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Digitally manipulated photos ..... are a big topic of debate ..... Most artists are against them as they can look pretty darn good and they feel it takes away from the authenticity of a real painting.



This is interesting, and I wondered if it should be in the new "Ethics" thread. David does this subject deserves its own space? The new "Ethics" already has a few different topics running within it.

Although I had been very against overly digital "messing" with a good photograph, I have to admit some of the results can look good. And was also "against" describing a digitally enhanced photograph as art: or at least not real art, compared to what someone did by hand rather than hitting a keyboard. It did seem a bit like painting by numbers to me: pretty result, zero talent.

Now I am coming around, maybe not a full 180 but close. But as far as ethics are involved, the thought of passing off a computer changed "watercolour" or "oils" treatment of a photo as original art is quite unpleasant - both in cheating a buyer and in devaluing "real" art. No wonder there is controversy among the art community, moreso than among photographers I would guess as photographers have less to lose.

PC
www.sherbrookephotography.smugmug.com