Why Photographs Work by George Barr
(2011, Rocky Nook Inc)
"With guidance from Barr, we learn to decipher that certain intangible 'something' that makes an image go beyond the ordinary. As we gain an understanding of and appreciation for the elements that make an image truly great, we are bound to improve our own images as well."
I'm not sure about the first sentence of the review above, but I do agree with the second one. And whilst I didn't always agree with Barr, I was able to follow all of the points he was making. I enjoyed reading this book.
What makes this book different, is that each of the photographers contributing talks about how they came to create the image - ideas, techniques and gear. In addition, they also include photographers that have influenced their work. As such this book provides a mass of very interesting information.
The only criticism I have is the thickness of the paper, you can actually see ghost images and text through the pages. This book is currently on sale (45% off) at £16.98 with Amazon, full price being £30.00. At sale price the quality is passable, at full price I'd have sent it back.
Capture the Moment - the Pulitzer Prize Photographs (updated edition)
Edited by Cyma Rubin and Eric Newton
(2003, The Freedom Forum Newseum Inc with W W Norton, New York & London)
"This book tells the stories behind the photographs that won America's most prestigious journalism award, the Pulitzer Prize. Great photographs change the way we think. Quickly and clearly, they say that war is brutal, victory is sweet and life is fragile. Great photographs change lives, even the lives of the photographers who take them."
Raw and disturbing is the best way to describe the images in this book. Some of the photographs are composed and technically good, but the majority just "capture the moment".
"Great photographs change the way we think" - I'm not sure that these are great photographs, or at least not great in the way I would mean. Did they change the way I think? Well, they gave me more to think about. War and human suffering were a long way away and then they were in my face.
"Great photographs change lives, even the lives of the photographers who take them." I would have thought especially the lives of the photographers who take them. I don't believe that people who live through these situation could be anything but changed. Unfortunately, I am less convinced that they change the lives of people in general. Does a book like this, whilst shocking, have enough weight/sway to influence enough people to facilitate real change?
In addition, I am concerned about the graphic nature of the images - they are not from a film or a computer game, they are real life. People are already becoming de-sensitised to blood and gore, exposing them to this type material would just further de-sensitise them. Longer term, what would be required to shock somebody enough to drive home atrocities?
Monday, 30 May 2011
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Exercise 22 - addition
First section - Haven, South Shields
The sky was loaded with large heavy clouds, but at the same time it was very bright and the reflection off the wet sand almost blinding as such the best way to capture the scene was to bracket. I waited until the sun was just starting to move behind some lighter clouds and took five shots using exposure compensation (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2). I then blended these in Photoshop and in Photomatix using "Exposure Fusion".
For this first photograph I selected the +1 exposure for the sky and the -1 exposure for the beach. Initially I thought the result looked good - after seeing the Photomatix version I'm not so sure.
I used all 5 exposures for the Photomatix conversion and it produced a better final image - interestingly, I think the first version more accurately records the day. Nonetheless, this image is more subtle with a greater range of colours. The darker clouds on the LHS have more texture and don't look anywhere near as foreboding; similarly the sand is lighter and less mud-like in colour because the reflection of the sky can be seen.
I have never used this function in Photomatix before, it's a nice tool to have and I'm very impressed with the results.
Second section - Litchfield Cathedral
This was taken on a beautiful day - ideal for site seeing, but rather boring for photography.
Since the original image was taken early afternoon there were few shadows to be seen, this dictated the type of replacement sky needed and the type of clouds that would be suitable. This new sky makes the images significantly more interesting.
I have also slightly straightened the verticals. As part of the process I also cropped out the bit of grass at the bottom of the image, this made the whole thing feel very sterile so I put it back in.
The sky was loaded with large heavy clouds, but at the same time it was very bright and the reflection off the wet sand almost blinding as such the best way to capture the scene was to bracket. I waited until the sun was just starting to move behind some lighter clouds and took five shots using exposure compensation (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2). I then blended these in Photoshop and in Photomatix using "Exposure Fusion".
For this first photograph I selected the +1 exposure for the sky and the -1 exposure for the beach. Initially I thought the result looked good - after seeing the Photomatix version I'm not so sure.
 |
| Blended in Photoshop |
I used all 5 exposures for the Photomatix conversion and it produced a better final image - interestingly, I think the first version more accurately records the day. Nonetheless, this image is more subtle with a greater range of colours. The darker clouds on the LHS have more texture and don't look anywhere near as foreboding; similarly the sand is lighter and less mud-like in colour because the reflection of the sky can be seen.
 |
| Blended in Photomatix - exposure fusion |
I have never used this function in Photomatix before, it's a nice tool to have and I'm very impressed with the results.
Second section - Litchfield Cathedral
 |
| Litchfield Cathedral |
 |
| New sky |
 |
| Modified image |
Since the original image was taken early afternoon there were few shadows to be seen, this dictated the type of replacement sky needed and the type of clouds that would be suitable. This new sky makes the images significantly more interesting.
I have also slightly straightened the verticals. As part of the process I also cropped out the bit of grass at the bottom of the image, this made the whole thing feel very sterile so I put it back in.
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