Defining basics

[Cutter]

i think we should define basics in the comp, with only things we can do rather than what we cant.
Things alowed are:
crop
levels
hue sat
sharpen
what do you think ?

[Cutter]

and could a mod put my spelling right on th thread title please

[Lurkalot]

Done. Just hope I've spelt it correctly. lol..

[Cutter]

Originally Posted by Lurkalot

Done. Just hope I've spelt it correctly. lol..

Thanks Mick , that the prob when you use your phone with no glasses on

[Cutter]

We could even drop the crop! that would help us to see whats in the viewfinder and make us better at composition.

[Lurkalot]

No problem.

Mark. You'll see I've added some links to my signature. So far there's one leading to Chris's thread RE: posting images etc.

And a couple of links, one to edit signature, and one that's missing from the main nav bar to your Private messages.

I think it would be handy if regular posters to the comp also added some of these links. The rules, and How to post images would be a good start. I've added the codes below. Just copy and paste them in, if you want to use them.

Photoradar Help Links [url="http://www.photoradar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1482"][b][u]Posting Images & Other Tips[/u][/b][/url]


Private Messages [url="http://www.photoradar.com/forums/private.php"][u][b]Click to read your Private Messages here[/u][/b][/url]


Your Signature [url="http://www.photoradar.com/forums/profile.php?do=editsignature"][b][u]Click to edit your signature[/u][/b][/url]

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by Cutter

i think we should define basics in the comp, with only things we can do rather than what we cant.
Things alowed are:
crop
levels
hue sat
sharpen
what do you think ?

Can monochrome conversion be added?

Bump

[jinky]

It`s not something I want to see - and I say that as someone with very clearly limited photoshop skills that means I probably use less than10 % of what is available. hell I don`t even know what is available to know if it`s 10% I use. There would also be arguments / challenges and for example a key basic element you omit is brightness and contrast. Again a few of us shoot exclusively in raw so that would potentially bar those. I limit what photoshopping I do unless I see a challenge to give something new a try and I do the comp for that reason - to stretch myself. If it went to basics with a majority in nfavour that`s fin and democratic but would probably mean I`d be less inclined to drop in personally. It`s OK saying photography should be pure and basic but has it ever been thus? In the past with film those skilled in the darkroom always had the potential to do more with a shot than those less skilled. That said it did not stop "basic" shots from winning out. You cannot turn a duff photo into a winner with photoshop or the like - you still need the basic skill.
If you are going to challenge editing why stop there. Not everyone has access to additional flash guns, umbrellas / diffusers. Do we say you can only enter using the flash the camera is supplied with to make it an even playing field.

As I said it`s a minefield but a perennial debate. I say carry on as we are but set limits if you want when setting the brief as a winner within your understanding.


Later addition
There you go - two responses adding one item each to the basic list (if I count raw conversion 3 so far).

[HinFrance]

I agree with jinky - 'basic' is just about impossible to define.

I only shoot in RAW, so I always have to 'develop' my pictures. There is clearly no 'basic' way to do this unless you say apply the defaults of the conversion software. But then which software? Most use ACR within Elements or Photoshop or Lightroom, but I use DxO and Matthew uses Photoplus. Others will use Paintshop Pro - they'll all produce different results, so which one is 'basic'? If I shoot in jpg for a competition, then what in camera settings are allowed? All cameras are different.

Also, one of the ideas behind the comps is to learn new skills - and that won't happen with editing if we restrict it. The 'darkroom' side of photography is pretty much as important as the capturing side IMHO. In the film days I regarded pressing the shutter as the first step in creating a photograph with hours of honing to follow in the darkroom; from choosing what developer to use, and for how long, to choosing the paper, filters etc, to what to dodge/burn etc under the enlarger.

Only the tools have changed, now it's a computer and screen and not baths of chemicals and an enlarger. But what we're doing is trying to make the best photograph we can with the skills and tools that we have to hand.

And hopefully keep on learning how to do it better

[highlandscenics]

Yeah I agree, I think its best left as is. After all what "basic" is to someone could mean something else to another. Look at the hoo ha from Muckyboys comp, when he innocently and with good intentions requested minimal processing.

Someone asked a simple question to define what "minimal" meant, then someone asked if another process was banned/allowed and before you could say negative space, the whole thing spiralled into chaos and confusion.

I think the best approach here is to leave it as "no editing restrictions". That way we can have entries from across the whole scope.