At 9:42 AM -0500 2/23/09, Gregory Fraser wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: Emily L. Ferguson
And that, too, is part of the technical decision which might be made
before even releasing the shutter.
Coming to your RAW converter with the mental image already pretty well
developed is an important
part of using the RAW converter honestly.
Please tell me how someone can use the RAW converter 'honestly'? Better
yet, how can I use it dis-honestly?
Well, of course it depends on your ethics for a start. If, for
instance, the available light situation is flat and your committment
is to presenting as closely as possible what you believe you actually
saw, then you have a lot of choices about contrast, saturation,
brightness, fill light, sharpness, (even levelness) which you can
adjust to reveal that flatness.
On the other hand, if your committment is to presenting what you wish
it had looked like, those same controls allow you to rather radically
alter the original situation.
Some might consider the first option unimaginative or even boring.
Others might consider the second option dishonest. Others might
consider either option a statement about your visual intention.
Then, of course, you need to be clear about your ethics. Do you wish
to be perceived as having a boring visual intention? Or as someone
willing to jigger the situation to make it more attention getting?
But to me, just as Velvia hyped the colors until the current fashion
in landscape photography looks unreal and unbelievable (albeit
stunning), the RAW converter can be used to achieve the same effects.
--
Emily L. Ferguson
mailto:elf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
508-563-6822
New England landscapes, wooden boats and races
http://www.landsedgephoto.com
http://e-and-s.instaproofs.com/
