Originally posted by Cory:
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by Cory:
Originally posted by vawendy:
I wouldn't miss minimal editing challenges if they went away. I've learned so much on how to make a photo sing, that I'm not liking basic editing anymore. It's not that the photo is changing that much, but subtle changes can still make a big difference in a photo. Although, add cropping to minimal editing rules, and I'd like it much, much better. 4x6 crops don't suit everything.
Look through the past minimal editing challenges -- the photos are ok, but how many people kept reminding others that it's minimal editing and take that into account when voting. It feels like you're putting something out that's substandard, especially when you know that even cropping and adjustments in contrast could make a huge difference. |
Riiiight.... But the point is that you get it right "in camera"...
The entire point of minimal is to give incentive to really take your time setting up the shot, and executing the idea. Instead of cropping, move the camera, or zoom... Use a camera that does a native aspect ratio that is different if you don't like the standard. Contrast? You can set that in camera, along with sharpness and white balance.
My point is that the minimal rule set exists to encourage really tight technicals on the capture side, if your skills aren't up to snuff, then that just means you need MORE minimal challenges in which you can practice. |
That's just it. If you shoot strictly setup shots, I agree that you can get a lot closer to getting it right in camera. However, if you're shooting found shots, there's only so much you can do. Wildlife, candids, etc, you're stuck with the lighting you have, you're stuck with the reach your lens has, there's only so much you can do "right". Yes, you can adjust the contrast in camera, but have you ever tried it? You can only do so much, and for most of the shots, (at least in my camera) it really doesn't make that much of a difference. It also favors the people that have the good lighting setups. Any white background shot I've done has had to be modified in pp, simply because I don't have the necessary equipment to light my background enough and still light my subject.
I do the minimal editing challenges. It is an interesting experiment to try to do it right. But I don't know that the great photographers ever left anything unmodified. The played with the darkroom to get things just right. |
Sure, you're limited - but you do actually have control over the lighting, in a manner of speaking - as you can simply wait for the right light - shoot in the morning, or at dusk, wait for a stormy day, you know, those are the things that really "make" a found scene anyway. |
Only to a certain extent. You can pick a good lighting day, but you can't chose how the light hits your subject. An egret is going to go where he wants -- usually turned so that the lighting is the worst, even though it's an absolutely gorgeous lighting morning. That's why it takes 3-5 hours for a good bird session. They refuse to cooperate!
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