I've been having a little fun with photo manipulation in photoshop using filters, actions, etc- like these digital images attempting to imitate the look of old Holga photos. I'm not 100% comfortable with this, since it is controlled, sacrificing the spontaneity and happy accidents of using film and a plastic toy camera, but I do like control too. Part of me feels like this is a bad idea, gimmicky, false. I cringe at the thought - manipulation. But isn't every photo a manipulatio of some kind? Even straight from the camera- a photo only shows you what it's photographer wants you to see, or not see- a small piece of something, buildings cropped off the right side, or faces falling out the left side of the frame. The sky is never the same blue, no, not exactly. We make choices in every photograph, even if we are attempting to "document" what actually was. We choose color controls, cropping, perspective to retell what seems most true, accurate, right, expressive. We don't see the world in black and white, and even color photography fought for seriousness. Why am I still a hold out on certain post processing controls, just more tools right? And why to we imitate the sentiment, feel, flaws of the past? And why does this sometimes feel more appropriate? Okay, shouldn't get started on too many big topics. Anyway these are for fun, like making poladroids with their retro sound effects.
Here goes loosening some academic/stickler/critical hold-ups for imitation, imagination, play...why not? Anything goes. Thoughts?
Tulip picking.
Some Provence vacay shots.
