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I quit editing photos

jamesbaker.uk

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Re: I quit editing photos

#141

Post by 72deluxe »

RankingMember wrote: post #99
SoftTalker wrote: post #51

I went one step farther and quit taking photos. And this is after many years of hobbiest photography in the film era, had a darkroom at home, SLR with several lenses. Early digital cameras were underwhelming, basically the equivalent of a 110 film snapshot camera. By the time they got good I had started to reflect on the fact that I almost never went back and looked at any of the photos I'd taken, so I just stopped.…

> I enjoy the moment, and have the memories. I don't disagree with your "enjoy the moment" thesis, but I also envy your memory recall capability. For me, photos can resurrect memories I don't have access to normally.

Yes, me too. I have a photographic memory that is getting worse with age. I remember things vividly but have no emotional attachment to the memory, and memories of myself doing things are in the third person so I can't seem to "enjoy" the memory of an event, but visually "see myself" in the memory (which doesn't make sense). Photos and videos help me "relive" the moment.

That being said, I have far too many photos (and camera bodies!).

Re: I quit editing photos

#142

Post by neonstatic »

chromacity wrote: post #34

I don't want to dunk on people who are discovering the charms of retro tech, but as someone who started with film and spent a fair amount of time in the darkroom, I was delighted to discover the hassle-free simplicity and dependability of digital photography, so it is a bit mind-boggling that people want to go back to the old way of doing things for their everyday snaps. It reminds me of people buying vinyl, using VH…

Yeah, I agree it's a form of signaling. Once the tech gets old enough to not be considered "everyday use", signalers will find it appealing. I dated a girl, who insisted on taking pictures with her 2000 style digital camera rather than the phone - you know the kind which puts the date and time in the bottom right in an orange font. A few years ago these early digital cameras were untouchable - not retro enough to beat polaroids, significantly worse than phone cameras. Now the time window has moved enough...

Re: I quit editing photos

#143

Post by 72deluxe »

CarVac wrote: post #22

I got tired of in depth fiddly editing and wrote Filmulator to minimize the decision-making and streamline editing. I rarely spend more than 20-30 seconds per image. You get a clean, basic look, no weird colors or overly creative "looks", but with adjustability and great highlight handling that JPEG doesn't get you. https://filmulator.org The current builds there are quite old but we've got new ones coming.

Thank you for this. I downloaded the program, but am I right in that it does some processing on the RAW files as it imports them so that they're effectively in a mostly "finished" state?

At the moment I'm using SilkyPix for my Lumix photos and NX Studio for my Nikon photos, and then occasionally using RawTherapee and Darktable and also occasionally ART. I then sometimes attempt to use gmic on the finished JPEG or Snapseed on my Android phone for more ambience and sharpness.

I'm finding I'm spending absolutely hours on editing all the photos I take. And they don't even look that great when I finish with them, mainly through my lack of skill. I find the sharpening in silkypix to be very good.

Re: I quit editing photos

#144

Post by ramenos »

Thanks for your feedback on your post. I reach your thought for these 2 items: - Paying an unlimited annual subscription to an online service that does the same job as the one-time paid version you really own is madness. - With years going on an family growing, spending too much time on editing is not ideal. I have a Fuji as well and it's true that out of the box JPEG are quite great, but there is always this little thing I want to edit (unless it's black and white): light is too bright, or a part of the photo is a bit dark.

Curious to see your camera setting in your next post =]

Re: I quit editing photos

#145

Post by jpfromlondon »

mcdeltat wrote: post #121
chromacity wrote: post #34

I don't want to dunk on people who are discovering the charms of retro tech, but as someone who started with film and spent a fair amount of time in the darkroom, I was delighted to discover the hassle-free simplicity and dependability of digital photography, so it is a bit mind-boggling that people want to go back to the old way of doing things for their everyday snaps. It reminds me of people buying vinyl, using VH…

On the point of film, I agree, although I won't say it's necessarily a bad thing overall. Just a bit silly when people try to claim film is somehow "superior" or whatever. Film is absolutely a cultural experience for many people shooting it today. The main argument I have to confirm this is to consider that most people's photos are not good, to start with. (Talking about the average joe, not pro photographers.) So an…

there are films that are more resolving than even the best digital cameras, unfortunately limited to black and white.

Re: I quit editing photos

#146

Post by packetlost »

qsera wrote: post #136
packetlost wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That emotion is nostalgia, whether real or perceived. It's not a bad thing, some of my favorite photos are on b&w film. Film has a texture and (inaccurate) colors/tones that aren't really reproduced in digital cameras but are all over the place in media we consume and personal/family photos, usually from an older time.

It is not nostalgia. It was the photo of a stray dog on a beach, and a bunch of fishermen drawing in a big fishing net..so nothing personal or long lost to be nostalgic about...

You don't have to have an emotional connection to the subject to feel nostalgia, it can be more abstract than that, such as the way highlights are rendered or the grainy texture. Good art evokes emotions anyways, it doesn't need to be something you're personally tied to.

Re: I quit editing photos

#147

Post by qsera »

packetlost wrote: post #146
qsera wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not nostalgia. It was the photo of a stray dog on a beach, and a bunch of fishermen drawing in a big fishing net..so nothing personal or long lost to be nostalgic about...

You don't have to have an emotional connection to the subject to feel nostalgia, it can be more abstract than that, such as the way highlights are rendered or the grainy texture. Good art evokes emotions anyways , it doesn't need to be something you're personally tied to.

But why are you telling me what I am feeling? I have felt nostalgia and this is not it.

>Good art evokes emotions anyways

Yes, that is what I am trying to say. Film results in something "artistic" by default.

Re: I quit editing photos

#148

Post by neuralRiot »

captainclam wrote: post #77
chromacity wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Come on. This article isn't about the joys of doing things the hard way. To quote: "Then, at the start of 2022 I got my first analogue film camera: a Leica M6. (I know... I dived straight in the deep end.) This was my first introduction to how editing could be easier." It isn't easier. Film is pain. Pain can be good, but this is selling a mirage.

Just to be clear, your comment had a general statement about how you perceived the motivations of "people buying vinyl". That's what I was responding to. (People using VHS filters on social media is by definition social signalling so no comment there lol). And I completely agree with your point about touting film as "easier" than digital. That's a stretch.

I’m a believer that the hard work brings more joy, digging crates of vinyl and finding that rare album even if it has pops and noise feels 100x more enjoyable that streaming it.

Re: I quit editing photos

#150

Post by yeah879846 »

chromacity wrote: post #34

I don't want to dunk on people who are discovering the charms of retro tech, but as someone who started with film and spent a fair amount of time in the darkroom, I was delighted to discover the hassle-free simplicity and dependability of digital photography, so it is a bit mind-boggling that people want to go back to the old way of doing things for their everyday snaps. It reminds me of people buying vinyl, using VH…

Analog technology is infinitely complex, as is the real world. Digital is not. AS within as without. If you want to lack soul and wonder, why.
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