Discussion on Photography Photo by Richard Oesterling-Mojave Desert Leica M6 & 35mm Summicron Views on Photography from Photographers There has been much debate in regards to Digital photography versus classic photography.  In the past there has been much debate on 'straight' photography versus image creation with photography as a media. My view has always been to create an image that as closely matches the scene in which I am photographing.  My vision has been to reproduce the moment in time and space in which the photograph has been taken.  This means faithful color rendition, and objects that are in the photograph were actually in the scene in their proper placement. Filters can be used, but only to compensate for the inefficiencies in film.  A yellow filter will render an accurate sky color on black and white film.  A slightly saturated chrome film such as Fuji Velvia will yield colors that are accurate when a 35mm negative is enlarged quite a bit, but may appear overly saturated on smaller prints.  Most older films, when shooting smaller formats such as 35mm, yielded washed-out colors when enlargements were made.  Thus the new saturated films were produced which yielded vibrant colors.  Some people, and film manufacturers have gone overboard with this to the point where there is no longer any tonal graduation, but rather big blobs of overly saturated colors. I know, because I fell into this trap and then quickly caught myself and came out of it.  Its all too easy to make a print with overly saturated colors and super polarized sky that gets the oohs and ahhs of the admiring public.  Now Gilee prints in digital have taken Gaudy prints to new heights.  Some digital photoshop enthusiasts are producing images that do not depict reality in any way.  This is fine as long as you are straight with the viewing audience, but when a digital dummy makes an image of Giraffe's walking over sand dunes in the Sahara and depicts this as a real life event, I have an objection.  Most classic film photographers have shunned digital for this very reason.  Use photography to create your art or use it as I do to create real life photos of real places.  Photos such as these enable the viewer to imagine what it was like being there.  This cannot be done with altered images as the viewer feels no need to transcend to that place and time. Photography can be very subjective.  Some people will like an image and others will not care for it.  Some will grow with you over time and it may take a while to realize the beauty of a photograph or the vision of the photographer.  I think that every one can use photography as they see fit, but I feel the need to make people aware of straight photography and the benefits and credibility of the art.  Too many people look at an image for immediate gratification.  Bright saturated colors, out of the ordinary subjects, digital manipulation.  For me, I find the beauty in the details of nature and people, in reality and sharing these images with others. I welcome you to E-Mail me your thoughts on what you think photography is all about and how people should create images.  Your view will be posted, please include your name and E-Mail address.