That second edit of Samnaun is where I think you’ve found a good balance between emotion and portraying reality. I’m always amazed (and embarrassed) at how my editing style changes over time.
Which is why I now have my standard “Vision for the edit” bit at the start of all my weekly edits - keeps me on track!
You’re welcome :) I guess that in 10 years time I’ll edit the photo differently again. But that’s a nice perk of this digital era of photography I guess.
Fully agree. When I started back in the days of Lightroom 2 I couldn't resist the temptation to (over) use every slider and I came up with some terrible pictures as a result. Like you these days I dial it back, knowing that if something does need a little more work I have the tools to hand.
I also very much agree that there is never a final edit, just many (potential) variations of any image.
I think the way we look at images these days - endlessly scrolling on small screens - leads people to go for very dramatic and garish edits just to try and attract some momentary attention.
The increasing deployment of computational photography on phones is also leading to a situation where people think that is what a photograph should look like and try to mimic it.
Thank you Olli - this is a great addition to my rambling. Indeed I think a lot of photos are over-edited just to (try to) make them stand out. But this has backfired massively, because it all looks the same. I think if you'd visit the "Top 100 most photographed locations" you would not recognize half of them.
I'm glad I kept my original captures over the years and not just the edited versions so I can do away with the foolishness of my early photography years.
Ha yes, I also keep all the raw files for exactly the same reason. I tend to take quite some time between clicking the shutter, editing and publishing, so I have plenty of time to re-evaluate my 'creative choices' 😉
I went through the faux (and not so faux) HDR phase and still indulge a little from time to time. Though I agree, the "less is more" approach can be a good starting point. Seems like a fun opp to share some raw pics and have Substack photographers edit them in their style.
Ha yes the 'make your eyes bleed'-tone mapping HDR's ... Better not talk about that 😉 I have been thinking about sharing a raw file and see (ask for) various interpretations from participants. But I haven't got around setting this up. On the Pixls.us discussion forum they have been doing this for years now (but typically using only open source software) (https://discuss.pixls.us/c/processing/playraw/30)
I have no problem with the second (edited) version. You did a good job making it better. Even if it doesn't look like the original scene, as a photographer, or an artist, you have the right--some would argue that you have the obligation--to interpret the scene as you see it in your mind (see Ansel Adams' pre-visualization). It is a concern that folks might worry about Ai--there's nothing you can do about that, other than to include a line on your page saying none of your photos were produced with generative Ai.
Thanks! Well, AI is not going away anytime soon (or at all) so I don't worry about it. I'll just keep doing what I like. I'm just happy photography is my hobby and that I'm not financially dependent on it.
Haha, thanks so much, appreciate the shoutout 😊!
That second edit of Samnaun is where I think you’ve found a good balance between emotion and portraying reality. I’m always amazed (and embarrassed) at how my editing style changes over time.
Which is why I now have my standard “Vision for the edit” bit at the start of all my weekly edits - keeps me on track!
You’re welcome :) I guess that in 10 years time I’ll edit the photo differently again. But that’s a nice perk of this digital era of photography I guess.
Agreed 🤣🤝🏽
Fully agree. When I started back in the days of Lightroom 2 I couldn't resist the temptation to (over) use every slider and I came up with some terrible pictures as a result. Like you these days I dial it back, knowing that if something does need a little more work I have the tools to hand.
I also very much agree that there is never a final edit, just many (potential) variations of any image.
I think the way we look at images these days - endlessly scrolling on small screens - leads people to go for very dramatic and garish edits just to try and attract some momentary attention.
The increasing deployment of computational photography on phones is also leading to a situation where people think that is what a photograph should look like and try to mimic it.
Thank you Olli - this is a great addition to my rambling. Indeed I think a lot of photos are over-edited just to (try to) make them stand out. But this has backfired massively, because it all looks the same. I think if you'd visit the "Top 100 most photographed locations" you would not recognize half of them.
I'm glad I kept my original captures over the years and not just the edited versions so I can do away with the foolishness of my early photography years.
Ha yes, I also keep all the raw files for exactly the same reason. I tend to take quite some time between clicking the shutter, editing and publishing, so I have plenty of time to re-evaluate my 'creative choices' 😉
I went through the faux (and not so faux) HDR phase and still indulge a little from time to time. Though I agree, the "less is more" approach can be a good starting point. Seems like a fun opp to share some raw pics and have Substack photographers edit them in their style.
Ha yes the 'make your eyes bleed'-tone mapping HDR's ... Better not talk about that 😉 I have been thinking about sharing a raw file and see (ask for) various interpretations from participants. But I haven't got around setting this up. On the Pixls.us discussion forum they have been doing this for years now (but typically using only open source software) (https://discuss.pixls.us/c/processing/playraw/30)
I have no problem with the second (edited) version. You did a good job making it better. Even if it doesn't look like the original scene, as a photographer, or an artist, you have the right--some would argue that you have the obligation--to interpret the scene as you see it in your mind (see Ansel Adams' pre-visualization). It is a concern that folks might worry about Ai--there's nothing you can do about that, other than to include a line on your page saying none of your photos were produced with generative Ai.
Thanks! Well, AI is not going away anytime soon (or at all) so I don't worry about it. I'll just keep doing what I like. I'm just happy photography is my hobby and that I'm not financially dependent on it.
Amen to that!