
Out of curiosity, Is it a composite of 2 or more images?
Hi and thank you. The HDR processed image is always a composite. I spent over 5 hours on this particular spot, capturing over 150 shots (all sort if exposures) if I remember well. It was a cloudy and rainy day for the most part, but lately, some color appeared.
It’s not like usual 3,5,7,9 exposures put in the HDR software for an instant output, more like pre-processed hdr image parts, used as a layers with a luminosity masks and lot of painting and local adjustments.
Cheers,
Viktor
Lajos Hajdu: How come the clouds didn't move during the 30-second exposure?
This can be a true multiple images taken to achieve the image and then combined, or a single image processed with HDR software.
Processing rules:
–
Capture date rules:
* No restrictions
Since you are not really interested to learn how it was done, I’ll let you, and the excited replier bellow you, to draw the conclusion.
tko: Well, this is one great photo! Congraduations!
Thank you!
Derek Dean: Zowie, this image has shades of Heaven on Earth. Beautifully crafted and presented. Congratulations on a well deserved win.
Thank you Derek, it wasn’t exactly my day, I barely survived the climbing to the spot, so this is my reward :-)
OSP2017: This is a clear winner in my book and it really meets the challenge rules - interesting bokeh, not the usual blurred backgrounds or bokeh balls. This photo perfectly shows why people are seeking out this lens.
Thank you, I appreciate it! Too many sandbags I am afraid…
Cheers,
Viktor
tbcass: Beautiful photo and model. Well done.
Thanks a lot!
tko: Nice photo. In my opinion, the smoothing is a bit too much, you notice that in the thumbnail. And there's a weird effect where the hand doesn't look like it belongs to her. Maybe because it's closer and hence larger, perhaps combined with the bulky sleeve. Just nitpicks.
Thx Kevin, I agree about skin smoothing, the large portion of it is due to the strong front light and I guess shallow dof. Some parts of the skin were actually without the structure, so instead of bringing it back, which is quite ackward job, I adjusted the rest of the surface accordingly. Hand is more a composition problem, but I shot mostly 16:9 and that’s how it comes. This was a fast photo session, withonly 1 on camera strobe, having more time and strobes with modifier, skin would be better.
Cheers, Viktor
cjf2: A well deserved win for a beautiful image.
Thank you very much. There were many good images in this chellenge, I was a bit lucky too.
BrentSchumer: This is incredible; well done!
(Also a 2.5-star DPR image for many, for..reasons.)
Thank you Brent!
Sue Anne Rush: An excellent photograph of the owl in the grass.
Thank you Sue!
Albert Valentino: Wonderful
Thank you Albert!
Georgeee: owlsome!
LOWL :-)
PentUp: Fantastic image! well done.
Thank you PentUp!