GKPE 7 - And Still Going! Still Friendly and Still The BEST!

I agree there's some absolutely amazing images in there, and kudos to those that won. A quote I read today: amazing images are created with phenomenal lighting skills with postproduction playing sometimes only a minor roll in final output.
Didnt look like the awards covered that, should they?

momentz wrote in post #10912391
People have been doing the same to photographs for a hundred years. Just because we now use photoshop instead of scissors and chemicals doesn't change that, nor does the extremity of what photoshop now makes possible that wasn't possible before. The awards are not (only) an assesment of photograpic technique, they are an assesment of proficiency through the entire process, from pressing the shutter through to final presentation. Graphic manipulation is part of the process - any idiot can adjust contrast and saturation, so to score marks with your processing you need to exhibit excellence.

I never said anything about the methods used, be it photoshop or a pair of scissors, I don't believe that graphic artistry and photography should be lumped into the same pile.

Moppie wrote in post #10912405
I never said anything about the methods used, be it photoshop or a pair of scissors, I don't believe that graphic artistry and photography should be lumped into the same pile.

This. But I think the lines are blurring and well just have to live with it as thats how its going to be going forward on an ever increasing scale.

Damn, I just blew up my little logitech desk speakers...........

Moppie wrote in post #10912435
Damn, I just blew up my little logitech desk speakers...........

Serves you right for listening to that Death Rock music so loud.

Back to that discussion about post processing.
As already said, photographers have been doing it for years.
look at this.

Potisdad wrote in post #10912292
Tony - did you give the foreground a boost in post? it looks brighter than the centre.

2 exposures blended as per most of my landscapes. My focus was on the rocks and texture.

For me it is the level in which the PP is applied again I go back to makeup on a woman. Is it to enhance or hide?
The only way is to see them RAW

Compare the 2 pics

http://www.stuff.co.nz …tic-panoramic-of-Taranaki
http://www.nzipp.org.n​z …mages/1/20/Buck​leA_83.jpg

It is true that photographers have been "enhancing" photos for years. However, in the film days such changes required hard work and skill in the dark room to produce each print. They had to either pre-visualise what they wanted to achieve first or be prepared for a lot of trial and error. You could look at a fine art print and appreciate the amount of effort required to produce it.

Now anyone can just move sliders around in Photoshop until a picture looks funky and different. You can write a PS action and leave the room while the computer batch processes thousands of photos in the same style. This hardly seems worthy of national acclaim.

Maybe they should have a PP category where everyone starts with the same photo and the best post processing wins? And then leave all of the other categories alone!

weka2000 wrote in post #10912556
2 exposures blended as per most of my landscapes. My focus was on the rocks and texture.

You need some GND filters - do it the old fashioned way

Well explained. Although take a look at the rest of the world, they've moved past the overphotoshopped look, and are now regarding perfect use of techniques available through the modern equipment we now have. I know some photographers who create insane work, have tons of international awards, but don't do well here. Learning Photoshop processes has a process. You first over do it, it looks great, but is over done, then you come to 'see' that and push to get the balance perfect. It's that last bit that counts, it's harder to learn that last 10%, from shoot to process, than it is to learn the whole of the rest. Sometimes, it's actually easier to put a texture on than to work on the finest details to make the image look perfect. I suppose the thing is you'll never know, because it's done so perfectly that it looks perfectly real. That to me deserves the highest regard.

Anyway, kudos to the winners, some of the images are insane. Pity they're all in my backyard!

And I have no problem with the awards, it's known within the photographers in our country that you have to create a certain look to have a chance, and that's ok... Shoot to win


5dmk11 & 24-105L arrives today, couldn't hold out any longer, it's time

will be selling a 430ex, 50 1.4 and maybe 10-22 - if anyone's interested get in touch

momentz wrote in post #10912391
People have been doing the same to photographs for a hundred years. Just because we now use photoshop instead of scissors and chemicals doesn't change that, nor does the extremity of what photoshop now makes possible that wasn't possible before. The awards are not (only) an assesment of photograpic technique, they are an assesment of proficiency through the entire process, from pressing the shutter through to final presentation. Graphic manipulation is part of the process - any idiot can adjust contrast and saturation, so to score marks with your processing you need to exhibit excellence.

You have to remember these awards are for Professional Photographers, who now more than ever need to set themselves apart from joe blogs with his $10k SLR in order to uphold the industry.

I know how the awards look to the general populace, seeming to reward excessive PP work which would very rarely actually be used on a customer's photo...

Potisdad wrote in post #10912602
You need some GND filters - do it the old fashioned way

Hate the colour cast from my cokins

Mark hit the nail on the head
"it's known within the photographers in our country that you have to create a certain look to have a chance"

Hehehe

IMAGE LINK: http://www.speedtest.n​et

IMAGE LINK: http://www.speedtest.n​et

From what I've heard most about the Iris Awards and advice they give you when entering - the key thing is that the image must tell a story and keep you looking at it till they have to move on... the judges are only given 30 or 40 seconds to look at your image and then thats it... something has to jump out in that time to get noticed.. if it doesnt you dont do well.

This does beg the question then. Does the image have to be edited by the photographer? also is a commercial image one that has to have been commissioned by a commercial client?

Just wondering on the rules.

momentz wrote in post #10912391
People have been doing the same to photographs for a hundred years. Just because we now use photoshop instead of scissors and chemicals doesn't change that, nor does the extremity of what photoshop now makes possible that wasn't possible before. The awards are not (only) an assesment of photograpic technique, they are an assesment of proficiency through the entire process, from pressing the shutter through to final presentation. Graphic manipulation is part of the process - any idiot can adjust contrast and saturation, so to score marks with your processing you need to exhibit excellence.

You have to remember these awards are for Professional Photographers, who now more than ever need to set themselves apart from joe blogs with his $10k SLR in order to uphold the industry.

I know how the awards look to the general populace, seeming to reward excessive PP work which would very rarely actually be used on a customer's photo...

momentz wrote in post #10912196
I've had my 97 caldina gtt for 6+ years now, can't recommend it enough. It's been fun, practical, and reliable. The atenza is a nice car that is holding it's price at the mo. You might also consider the Toyota fielder which are very good cars.

Thanks Aaron. I did have a look at a Caldina (PMd Sarah about it as well) and I am adding that to the list... though will review specs to se which car gives my boys the most room for their legs...

weka2000 wrote in post #10912288
John, Mangere Bridge by boat club

Thanks Tony.

akiwi wrote in post #10915657
Hehehe

IMAGE LINK: http://www.speedtest.n​et

Don't know what happened there..
Dreams are free I guess.

On my retry I got this result

IMAGE LINK: http://www.speedtest.n​et

Interesting how that could happen...