Sun Silo
August 23rd, 2008I used to be obsessed with photography, so much so that I was about to leave my career in graphic design to pursue a career in fashion photography. It didn’t end up that way and I’m glad, but I still have a great love for it. I use to have a nice pro camera and would snap tons of photos a day, but now I have a basic point & shoot that I use for family pics and I haven’t shot a nice photo in a while.
Recently I’ve been messing around with the camera in my iPhone and in certain situations I’ve been somewhat impressed. For instance this shot I took today of the NYC skyline. The light was amazing and it was the perfect time of day where the sun was creating some amazing silhouettes. So I launched the camera app and snapped away and got some excellent results. The resolution of the camera isn’t great at all but this photo is pretty much straight from the iPhone with some slight tweaking in Photoshop. You can see a couple of more photos from this series including a nice panoramic shot I stitched together in Photoshop.
On a side note, a lot of photographers frown upon the use of Photoshop to enhance photos. I think that’s a load of rubbish. I started shooting before the digital crazy and I love film but in the digital age, using Photoshop to adjust an image is the same as using a darkroom to adjust an image. Photoshop is the digital darkroom of today. Just how photographers keep the film soaking in the chemicals longer for different results, I adjust the levels, curves, color balance, saturation, etc. in Photoshop to achieve my results. In the end it’s all the same but just using a different tool.
Joey
I use an older medium format camera and love it.
As for using Photoshop to enhance photos, I think it really depends on the situation along with the amount of enhancement. When I scan a 6x6 negative, I try my best to publish the original scan without making any major adjustments in Photoshop. Of course it’s possible to manipulate photos in the dark room, but when it’s so easy to achieve the same types of results in Photoshop, I can’t help but feel like I’m cheating the process.
Antonio
When I use to shoot film, it was mostly medium format. I honestly don’t see how it’s cheating. Just because Photoshop makes it easier and faster to alter an image doesn’t mean it’s less honorable. It’s a just tool to achieve a result. A lot of enhancements can be made in the darkroom that can make an image look nothing like its original. If Photoshop is cheating, then so is the darkroom.
Richard Roche
I totally agree with Antonio here, Photoshop is another tool in the artistic process. Limiting yourself is a good way to learn technique early on, but anybody that refuses to use all available resources to make beauty is a fool.
Joey
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not disagreeing with you. I think a lot of it has to do with objectivity in photography, though. I think Photoshop, like the darkroom, is extraordinarily useful for altering photographs, but what it all comes down to is whether or not the final result is an accurate representation of the original subject. Obviously this doesn’t apply for certain projects that don’t demand that type of objectivity.
Antonio, what medium format camera did you use?
Antonio
I use to use a Hasselblad. What an amazing camera.
With film you can cross process it, which is basically developing slide film in print film chemicals. You get really amazing results but the colors and contrast you get from cross processing is not an accurate representation of the original image. Works both ways.
Joey
I’d love to own a Hasselblad, but my Yashica TLR is a great camera. I need to experiment with cross processing sometime, it looks like a lot of fun. Do you still have your photography portfolio online?
Antonio
Joey I started off with a Yashica, it’s a great camera.
I still have some of my photography on my site.
http://www.yearofthesheep.com
John Campbell
Wow, absolutely stunning photo from an iphone. I am impressed.
- John
http://www.designbump.com
MP
Simply lovely, Antonio. God I miss that city.
–MP
Psiplex
Very striking shot-full of energy and mystery. Good timing!