Some say photography is about preserving the 'truth', some say we should strive to maintain honesty in an image - for others it's about making pretty pics, however you come to achieve the end result. Manipulation has been part and parcel of photography since the beginning and anyone using Photoshop rather than a gross image editor will have tweaked a wrinkle or scrubbed out a lamp post at some time or another. In fact as we all know, choice of lens, media (colour, b&w, cross processed etc) - even the finish of the paper can alter the way an image is received (it looks better on matte?) >From tabletop photographers cutting out cardboard mountains to make silhouettes of a climbing expedition in the loungeroom to reknown photojournalists putting an extra person in a 'documentary' scene or adding a saw into a portrait, manipulation whether to deceive or enhance has been with us. Remember I mentioned the video demo of the concept of content aware seam carving? right.. However you perceive the concept, nightmare or delight, it's now available as a freeware beta program! :) the main page is here: http://www.thegedanken.com/retarget/ the download page for linux and windows users is here: http://www.thegedanken.com/retarget/default.asp?lnk=3 for the mac users who feel left out, maybe there's the dual boot option ;) I've spent a few hours fiddling with it across a selection of images and have had the MOST fun in ages. I found using the 'delete' brush in determining which areas be given priority to be stretched seemed more useful on landscapes than using the 'protect' brush too. ..and don't be put off by the example image they use on the main page, even though it is a total shocker (!) this one is a definate keeper k (excited and happy)
