Is composite photography cheating? + photographing storm Ciara
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- In this video, I post a composite photograph to Instagram which gains 1000+ likes in 24 hours but is that right? Plus I photograph storm Ciara with Mali.
Is composite photography cheating? + photographing storm Ciara.
Just over a month ago I teamed up with Mali Photography to photograph storm Ciara when it hit the UK. To say it was eventful was an understatement. But eventful for probably all the wrong reasons. Watch the video and see if you've had dumb times in your career as I had.
Mali and I came away with some great images. Perspective was key to our success though. Whilst most of the other photographers were all lined up taking the same classic shot it proved more than fruitful to shoot from other angles. Let's just say we worked the composition very well! Besides, working the composition proved to a real giggle.
Mali's excellent channel: tinyurl.com/yx...
Posting composite pictures on Instagram; there is a serious nature to this video though which happened purely by chance. Whilst searching through my images with a view of posting some on Instagram I chose a picture which whilst I thought was ok it lacked a little drama. Because of this, I added a little more pizazz from other pictures. In the end, I was happy with the Image and posted it to Instagram. 1000+ likes in 24 hours raised a couple of questions with me though. This was a composite image. It wasn't a true representation of what I actually captured. But I wasn't recording the images for a documentary program or the news so should I really be bothered? Afterall photography which isn't documentary photography is art, isn't it? What're your thoughts? Is composite photography cheating or art?
Thank you
Gary
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A massive thank you to Mali. This is his epic video... ruclips.net/video/4FIyThnogrY/видео.html
Cheers my great friend. Already looking forward to our next adventure.
Gary Gough so kind Gary! Thanks for a great day! Sithee on the next adventure my good friend... 😍👍
CIARA is pronounced like Keira .... as in the actress Keira Knightley ..... 🤣
Gary
Composite photographs are OK as long as people know they are and are not led to believe it's the real deal.
Peter
Agree totally Peter 👍👍
The trouble is that, photography tutorials aside, no one ever says: "Here's a picture I took. It's got a Photoshopped sky from somewhere else and the animal in the action shot is actually a stuffed armadillo ( www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43912583 ) and those two buildings are actually in different countries..." etc.
Hi Gary, you are the artist and the result is what matters and if it is pleasing to the eye all well and good.
Cheers.........Peter.
Agree totally Peter, cheers 👍👍
I would say composition is a form of expressionism and no different from some other forms of art. For me I admire the work and the vision to create the image and not hung up about it not being a true representation of what was seen through the lens. Great episode Gary and a good one to lift the spirts at this crap time
There are so many composite photos on Instagram, some good, some not so good. I take most of them for what they are, good "paintings". Great video!!
Cheers Thomas 👍👍
Hi Gary
I've never given a second thought to compositing! I don't understand how anyone can question it.
After all, when you edit a shot to even the smallest degree you are changing reality to suit your desired end. Where should you call a halt?
It's a non-issue as far as I'm concerned. Replacing skies, removing distractions, adding extra waves - no different from adjusting contrast or converting to monochrome.
And as you say, on Instagram there's loads of 'fake' stuff.
Keep the art coming....
👍
Cheers Bob 👍👍
In my opinion photoart consisting of several images is a different genre than single exposure photography. Photoart is okay and compositing images realistically needs a lot of skills, but the use of composite images should be told when publishing.
Agreed 👍👍 Cheers
@@oneeyedphotographer That's the way it should be. I know a few competition winning pictures that later turned out to be composites (with parts taken from stock photos or even stolen from other unsuspecting photographers!).
I've no problem with composite photography - just wish I was good enough with PS to make them.
Nice to hear the story of your video camera - we need good, heart-warming stories, especially in times like these
Thank you 👍👍
I don't mind composite work. I think of it as a part of fine art photography. I found a definition of fine art photography that makes total sense to me and I use that as a guide to judge whether I think something is fine art or not. This is the definition (not sure where I got it from)
"Fine art photography is photography created in accordance with the vision of the artist as a photographer, using photography as a medium to bring something to life that only lives in the artist's mind. Simply capturing what one sees in an artistic way is the art of photography and not creating fine art."
Fantastic vlog & pics! Two things are a constant amazement, the force of nature and the stupidity of people. 😀
Great video Gary, and thanks for the honesty about the Instagram image. I have no problem with composite images, however I believe you do need some skill and expertise to be able to make them look realistic - there's nothing worse than a badly put together composite! To that end, I for one would love to see you do a video on how to make a composite image so I can have a go myself. Cheers, Gary!
Loved the video. Glad you got your camera back. There are a lot of idiots about as we are experiencing now. Some really great images. I personally like the one on 10:27 for some reason. I’m not one for composites tbh , people should be honest when they post them like yourself tho. Thanks
love the photos. watched you for ages now and have learned so much and drastically improved my phots. i just started my own youtube channel . I am disabled and wheelchair bound so started doing days in the life of a disabled photographer around the north west especially St Helens, New Brighton and Liverpool. I don't see anything wrong with it as its art . i also follow Mally and love both your channels big thumbs up
Oh that's such a great thing to do. Well done 👍👍
Thank you so much really means a lot
Thanks for showing us your composite Gary and the way I see it, you took all the photos so you compose the image how you see it I’m your eyes so perfectly ok to show us all. It’s what I love doing and what photoshop is for 😊 Love the image by the way 👌🏽
Cheers Steve 👍👍
According to my, it's not cheating picture. You created one great picture from your several pictures. It's like a painter who will add trees on his paint because that's will more pleasant to see.
Thanks again for English videos, I've been progressing in English comprehension and now I can appreciate your humor!!!
hello gary, love your vids and i too know what its like to be out in a storm cos i love em i was always led to believe that as soon as you touch a picture up in LR or Photoshop you are then a digital artist. digital artist or not most of us are not pro photographers and need that bit of extra help to get things right. i have been called a photographer a few times but then correct them when i say im not a photographer, i just take pictures. im a care worker but would love to go out with the camera everyday if i could. stay safe and have fun. look forward to your next video`s, oh and about your composite, i think that if you add anything to it then its digital art, i like you cos your honest :)
Great images Gary. Good that there's honesty still left in the world and you got your vlogging camera back.
Well done as well Mali! The dappled light image at 10:25 is amazing!!
Composites?... I think the real sin is when some photographers deliberately attempt to deceive their audience. Whether you declare it or not in your post is entirely up to the photographer, but denying an image is a composite when asked is another matter.
Cheers David. Agree with all of your comments btw 👍👍
@@GaryGough thanks mate. Looking forward to.the next video as always
Hi Gary, very entertaining video and glad you were able to get your camera back. Makes you feel good to know there are still honest people out there. As for your composite I'm more of, if I like the image I like the image, don't care how it was done. If it works then that's all that matters. If you were entering a landscape contest though or something like that then it's a different story. Instagram doesn't strike me as a place to worry about how you made the image but a place to get likes at least for most on Instagram. Glad you two weren't among those geniuses out there next to the crashing waves.
You know Gareth was trying to get wave pictures next to the wall during a storm recently........LOL
And on the composites I would also add that a true fine art composite would be someone like Brooke Shaden who photographs each piece to create a vision she had. So maybe that would be a better example of a fine art photographer who uses composites created by the photographer themselves. Joe
Awesome video and very honest account! It takes courage to admit our mistakes... More so to admit your own! LOL From this,I see you value FUN as the 1st priority, so all the rest is just part of the journey! A big thank you from RUclips Subs to your wonderful partner for dashing out with your camera gear to capture those awesome and instructive images!!!!! Check with her before leaving next time Gary... LOL!
Your art, your image = YOUR CHOICE.
What I enjoy with landscape photography are images that inspire me to visit the area and experience the beauty and drama myself. I have been fooled on a few occasions by 'anonymous' composite pictures that promise an exciting scene or place, only to disappoint on closer inspection or research. Having said that as long as the composite images are declared as such or like yours demonstrate the possibility of a 'natural' composition than I have no issue. Loved the vlog, the pictures and images demonstrate the sharp contrast between the chaos of nature and the order of industry, with the odd idiot thrown in!! :-)
I think your composite is art and doesn't need an explanation. I'd like to see how you made it! Brilliant video.
Fair play to you Gary for admitting the composite, I think that looking at landscape photography the viewer is looking to appreciate nature in its glory or extreme and to " cheat " without explaining the reason is to me not real photography.
Hi Gary, Thanks for this video. Glad you got your camera back. I wouldn't worry about what the storms called. A storm is a storm, names are for people. So far as compositing goes, I think it's a good thing. If you want to look at it in depth I suggest you ask yourself if Ansel Adams thought his zone system was cheating? Did he tell people that's how he made his images look so good? I doubt it. Not unless they were photographers. I think that was probably the first form of compositing and in that sense it's nothing new. We use filters all the time to change the look of our images. OK, we're not exactly adding extra elements that didn't actually exist, but it's modifying reality and isn't that what the argument is about?
Cheers for now, keep up the good work... Nigel
So happy you got your camera back ,what a sound fella to get it back to you! Composites are ok with me, it's your work it has to be your choice what you present. If it's documentary/ disaster photography, composites presented without a declaration are probably wrong! PS would love to see the editing you did for the photo if you care to share it with us. Stay safe mate, cheers. PS the people swimming should have been certified, hate to think they could have put others RNLI members at risk and wasted their resources, totally selfish!
Gary my welsh friend, just had a wee squint of this video, and chuckled at your honesty. As I have said before about your work, it’s yours to do what you like with it, composite or otherwise. I’m certain there isn’t a photograph out there that hasn’t been altered in some way, and the practice is ok, and if some don’t like it then perhaps they can go out and try to do better but I suspect they won’t as they will probably be an armchair expert😀.. and well done on confessing about forgetting your gear and being a total bumblefcuk..
Nice video again. The image is really nice. In theater we lei the truth someone learnt me. In photography we do as well 👍
Gary,
Wow, that weather, what an opportunity!
Compositing? Whatever it takes to manifest my vision. "Mitchell, If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'," as a grizzled Chief Petty Officer once told this young sailor during a training evolution...
Your final composite tells the story. That is all the justification (if any) needed.
Thank-You,
Mike
p.s. I'm a big fan of Mali and couldn't agree more about both your observations regarding his visual talent and charming character.
Terrific vlog, Gary and the photos by both of you are fantastic. Can't believe the stupidity of those people with their dog. I agree with those who have already said composites are fine but also that there should be disclosure of that in the posting. Having said that, I greatly enjoy and admire your photography and videos.
I watch a lot of photography youtube videos. And most people say the same thing, "In the end you take pictures for yourself". So if you feel OK with creating a composite, just do it and enjoy the final result, no need to elaborate if it is a single capture or not. Having said that, as long as you are not doing editorial or documentary work, or lie to someone if they ask whether its a single capture or a composite, I dont see the need to explain yourself. This is one of those timeless debates that will probably never go away. On one side, you got the people that think photography images need to be posted/printed straight out of the camera. And on the other side you got the "Peter Lik´s" of this world who think anything goes. However, I feel most people are somewhere in the middle.
Hello Gary, I have just found your RUclips page. I shoot motorsports mostly but my interest has declined of late as all our photos look much the same when taken from public viewpoints. Thank you for bringing me me back to basics with your excellent and down-to-earth videos. I have done very well in Club photo competitions and, as they are 'open', anything goes. The way that I have come to terms with any photo is to accept that what I am looking at may not be what I think I'm looking at - but do I like it! This way I am never disappointed. I think your shots, and those of Mali, are outstanding and, let's be honest, you both made the effort to get there and take them in the first place. Chris
Composites do very well in camera club comps and that winds me up, I personally love the thrill of the chase ,that is going out at stupid o’clock hopefully Mother Nature plays nice and just getting it right.
Great Vlog Gary, in response to your question I used to believe photographs should be presented as they were taken back in the film days but I saw some great images by others that I began to wish I could have done and began playing around in the dark room. I only went over to digital in 2015 but soon realised using programmes to enhance your images is now the norm. I am still learning but whilst I try to get it right in camera I have learnt a few tricks now and feel it is acceptable and even essential if one wants to compete with toggers who may not have the skills with a camera but are brilliant with programmes like photoshop. I took a fabulous images of a wreck 2 years back, it had a great sky but never got the appreciation I felt it deserved. Recently I changed the sky and made it into a composite and folk raved about it, go figure. So my view is it is acceptable and even encouraged and necessary.
We make a picture not take in picture, when creating art. Great work
Thanks Graham
Great video again Gary, love the images. To me if I can produce an image that I find pleasing then the technicalities of how it was produced are immaterial. We all edit our raw images
to produce what we saw/envisaged to portray the story we are trying to convey. Your base image didn't effectively show the power of the storm but your final image certainly did
so very successfully.
Cheers Derek my good friend 👍👍
I worked as a photo retoucher in the nineties at a large printers and the amount of image manipulation was vast. It's the old digital issue of being able to fool the viewer, but in no way is it detrimental to what peoples perception of it is. If you can create a stunning image by manipulation then that's to be applauded and theres no less skill in doing that. The fact you have the ability to do it is testament to your knowledge of software and image creativity. I initially loved it on Instagram and it doesnt matter a jot to me whether it was an original image or altered, you are using the software as it was intended. Others may disagree but hey, one mans meat etc...great image Gary..
I don't do composite but I don't mind when is well done and appealing. Nice video Gary.
I am a keen amateur Gary and although I can appreciate what can be achieved with software, composite images are not for me. Yes, they are good fun, but I work very hard firstly to get out to take images and even harder to perfect the art of photography. I have seen composite images being used in camera clubs by members who I believe have no other purpose than to gain advantage over others and I personally would like to see composite images barred from competitions in their entirety. The images produced by yourself and Mali in the video were superb on their own and a much more honest demonstration of both your abilities to create great images. Just my thoughts and I appreciate you sharing your skillset and advice with us all, I personally continue to learn more each day, thanks.
Great Vlog man. Nice post processing. People never complain about sky’s being dropped in, or stuff being cloned out. Don’t have any issues with it. Great shot.
Hi Gary,
Great vlog, I always find you so informative and no holds bar approach to your video's. Just been checking your work out on instagram and again found it quite inspiring. Please, please keep up the great work. I hope the weekly podcast is still going with Gareth Danks and Paul G Johnson. I've not listened to it lately what with all what been going on but a find it a very good listen and quite funny. Anyway great work my friend.
Absolutely loved the video Gary. I must say that the best part was hearing that your wife drove down to take your camera to you. Now that's an AWESOME wife and dare I say reminds me of my own wife Shirlene. Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."
I shall pass on your kind comments :) Cheers 👍👍
Thanks for adding a new phrase to my book ... "blowing a hooley" fits perfectly :-) As for the 'image' ... really liked the grungy version or the mono ... feels like a high key image. Instagram is fantasy land so anything goes I reckon ;-)
Good onya Gary .. always look forward to your efforts mate :-)
Steev S
Cheers Steev 👍👍
Wonderful vlog! Composites, I’m ok with them however I think telling folks that they are composites is important, otherwise when you show an epic “real” image later, folks might doubt its authenticity. You have multiple skills so show them off. You can catch terrific real images and you can create fantastic art from your library of great images. Besides, isn’t it just an extension of that old adage that good photographers don’t take good photos, they make good images? Really enjoy all your work, thanks for sharing!
Gary another great blog and probably a good discussion toipic for Photo Nerds. As to my own thoughts well I guess we live in a world where what we see isn't the real image and with the technology around us we have to expect composites. Personally i wouldn't go there and struggle to capture a good composition and lighting, but that's the challenge. Yes I could sit back and manipulate photos and probably produce some great images but i wouldn't get the satisfaction that comes from that one good shot i get on rare occasions. Yes by all means use a little enhancement in Lightroom or Photoshop but composites - no not for me. Love the work you publish and definitly in that category as an influencer.
Great watch again nothing wrong with composites but regarding Instagram and the amount of likes in 24hrs I'd put it down to fan base as well as a good image. 💪
Agree totally. The fan base of course helps unless a picture goes viral of course. This one was just as you said, the size of the fan base. 👍👍
Excellent images from Mali and yourself mate, and as usual, Paula saves the day, or two days as the case was 😂😂.
She always does, It's like having a carer. Maybe she's getting ready for the inevitable :)
I personally do not have an issue with composite images, I feel it is worth saying it is a composite, the finale image is what we like and how it got there is great information from an educational point of view
Cheers Rich
Some excellent photos there, Gary. The Instagram composite doesn't bother me one bit. Like you said, Insta is full of them. Still a cracking photo and worthy of so many likes.
Nice work.
Stay safe, mucker 👍
I think you're one of the best landscape photographers & just love your vlogs. When it comes to composite, I think one needs to declare the photo('s) as fine art and not photographic. I'm a bit of a purist & even feel guilty creating a focus stack or HDR stack & that's the only time I use Photoshop (or now it's Affinity Photo). I think that a landscape photo with a couple of images stacked to correct the sky or foreground -background focus, and to eliminate small objects that are not permanent fixtures is okay, but I have a problem 'photoshopping' images. Great work, Gary.
As long as it's not in a photographic competition, I think composites are just fine. It's art, art is subjective and after all, if someone buys a print it's because the subject matter has touched them.
Good points Kerry. thanks 👍👍
Thanks for the link to Mali's channel, I've subscribed! Cheers Gary.
Thank you that's excellent 👍👍
I enjoy composite photography and it is a form of art. I do think it should be declared as a composite.
Agree totally
Great images between you and Mali, Gary, great photography and conditions. As to is photo compositing { if thats a word } i believe it is cheating simply because it didn't happen at that moment in time. If you could turn back time to the moment the exact second in time you would find some things missing ie: waves in this instance. The world doesn't need to be made make believe as there's plenty of that already going on :) . But on saying that Artistically it is fine as long as it's stated if you were looking at selling a print that it is actually a composite and not a one off shot, if you know what i mean, Love Mali and your channel, keep up the great work both of you!!!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Cheers 👍 Hope you can join me tomorrow & 18:00 for a live show on my YT channel? Cheers
Mostly all photographers who post-process an image for maximum effect, do so with the intent to enrich an image. That may include adding some composites, enhancements, etc. If most presented their works unprocessed, I'm sure most won't have an image to show. Unless the image is to report on a reality/news required basis, (i.e. photojournalism), I don't think even mentioning the post process editing is necessary. In my opinion, the post-processing work is a distinguishable artist trademark that differentiates that artist's works from others. Go for it.
Hey Gary, just now watching this video. I think composited photos are fine. I don’t think you need to tell that it’s a composite, unless you’re ask about it. I would never lie I’m sure you wouldn’t either. Some people won’t agree, but as you have said before. Do it for yourself. Maybe not in those words. I enjoyed.
I don't see anything wrong with the composite photo on Instagram. I've seen several that I know are Composites and the photographer doesn't say anything. It's your artistic creativity, no one else's and it's fabulous!!
Fair enough Sandy. Thank you as always xx
Gary I love the image, I do not mind composite images from a creative point of view as long as you are not trying to mislead people, I have started using Luminar 4 which has AI sky replacement features and I love playing around with it, I even did a Scotland video of images with sky replacements. I also think it helps me improve my general processing.Loved the video, thanks for sharing and stay safe during these crazy times.
Thank you John, crazy and difficult times indeed. Stay safe 👍👍
I’m all for a bit of compositing. It’s fun to do. Hardest thing is to make it look real and my only thought is the wave looks a bit odd splashing from left when diection is front to back. That said, it’s dramatic and i bet fun to create.
As long as a composite photo isn't claimed to be straight out of the camera, I don't see anything wrong with it. But, this hasn't always been the case. When composites were first possible a photographer got in big trouble for moving the moon from one side of a photo to the other so that script would fit better on the cover of a magazine.
lol it seems to be the norm today :)
Not my thing, but to answer the question, like others have said, as long as you took ALL the photos and didn't lift something from the internet then who cares. And honestly, why does something like that have to be explained? Who is the 'judge/jury' in this situation UNLESS you're submitting to contests/etc.? Other photographers? It's like a musician who is more concerned with what other musicians think, instead of the crowd he is entertaining that don't care HOW he entertains them, as long as they're entertained. Do you and don't worry about the haters in all matters. Helpful videos thanks!
Hi Gary, great video as always. I don't see any problem with composites, its artistic creativity. I think better to highlight to the audience. By the way Ciara is pronounced "Kee-ara"
As you have admitted that it is a composite and there has been no attempt at deception I would feel comfortable in producing it, but for me it loses its soul, the hours spent waiting for the right moment and if anything I would feel that I was cheating myself and the emotions that come with taking a picture. For me having a picture I take goes hand in hand with the experience I had in taking it at the time. A composite can't do that
Art is art, doesn’t matter how you get there
Wouldn’t it be great to be in the lighthouse, the excitement of the waves crashing in. The photos from the top.
Ansel Adams said that creating a photo is like creating a symphony, well something like that
Thank you
This is a great composite. Who said that a photographers picture can't/shouldn't be a composite as long as it's ok and what is required for your artistic interpretation of the scene as the creator.
WOW, WOW.WOW, What a vlog, those waves are insane. Very impressive. I loved the B-Roll waves flying past Mali,
Composites are perfectly fine in my eyes to capture the scene as you saw it, basically dont put a flying pig in there and its all good :)
Guess what I'm adding to my next set of pictures🐖🐷🐽 If I had my camera on the 1st day and didn't lose it on the 2nd day the vlog would have been so much better. Hey, that's gettong old and senile for you 🤣😂😁 Thanks for saying though 👍👍
@@GaryGough Keep up the awesome work dude, love it,
PS - dont ever grow up lol
I believe if you post a composite picture you should acknowlege it as such.If you dont and some one calls you out. Your credability and integratey I blown in an instant. I enjoyed this blog very much thanks.
regards Tony
I don't think there are any non manipulated photos anymore. Don't worry about it, It's about how your image makes the viewer feel. It's not how you got there!
Holy Guacamole! Those are some huge waves! Great job.
Great video, I like that you asked people;e opinion re composites, I'm still getting my head around PS and might struggle to produce an image like yours, but it opens the big question is land/seascape photography art or a documentary capture. As you rightly say an artist will add style and interpretation to a scene, this in my opinion is exactly what you have done and it looks great.
If you have to ask the question, then you already know the answer. I give you kudos for coming clean after the fact. Composite photography is an art by it's own right so don't be afraid to acknowledge it as such. It makes you a more diverse artist. Label your art correctly and you will sleep better at night. Integrity first....
Excellent reply. Cheers 👍👍
I’ve just remembered there is a famous image of a monstrous wave engulfing a lighthouse shot from above with a tiny lighthouse keeper standing in the doorway. The work required to get this shot was considerable, and used a helicopter, and a huge investment...
Which gave the final image awe and wonder and publisher in the top magazines !!
It was featured on a tv program called "Coast" I think. This is probably a snippet from it... ruclips.net/video/AH02UMFTknI/видео.html
Cheers Gary 👍👍
Thanks for the composite insight. RAW = Adjustments. Any adjustments to an Image are composites.
You mean anything added to an image? Cheers Dennis 👍👍
@@GaryGough Any "Post" attempt at refinement is part of the creative process - in my opinion. Viewing / enjoying your vids from Canada.
Composites...I was against them but I have used them when practicing long exposure light painting. I have been nervous about extending to a five minute exposure and not quite getting all the elements of the image I wanted. Now I have more experience and confidence I think I'll be using composites less often and trying to get want in a single click.
My two cents from the other side of the pond:
If you represented it as what you saw it was deceptive, if you represented it as a photograph you took it was deceptive but if you represented it as an image you created then you were honest and you created a nice image. I actually liked the original image you started with better. Happy you got your video camera back and that's the story I want to hear about in a future post. Cheers!
It’s the end image I think people will like and like myself how you get there is irrelevant, I think its brilliant, I need to learn photoshop better, lol great vlog
Cheers John 👍👍
SOOC images are a unicorn. In the film days, SOOC you got a latent image. The master film photographers manipulated the development chemistry, temperatures, and times to get the effect they wanted. Same with printing, with the addition of dodging, burning, etc. In digital cameras, SOOC you get a digital file. Until it is manipulated by the algorithms some software engineer programed into the camera to produce a JPEG, or it is read into a raw editor and processed with whatever software, plugins, etc, there is no image. Composites are fine, as long as you are honest about it. The exception is true photojournalism, where, by definition, you need to strive to manipulate the image as little as possible. But, given the integrity of journalism overall these days, how many true photojournalists are left? The images in this video from both you and Mali are stunning.
Nice images and a great composition to boot but at the end of the day its cheating. Its good that you came clean and told us though and explained your thoughts on the subject.
Hi Gary, I very much enjoyed the video and the carry on with your cameras lost and left behind made me laugh as I could easily do the same. I'm going to disagree over the composite because I don't think it quite looks real because of the scale of the pasted wave and the kind of wave it is, but maybe that is just my perception. I do disagree with the guy who said "what the hell, it's only Instagram not Nat. Geographic". I know that reality is a relative word but when it comes to "faking" it I think that tries to promote an exaggerated reality so people can become desensitised to actual reality. But then again, you've spilled the beans in this video because you're a good guy and a good photographer. Thanks again for all your work and sharing it all on RUclips.
I'm on your side btw. I agree with you 100% which is why I raised the question. Thank you 👍👍
The last image under the tab LAKES on my website (www.schundlerphoto.com) gets the most attention. Most want to purchase it until I mention that it is a composite. After waiting 4 hours for the northern lights to show, I went home and added my own. They say photography is “painting with light” which now has a new meaning.
Loved the video and images Gary. To me making a composite image is a form of art. A landscape artist when producing a painting will add or subtract from a scene as they see fit.
Cheers Jim 👍👍
I think that's where one of the arguments comes in. Yes, it's a piece of art, but is it a photograph?
Dam 😬 I was there that day and the day after I was watching you film but did not realize it was you and Mali , missed the chance to say hello 👍👍👍
Shame you didn't say high. It was a cracking day though. I hope you got some great shots?
@@GaryGough very happy with my shots , even though a couple of leagues below yourself 😁👍
I have absolutely no problem with composites - that is as long as you don't present it falsely as something else. Where I come from we had a huge case about a photo journalist who had added a flaming cross in the back of an image of a nightly gathering of people, which is despicable. In the world of art photography or landscape photography I have no issues with it and would use it myself any time I deem it advantageous to the final image. Same goes for any sort of post processing you use to my mind.
Agree totally. Why would anyone want to add a burning cross to an image? just stupid! Cheers 👍👍
@@GaryGough Thanks for the vote of support, and thanks for your videos - a great source of inspiration.
Beautiful footage and photos Gary. I don't mind if you make a photo composition from multiple photos. Photography is also an art form. If you like the end result yourself, this is fine. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
But if you are going to use the photos of others in your own photos, I think you should let the other know about it. Or ask for approval first.
Yep, I agree withg that 100% Cheers Marcel 👍👍
I don't have a problem with composites, art is art. If you want to reveal that it's a composite or if asked if it is then by all means let them know.
I've never forgot the camera but I have left batteries, sd cards and my wits before. Have a great week, Gary.
It’s certainly a cheat if your audience isn’t made aware of it upfront. Because, at the end of the day, what you created isn’t something that represents both a moment you personally experienced and your skill in capturing it. It’s a nice image, or composite, or photo-art. It isn’t a photograph. And it frankly astonishes me to see the number of posters here (as well as on other channels where the subject has come up) who claim that it’s okay so long as you captured all of the elements yourself, or that it doesn’t matter so long as the resulting image is beautiful. Perhaps it’s a generational thing, but I think it matters a great deal. I also dabble in 3D animation as well as photography, would have little trouble putting together a scene of a lighthouse being battered by waves during a storm, and if I’m on my game the rendering will look completely photo-real in spite of the fact that it was entirely cobbled together out of bits and bytes and algorithms, and that I never went anywhere near a camera. It may be a lovely image - suitable for framing, even - but that doesn’t make it a photograph, or what I did photography.
I see and use Composite quite a bit...I do notify when I post them that it is a composite....but it's what I see in an image. It may not be totally there in the original but it's what I see for a finished photo when I take it. It can be said that Photoshop and Lightroom are not real photos either when you qweek the colour or contrast or anything on the orginial to make it pop better. It can be said that thats a fake as well but it's in the Photographers eye and mind that matter. BTW Great Photo.
Personally I feel in these days of "fake news" it is wrong to intentionally alter an image that has the potential to adversely affect large groups of people. Hard news images should be just that. What you see is what you get. On the other hand artists for centuries have been creating images of reality as they see it. Submitting images of an altered reality to Instagram or similar outlets is fair game in my book. The artist is showcasing her/his talent for peoples' enjoyment. Keep doing what you're doing Gary. In the end it's what pleases you that counts.
I like the composite image I see nothing wrong with doing it. I dont have the PS skills to try this. I think it would be great if you did a follow up how to video. At the least you have let people know its a composite now, I am certain many would not divulge this. I liked the original as well as the dramatic final image. great work brilliant channel.
Personally, I don't care if it's a composite. If the end result is pleasing to the eye and evokes the right emotions, and all the work is yours alone, what difference does it make? No one asks an oil painter if the scene he has painted is an actual place or landscape. No, they appreciate the final result.
At the risk of being shot down, why does a photograph have to be "true to life"? Some great paintings were "as the artist saw the scene", not true to life. Some great movies that really grab the heartstrings, stir the emotions of fire the imagination aren't even based on a true story. In my very humble opinion, as long as an image isn't being used as evidence of something, you don't have to proclaim it for what it is, as long as you don't claim it to be something it isn't.
As I say, this is just my opinion and it is in no way superior to anyone elses. Photography is subjective, and long may it remain so.
Gary, I love your work and, as a hobbyist, your videos are helping me a lot, thank you
Gary, I have no problem with composite photographs - How many photographs are there about with a better, more interesting replaced sky?... The end result question should be, is it interesting without composite... If the answer is no, then composite is ok... If it is an accurate photograph required, then no it's not ok... Let's face it, with a modern digital camera and computer, what is real anymore?... Great Vlog from you and Mali... Thanks, and as he says, Sithee
please do the video on how to make a composite picture, but yes always tell your viewers that it is a composite.
Gary - Great video - Composites are fine just let people know.
Agree 👍👍 Thank you
Most everyone does it,ta for your forthright approach.
My 2 pence worth is that as long as all of it is your own work then crack on. Personally, I would say up front that is is a composite, mainly because I think of that as part of the whole story. I do take pictured with the presupposition that it is going to be a part of a composite, but that isn't always the case.
Unless you are a journalist or documentary photographer, it is all part of the art of your images.
I liked the silver efex pro image best by the way.
brilliant gary, wow what a day that was. I actually like the composite purley because it could have happened that way and anyone else photographing that day wouldn't have noticed the difference
Great images Gary , I do not think the masses on Instagram give a damn how you got the image , the likes prove it , personally photography is all about being creative ,and if people like it , so what .Well done.
I would love to see your post process work flow!!
Cheers Kennon 👍
Well you certainly had some fun Gary, both on the shoot and then on Instagram, as for your question, I dont care whether you remove a couple of tiny distractions or create a composite image as to me its the final image that is important. That said props for being honest about it and admitting to your composite skills.
Composites are totally ok and you don't have to actively tell that your photos are composites but if somebody asks about it, tell the truth. Personally I don't do composites in my landscape and wildlife photos (unless focus stacking, HDR and panorama are considered composites) because I like the idea of capturing real moment in time that is impressive on it's own.
Fair enough. Thanks 👍👍