Lulu Lake, Wisconsin

I took this photo of a friend canoeing in SE Wisconsin. The color of

the lighting is all natural, I was shooting into the sun on a misty

and cool morning. I used no filters and did not enhance the exposure

or colors in Photoshop. I think it was a pretty good photo except

when I took the shot I didn't notice Rick had a big old honking

anchor hanging off the back of his boat. Actually it wasn't that big,

but the silhoutte was very distinct and to me, it distracted from the

purity and calmness of the scene so I removed it in Photoshop. Is

actually removing a distracting element from a photo wrong? What

about adding something? What are the limits and at what point does it

become "digitally manipulated"? Either way I'm stuck with the anchor

on the original slide and there's no way of faking that.

You'll get no derogatory remarks from me about eliminating confusing elements (especially small ones) in PS.

 

I think it is a great photo and the lighting is unreal.

My general feeling is that removing distracting elements is a good thing. What I'm not comfortable with is adding things that aren't really there.

I think this is a good overall image. I don't know what the fuss is all about using software to correct an error in an image. Whether you use a computer, enlager,dodge, burn, use an air brush does it really matter? Photographers have been applying corrective measures to their images for years, as technology gets better the tools to do this gets better. You don't have to "adjust" your image at all but you shoudn't "wonder" whether it's the right thing to do if you have. If manipulation of your image brings it closer to what your mind's eye saw then all the better. Lets push the boundaries of our art and lets see where it goes.

Regards

john

Another spectacular shot, yet again, fabulous atmosphere. I love the colors. Yellows and red make for absolutely delectable warm-tone photos. I don't know wether I would have minded the anchor, though you might go in with photoshop and tone the area where the anchor was a bit redder, and a bit darker.

 

Whoever gave this 1/1 is an idiot! this is a great shot!

Don't worry about eliminating small insignificant, but distracting elements, photos were retouched before the digital age as well. This is a beautiful image.

I agree with previous comments about the propriety of removing distracting objects in PS. I especially appreciate the fact that you disclosed your post-exposure manipulation. So many photographers out there just like to pretend that things were as they shot them. As for those out there giving this photo a low rating, like 2/2 or 1/1, I think that people on Photo.net who give obviously great photos like this such low ratings are just bitter. Great job with the exposure, by the way; that had to be tough.