Kris Bentham Photography

Critical study- Why do we manipulate images?

Why do we manipulate images?

There is a general consensus that editing is wrong, the term ‘photoshoped’ has developed into a term to discredit images stating that they are fake. but this is a somewhat naive view jumped too when are taken out of context. The reason for editing is unique to each image or create, a photojournalist may have seen a greater range of tones than the camera can catch, a Wedding photographer may want to use an artistic licence to add colour to connotation love or an advertiser wanting to create a more attractive form to increase appeal. While we may not agree with the ethics or motivation should we be blaming the techniques used to create them.

Retouching and image manipulation have been around since the start of photography, As a means to push the limits of the technology even in the 19th century this was a controversial practice as it was not truthful.

Areas of interest

Henry peach Robinson combination printing - Fading away

Combination printing was seen as a means of expressing a theme, by combining different negatives to create a single image with a greater dynamic range than the photographic process allowed. In the 19th century photography was still finding its feet, with the camera being linked to truth the traditional painters freedom was somewhat removed.

Ansel Adams and the zone system

Adams zone system defines the whole process form composition, exposure and printing. Adams believed that understanding this link was key to a successful print. A direct response to the Pictorial movement popular at the time.

Advertising

The practice of altering a model's shape and size has been controversial for sometime now, By misrepresenting the human form the industry creates desire, an notion that you can be like this if you buy our product. while we know its happening and campaigns get criticised for its uses it still happens.

Film

A digital image straight from the sensor is very ‘clean’ compared with film where the different emulsions carried characteristics altering colour tone and contrast. Photographers used this to create a style and add elements to their work. applying the same characteristics digitally creates ethical issues.

Post production vs preproduction

effects can be created pre or post production, by over exposing you can create a glow that smooths skin, or using longer lenses can make a person look thinner as the distortion is less. these create the same effects as doing them in post the only difference is they are some what controlled.

In the public hands

Digital photography has had a short but rapid growth, not allowing it to develop natural theory behind its use and effect. filters are now allowing anyone to alter there images but without understanding of visual representation dose this cheapen the idea of manipulation as a tool to improve and express.

Conclusion

Thought this study I look to develop a understanding for the motive of manipulation, and where the negativity towards the process stems from. as well as deciding how and why we can combat this tread.

The Lion and the Lamb camp

To help work off our festive lunches we decided to camp out on the Lion and the Lamb near Grasmere. With a late start and poor visibility (there was some light snow) we weren't going to get much of a view for the night. I decided to try get some portraits, using our touches as modelling lights.

Shooting at ƒ2.8 1/80 and ISO 3200 I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the images, the focus is pin sharp on the eye giving super detail.

Steves hood provided too much shadow to with butterfly lighting blocking the eyes off, by using a split lighting Iv been able to catch the detail in the eye. it dose give the image a much harsher feeling.

Later on the clouds started to part so I created some double exposures mixing the stars and portraits

While I could have done a better job at blending the exposure, they did well to keep my mind off the cold.

We woke up fairly late, the sun was already up. The visibiliy had cleared giving a night view of the valley and what remained of the sunrise.

Christmas eve on Striding edge

Inorder to prepare for our Christmas dinners Jamie and I went on a hike up Striding edge and down Swirrle edge on Christmas eve. The weather wasn't ideal with plenty of hail and wind it gave some nice atmospheric clouds and added to the look of the 'hostile' environment.

Kendal Warriors Vs Lancaster Spinners

The Warriors played the spinners at Dallam school, I tried to get some different angles than I had at previous game looking to get closer to the action and give a broader look of the sports hall.

Boomerang

I hand the opportunity to capture some promotional images for the newly formed band Boomerang based in the Lakes the band preforms at events and pubs so i wanted to create images for the band that would show them as bing at home at a wedding as much as in a bar.

While Bootlegger the venue offered the rustic pub feeling They also had a full lighting set which allowed me to give the band a cleaner brighter look than fits in with a wedding while keeping the a edgier pub look.

I wanted to get a broad image of the band so I looked to get some close up detailed images of the equipment, The colour of the stage lighting and use of a wide aperture has created some nice interest with in the images.

With the stage lighting changing with the music it was a challenge to shoot quickly while keeping the quality as high as possible, the Red lighting was patchily strong and would blow out images. While shooting the band I looked to get a minute of wide group shots and individual portraits. the group shots had the challenge of getting every one in with a good perspective.

Overall it was a very enjoyable shoot and the band sounded great, I look forward to seeing more of them when you start gigging in February.

Applying presets to portraits

I recently had a quick shoot to on the shore of lake Windermere originally the shoot was to demostraight the use of flashguns but the overcast day was giving such a soft ambient light I decided to take advantage of that. I used a ND filter to allow a very narrow DOF I wanted to have the background out of focus yet keep the detail within the subject.

I wanted to edit these images in a way I have not tried before, by using the preset to add to the subject matter, this is a method I have noticed a lot of photographers I follow on photoshop use. A lot of the preset are actually designed to replicate old film styles, this method of editing could be seen as a throw back to how photographer selected film for a shoot just applied after the shoot not before

I wanted to keep the style of my subject while showing off the environment he was in, to do this I started with shooting with a narrow DOF this would lead the eye to the subject emphasising the detail within his beard and clothing. To emphasis this while editing I was looking of a preset to show the most detail with the blacks and shadows. as well as bumping up the clarity.

To show off the environment I wanted the tones to reflect the area and the day, the wasted out tones give its a classic with the dull highlights reflecting the overcast feeling of the day. I also cropped some images to focus on details of the environment, buy removing the subjects face it requires you to look else where in this case you notice the rhythmic waves juxtaposed with the liner wood pier.

The preset that I used for these Images is onOne Grunge with grain and Dark Edges, I did alter the tones to make them work with the images as well as remove the dark edge. I like the feel of these images but in exporting it has shifted the colours slightly and its not due to the colour profiles. This series has a very editorial feel and look and its a strong way to ensure the Images have a constant look. I will be researching into old film characteristics as this is a powerful tool to add meaning to an image be it to guide the viewer to a feeling or just to emphasise what is already there.

Critical study- Why do we manipulate images?

The Lion and the Lamb camp

Christmas eve on Striding edge

Kendal Warriors Vs Lancaster Spinners

Boomerang

Applying presets to portraits

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