Computer vs. Darkroom

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>However, nobody's mentioned how a photographer can also make 
>a lot of changes and/or enhancements in his/her own darkroom.  But, not 
>everybody has a darkroom! 

Most of those who do B&W print work DO have a darkroom.  Until recently,
the rules of the Cleveland photographic society stated that for print
competitions, the print must be made by the maker.  It is only recently
that they accepted commercial printing!

>It just seems that computer enhanced imaging is an extension of the 
>photographer's capabilites.  Not everyone has it just as not everyone has 
>a darkroom.

Again, the skills involved are different.  In the darkroom the photographer
is working with light.  In the computer the software user is working with
computer algorithms.  

The computer is a much more powerful tool than the darkroom.  The object is
darkroom manipulation is to improve an original negative.  In a computer,
an original negative does not need to be prenset.  A computer can create an
image with real-like objects that are not real, i.e. they never existed in 
real life.  Can a darkroom do this? 

George Themelis


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