Re: Computer vs. Darkroom

[P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Dr. George A. Themelis writes:
>.................  snip .......................
>
>>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? 
>


How does one compare apples and oranges except in general ways?
Photographers don't all have darkrooms and many of them wish they did
because of the freedom to be creative in their projects a bit further and
more directly than is possible with processing at the lab. If a competition
requires that one has a darkroom, it leaves a lot of photographers out in
the dark, so to speak ; -)

In both cases above, you are working with light. Specifically, perceived
light, which is usually an association of contrasts, shades, textures and
colors. In the darkroom you arrange pieces of glass with lights, switches,
timers, chemicals, and all sorts of definitive processes as defined
eventually on a piece of film. In the computer, unseen algorithms provide
the mathematical equivalent of the darkroom tools and cause a series of
light and dark regions to be displayed to the artists eyes and is recordable
for any output device. In a conceptual sense, it is the same. Manipulated
light and shadow. If you can conceive of it's appearance in the computer,
you could also rig and engineer some way to obtain the same or a very
similar image photographically. Ultimately, both are extensions of the
photographer's creative and expressive mind.

The end result can be essentially the same in purpose even though there are
differences in medium. Yes, a darkroom can create some strange things that
don't exist in reality. That's an example of human desire and enginuity that
we have found ways to build into our computers as well. Most computer
imaging tools are modeled on photography and it's tools. 

Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.sonic.net/~lberlin/
http://3dzine.simplenet.com/


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