Digital Manipulation

• When I started Photography it was all very simple, but now that digital and new software has arrived it has caused many arguments and caused problems in many circlesof photography.

• I for one was on the side of "Digital Manipulation" is not photography. Yes I said so true !!

• The day came when I was handed a digital to try out, I had it a week gave it back and 2 hours later I bought the love of my life the Nikon D70.

• Kicking myself for going down that road having yelled my opinions over digital.Much to the delight of friends.

• Having been at school and loved the arts,but not having a drawing ability it was ever frustrating seeing, what you thought was not bad,being compared to that of a 4 year olds finger paintings. "Although much of what is in the Tate Mordern can more join that category".

• The day came when I was given for free PS 7. On the pc it went and was forgotten about. Then came my lack of will power, and sheer nosyness took over. I tried one photo, ONE hour later I was amazed at what it could do.So for the next few weeks I spent re-doing lots of my images.

• My reasons now for doing some real manipulations on my images are, I either do very little or I go way beyond touch up. I now have a canvas to create things I have always wanted to achieve on paper. At last I can do "Art".

• Some folk would class it as graphic design,but to get most of my manipulated images,they have to start life as a photo. For the images I want to achieve I have to set the photo up to start what I want to create. For me its Photo first then I can follow on and manipulate.

• I think now that digitally manipulated images should be classed as Photography, in the same way all those years back new art techniques such as Picasso were discussed in similar ways in the Art world. And the way nudity was created and seen in the art world by michelangelo.

• If the image started life as a photograph then we should recognise the talent for those who can push the boundaries and create things which leave me always asking "How the hell did they do that" I for one am still a novice and always learning, and I salute the talent of others and I know that there are others who for not understanding the work involved and who possibly can not do it themselves are quick to put down those who can.

• I love Photography in any form it takes and I think with the involvment of digital manipulations, have helped that Photography really has set itself as a deserved right in the Art world. And no longer is seen so much as a seperate entity.