Re: Computer manupulation

[P3D Eric Goldstein <egoldste@xxxxxx>]

Betty Schlueter wrote:

> Every photo student that I graduated
> with from college was equally versed (some more, some less) in Photoshop,
> Director, Premier, etc. There are tons of people who can do both equally
> well.

Betty-

Let me turn the focus back to the two points I'm doing such a bang-up
job of making... <grin>

First point... by accepting computer manipulated entries into awards
competitions, you are significantly changing the skill set and criteria
by which you judge (and probably award/acknowledge) talent; I would
contend for the most part it is away from photographic skills and toward
graphic/computer skills, or at the very least it is a combination of the
two. Although you say that photo students are graduating with equal
skills in both these areas, my experiences from the still and graphic
portfolios I see frequently in my work tells me otherwise.

Second... when competing in a resolution-dependent medium, and with high
resolution equipment being inaccessible to the average person, we are
skewing the competition away from the person with a camera, an idea, and
the talent to shoot it, and toward the person: (a) who is either skilled
in computer manipulation or has access to a person who is, or (b) who
can afford the high cost of high resolution computing, scanning, and
output. We both agree that film recorders are expensive to access
(hundreds of dollars per output), and even then the total system
resolution is significantly below the original.
 
> If more *traditional* photographers could just open up a little and try
> this medium, they would be as taken with it as those of us currently using
> it.

If you're seeing this as a "traditional/old/boring versus
non-traditional!/new!/exciting!" discussion, I'm _really_ doing a poor
job of articulating my thoughts. I use computer technology
_all_the_time_ in a whole mess of different graphic arts and
photographic situations. I love what they can do for me, but I am also
mindful of what they can't now do well. And matching traditional
photographic resolution is something they cannot currently do well.

> Eric, I suggest that you look harder or possibly in different places.

Jeez, Betty, I'm looking as hard as I can! Where are all you guys
hiding?
8---)

> Betty ;>

Eric G. :-)


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