[photo-3d] The criminals that enter digitally altered images in stereo competition

[L <jet_lk@xxxxxxxxx>]

I used to enter images that I altered digitally and
sometimes created from scratch with my computer. 
These contest were mostly at the local stereo club. 
When I entered them, it was only under the
"Unconventional" catagory.  So they were up against
hypers, macros, and trick shots with multiple
exposures (although I don't recall seeing many of
those).  Some poeple complained that it was cheating
to enter images that had touched a computer.  So some
people thought it was ok.  I think that it may not be
fair to judge images that were altered in any way once
photographed against images that were.  So if someone
was to enter stereo cards and the images were
"dodged/burned", that shouldn't be let up against ones
that weren't, but it would be fair to be up against
images that were altered in the computer.  People
offen seem to forget that calling an image computer
generated only tells a tiny part of the story.  Many
of us (such as Boris and I) spend a hell of a lot of
time building, painting, lighting, and moving,
"vertual" objects around to create an image in the
computer.  The computer just captures the image.  Like
a camera captures an image of reality, the computer
captures the virtual reality.  So when someone really
does do all of the work to get that image to exist
they have actually done A LOT more work than when many
people take a picture.

I rarely do much digital stuff that is completely
digital any more, but I often spend many hours setting
up one picture for an actual photo.  My models often
complain (light hartedly) that I tell them everything
to do, right down to the fingers and position of the
feet.  I do this because I am not just "Taking" a
picture, I am "Making" it.  

I also don't enter stereo competitions any more.  I
have been told by many people that the competitions
are really not for people that are trying to make a
living doing photography.  I was told they are for
hobbyist that have no other way for their work to be
seen.  That explains why many contests aren't
interested in adapting with technology.  I am
supprised that the competitions allow modern films,
and cameras that can guess the exposure for you. 
Because when they allow pictures that all the
photographer did was happen to push a button at the
right time, and (hopefully) purposely composed the
shot properly, it explains why many people still don't
consider photography an art.  (Please let's NOT start
a discussion on what art is.  Ok?)

Lincoln
http://www.lincoln3d.com



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