When did landscape photography become digital art? In this article, I address the long-standing debate in the community about punitiveism versus expressionism while showing you my own picture from start to finish.
Many people say that once you manipulate an image to a certain extent, it becomes digital art or years ago, darkroom art. Some people have such a strong opinion on this that you can often find very positive comments claiming that someone is not a landscape photographer if they do certain things to their images. . This is not healthy for the community and although I am not here to change your opinion or move your opinion. My hope is to foster a better community and stop the seemingly pervasive sentinel in space.
Picture
This is the final edited image that I want you to take a look at. What is real? What is manipulated? Can you choose which parts have been done in the edit and which ones exist in the wild? These are the questions I ask myself when looking at other people’s work. Sometimes it can show how magical a moment is or it can highlight how good someone is in an edit. Sit with this image in your mind for a moment. Do you see this and think it is: beautiful, majestic, fake, overdone, Retouched, oversaturated, balanced, realistic or unrealistic? What emotions did the image evoke in you before knowing how it was created?
These are the images I used to make this image. How do you feel now? Does seeing this image come from change your view of me as a photographer? I have personally met people who were captivated by the images I showed them, but as soon as I showed them the images I obtained from my camera, it was as if their opinion of I decrease. I self-explain that the image directly from the camera is flat and lacks all the color or detail from a real-life scene. I know I’m not alone in this experience and as an artist it can be very disappointing. This is made even worse by the constant guarding you may find when sharing your work online.
If you want to break down the entire editing process and my thought process behind each blend and manipulation, be sure to watch the video at the top of the article.
Photography or Digital Art?
The reach we have to digitally manipulate and create believable images is greater than ever. Add to that the fact that many of us as artists are motivated to create images that prevent people from scrolling on social media to interact. These two factors are where this topic gets interesting. I have heard stories from people who have attended workshops and were disappointed that they did not walk away with the images they thought they would get, not because of the dreary conditions or landscape, but simply is because they don’t realize how much the host has manipulated their image.
As a photographer, I feel it is my moral obligation to remind people of the reality of my work. I do this in many ways. I share my whole editing process from start to finish sometimes. I diversify my portfolio to include more heavily processed images like the one in this article while also including plain images with barely any editing. Finally, I make a video about photography where you can watch me fumbling around like a clumsy idiot and taking nothing. This is my choice and style as a photographer.
I can’t tell others what to do or how to approach their own work, but I think we can do better as a community at large. This starts with everyone. People need to stop claiming that if you don’t do it one way or the other, you’re not a “real” landscape photographer. This is wrong. If you’re a purist and only qualify for a specific level of editing as what you consider acceptable, that’s perfectly fine. It’s not okay to tell someone they are something inferior because they don’t follow your definition. There may be different opinions on what is considered another art genre. It all comes down to how we present opinions and discuss issues.
For example, you see an edit that you think is too much, maybe the image I came across in this article. You could say something like: “wow, the mix is great and the presentation is reliable even if it takes more editing than I would.” Not “this is not landscape photography.” Words like these don’t just make people feel like they’re doing something wrong. They also create an environment where being honest about editing is forbidden because they know people will take their pitch and attack them in the comments.
On the other hand, those of us who choose to manipulate images in more extreme ways should talk about it! Appreciate taking a dull photo and turning it into something extraordinary. This is a whole art in itself. Create real expectations for other photographers out there so those of us who question our own work will get a glimpse of the reality that we don’t just get the perfect conditions. every day of the week.
Space for everyone
Over the past year or two, the landscape photography space has gone from big, grandiose photos to perfection in every way. Many photographers, myself included, have found themselves capturing closer, simpler scenes with subtle retouching. The wave of luminance masking, high pixel sensing, and pushing the limits of what we can do with our images has arrived and flooded our feeds with images that make us shortness of breath. But like all art movements, things change and styles evolve. Including styles and choices is of the utmost importance.
A good example of that is Natural landscape photography contest starting last year. Most contests have very little guidance on how to manipulate images. One of the biggest competitions of the year, International Landscape Photographer of the Year, dominated by dreamlike images that are often highly processed. It’s great to know that the natural landscape photography competition was a huge success in its first year and that not only did it give a spot to those of you who prefer natural retouching, it went public. Open the door to show there is a place for all kinds of styles and photography.
For me, that was a great lesson. We must stop telling others that their work is not good enough because it is not done the way we would approach it. As photographers, we also have to be more transparent. Yes, post your incredible work, but include how you sometimes get there. Discover your excellent editing skills just like your photography.
I could talk about this topic for hours, so I hope you leave this feeling somewhat stimulated with a new outlook and how to improve the community in general. I’d love to know what you think in the comments, and feel free to recommend some tweaks of your own too! As always, thanks for reading.
