“The magic of photography is metaphysical. What you see in the photograph isn't what you saw at the time. The real skill of photography is organized visual lying."
Terence Donovan

Is photography a visual lie? Or perhaps photography should be an exact reflection of reality? Is it possible for that to happen? Is topographical exactness the purpose of photographic craft? And is this the current trend? We can frankly answer “No” to all of these questions. It’s impossible to enforce one point of view. Every person, every artist sees things differently and is choosing different elements to manifest his or her individual style. Through the lenses of his or her own experience and moods we see the same items differently. Our perception of reality differs from moment to moment. We see the same items differently because of the moods and contexts we are in. We cannot escape from seeing the world we take pictures of “our” way. Our personality impacts our reality and gives the viewers of the pictures we take a chance to see reality through our eyes. Simply copying reality a photographer is removing himself or herself from the necessary act of interpretation. I believe that we cannot really escape from our own lenses with which we view reality. In essence these lenses are the only way between us and reality.



"Many pictures turn out to be limp translations of the known world instead of vital objects which create an intrinsic world of their own. There is a vast difference between taking a picture and making a photograph".
Robert Heinecken

The impulse in which you want to take a picture, freeze the moment, is just a beginning of the artistic adventure. The creative process can start after the picture had been taken. The continuation of the impression we have in our mind can start with the editing of the picture to create more complete depiction of what we want to see. We can create and recreate the picture. Purists state that the picture can be only what was able to document on the film or on the digital camera without any alteration. That material according to them should not undertake any editing. Small changes in the darkroom or by Photoshop can take place but it can only be done in the very minimal way. Other authors modify the pictures in the darkrooms and by using digital editing software. The level of interference is a very arbitrary issue and can be very broad. The most extreme authors go even further, and to them taking the picture is just the beginning of the journey. The final effect is the key factor to them. They don’t limit themselves to any limitations, cannons made by other photographers. The debate between the “purists” and the “creative” photographers about what is acceptable, ethical , etc, has been going on for several decades and will not end tomorrow. In our opinion tolerance is the way to go.


"You don't take a photograph, you make it."
Ansel Adams

This maxim broad us together and shaped up our point of view on intriguing media – photography. We have talked a lot about many issues related to photography and one of the most important one is that we should not impose any restrictions on our expression. We are doing what we love to do but we are trying to be as open as we can to new interesting trends and creative ideas regardless how they are classified. Classification implies borders and puts art in "boxes". What we really want is to be free and "go beyond...” not to be confined to certain standards and rules and regulations. It's more important to express yourself than to be categorized and limited to anything.

To answer the question - is it worth it to "play" with the original picture, there is no one answer. Only author can decide what direction he or she is going through his inspiration. Maybe at times the best things is not to interfere with the picture taken, and just take it as it is, but at times you might feel like a massive interference is required to achieve the desired goal. Then you should not hesitate but just get creative!
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