Matt Timmons
April 7th, 2009, 06:58 PM
I've noticed a big trend for awhile- photographers are coming up with more interest in retouching than in actual composition. It seems like they just want to take a picture of a girl and then hit the filters and plugins for the product- as if skin blurring or LucisArt plugins are what will make the photo good. Now I can't say too much- because a large part of what I do is compositing and rendering- but I'm saying that I see a lot of effort on the computer side and not a lot of thought on the camera side. Aside from strait composite work, the retouching should be the clear coat- not the paint job. If you want to see how your coming along as a photographer, shoot your images as if there is no such thing as Photoshop, and see if your images can stand on their own. If so, you're on the right track. If not, maybe you need to re-think your approach to photography, direction skills, light control and general vision of what to put into the camera in the first place. Awhile back I had to shake myself loose from the retouching trap. I'd shoot stuff and then just think that if it didn't come out right, I'd just "fix it in PS". Man, after countless hours of turd-polishing, it occurred to me that what I was shooting wasn't cool in the first place, I was just relying on skin softening or effects to make me look like a hero. Wrong approach. As a result my creative skills took a hit. Now I shoot with as much emphasis on getting it right in the camera as possible, and I'm always telling everyone involved with the shoot that "I don't want to have to sit in front of the computer for hours fixing it later." Which is like my motto.
If you really notice Nick's work, notice the most that it's his direction, lighting and general concept of photography is where his art is (check out his fashion gallery). He can make an inexperienced girl look like a cover model all the way to compositing in complex images together to create visual textures and moods. That comes from practice and coming up with compelling ideas- there's no "make my ideas better" filter.
So for what it's worth, be recognized for good photography and not as "just another guy with a camera and a Photoshop 101 book" (which I hear about from frustrated models all the time). I think you'll get further in your career faster. Hope this helps if at all. Cheers all, -Matt
If you really notice Nick's work, notice the most that it's his direction, lighting and general concept of photography is where his art is (check out his fashion gallery). He can make an inexperienced girl look like a cover model all the way to compositing in complex images together to create visual textures and moods. That comes from practice and coming up with compelling ideas- there's no "make my ideas better" filter.
So for what it's worth, be recognized for good photography and not as "just another guy with a camera and a Photoshop 101 book" (which I hear about from frustrated models all the time). I think you'll get further in your career faster. Hope this helps if at all. Cheers all, -Matt