FILM to DIGITAL to PHOTO ART

I have been photographing since 1976 when I purchased my first SLR "Single Lens Reflect" PRO camera. I have noticed many changes happen in the past 36 years. One of those changes is the Digital camera. The Digital camera has changed many things in photography, one of which is how we perceive the developing of images vie the digital room vs the old chemical "wet room".
People will often ask a photographer today did you enhance that photo, or is that straight out of the camera or is this photo improved upon? What they are really asking is this photo the truth, or is it fake, people just want to know if it's real. The answer is they are all altered, manipulated and enhanced to some degree .
If you capture an image from a point and shoot camera where the camera adjusts everything or a professional uses the same camera and knows how to take advantage of the adjustments manually there by capturing a better image does that mean it's fake or enhanced or as some erroneously say "photo shopped"? In order to capture an image you have to have light, it's impossible to see or photograph without light, so without getting boringly technical. Allow me to give my explanation of ART and photography.
Ansel Adams is probably the best know photographer of all time, one of his images has sold for $609,600.00, but thats not the highest paid for a photo. Andreas Gursky sold one $4,338,500.00.
Why is all this important, I believe it's important for folks to know the truth when buying anything from a camera to an image taken by a camera. In order to understand the truth we must learn a few simple facts.
Photography means to paint with light, if I take a pin hole camera the simplest camera made and produce an image, is it any better because it's from a simple camera and not altered. How about an image produced by my $10,000.00 Nikon camera and lens, I think I can produce a better image with it. Well is the image I take with a $150.00 Point And Shoot camera less than my Nikon system, maybe not if the person behind the inexpensive camera is a real professional that knows lighting, composition, exposure etc, and how to manipulate the camera to take advantage of it's highest capability.
Look at it this way the person behind the camera is no different than the person behind the brush or carving chisel. If he/she imparts creative adjustments to the tools he can produce a masterpiece where as the person standing next to him takes the same image, but doesn't know how to set the camera and how to properly use the software programs to capture and produce a great image.

When someone ask me did you enhance this photo, I immediately want to say of course I did, I set my camera to the best of my ability and I use the most expensive software program I can buy to alter the dull photo that otherwise would come out of the camera. Because every image I shoot is a RAW file, therefore has to be improved upon and I want to produce the very best piece of art I can.
Altering an image in your camera is to my way of thinking no different than altering the image anywhere along it's line of development. Ansel Adams used what was called {Dodge "to lighten" and Burn to darken "} every photo he sold, he was a master at altering and enhancing his photos. He developed the ZONE SYSTEM to be able to grade in various degrees of black and white.
After many years of photographing I have begun to advance my photography from just plain sharp photos to developing unique pieces of art by using my talents and tools available including the dodge and burn techniques into certain images to produce a better photograph.
Many years ago someone started using Vaseline on their lens to produce a softening look to their photos, I learned I can do a better job with my filters I now do a better job with my computer.

Art is constantly changing and new techniques being mastered, gone are the days of the film camera- oh there are a few purist out there that say if you alter the image it's not real, but at what point along the line does one consider it being altered.

I once took a student on a photo shoot for butterflies and I noticed he had a new camera by Nikon, after we got back his photos were sharper and had more contrast and were better than mine right out of the camera, yet my camera was 4 times more expensive. After investigating the situation thoroughly, I found out his camera was 2 years newer than mine and had been developed to obtain light and contrast better right out of the camera. I had suggested after researching the cameras available since buying mine that he buy this one particular one.

At one time I was an accomplished wood carver, and I quickly found out I could do my best work with certain "very sharp" specialized chisels and Knives. Just as a friend of mine who is a very well know plein air painter in Indiana learned to use many styles of brushes and painting methods.

Digital has brought forth and made available better photography for not only the professional, but also for the "point and shoot" vacationer and the Mom and Dad capturing photos of their kids. Pros still have an edge though because the average person doesn't take the time to learn how to use the camera and software to develop the best shots available.
Take a beautiful sunset like the shot above the average camera only can expose for a certain amount of light and then it blows out the sky to a full white. In order to capture the color of the sunset if you expose to capture the color of the sky you lose the details in the foreground and would not see the colorful wild flowers.
A pro knows how to do this, is this enhancing the photo well I'll leave this up to you, you decide which you would rather have hanging on your wall. Art is developed not just sprayed out of a can or camera but used properly can produce many wonderful works of art. Digital art or PHOTOART is very quickly coming into it's own.
I think the many point and shoot type cameras that almost requires no technique, have caused many folks to receive accolades that have come all to easy. There's no reason to learn all the techniques required 30 years ago. The pendulum needs to swing back in the other direction and it will eventually.
I think "art" of any kind like most things requires several things
#1 tools - An artist has to have some form of tools , his finger , brush, chisel ,camera, the more they practice the better they get.
#2 technique - Through the practice they impart they develop the technique that is unique to them.
#3 talent - This is where the talent starts to shine and becomes apparent to all.

Cameras have become so easy to operate anyone can take a quality photo capable of being published in most magazines. Hench the reason for so many contests being sponsored to gain photos for publication. No longer is it necessary for one to study for years at schools or elsewhere to learn about F/stops and such, they just pick up a camera and start shooting. It's just another sign of progress. I have noticed in the past two years my photo/art images have out sold my straight photos by 4 to 1. I think this is a sign that the collectors recognize that not everyone can produce the "art" wanted and it's not as flooded on the market as regular photos.
I was just asked by National Geographic to furnish one of my images, just for the credits to be in their magazine.
I turned them down knowing it would be publicized all over the world. Accolades don't buy many groceries. I think this comes about by having to many folks to eager to have someone provide praise for them, their work didn't come about from years of study and time/money invested.
The pendulum needs to swing back in the other direction and it will eventually.
Cameras have become so easy to operate anyone can take a quality photo capable of being published in most magazines. Hench the reason for so many contests being sponsored to gain photos for publication. No longer is it necessary for one to study for years at schools or elsewhere to learn about F/stops and such, they just pick up a camera and start shooting. It's just another sign of progress. I have noticed in the past two years my photo/art images have out sold my straight photos by 4 to 1. I think this is a sign that the collectors recognize that not everyone can produce the "art" wanted and it's not as flooded on the market like regular photos.
So grab a camera and keep shooting.


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Thanks for buying Branham Art

Randall - FINE ART FOR THE HOME OR OFFICE
www.randallbranhamphotos.artistwebsites.com
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