I admire them when they are done well by other people. But, when I go to use them I feel like a dog who's just been shown a card trick (thank you Bill Hicks). It is frustrating to figure out which shots merit this kind of treatment and I always come out of it feeling like. . .well. . .a fraud.
What a silly conclusion to reach given how "fraudulent" it is to use Photoshop itself. When it's used for more than mere enhancement of the image. When you use it to remove power lines or, gasp, people from your otherwise perfect frame.
A million years ago when I was taking far worse pictures than I am now I used to look at Photoshop as the ultimate cheat. I wasn't being an actual photographer if I leaned on a piece of software to trick people into seeing what was never actually there.
But, then I learned how to use it. And, much like the conversion from film to digital, I haven't looked back. I suspect that any trepidation I have over the use of actions, textures, etc., will fall by the wayside as I learn how to use them appropriately.
Still, I wonder if I will ever go back to showing people what I really, actually, truthfully shot.
this is john and ellen. they play beautiful music together.
realistically as well as metaphorically.
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