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In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using photoshop.

There is a big difference between an artist who chooses photography as his medium and others who take a camera along the hike to capture a nice scene. Marc Adamus enhances his photographs with photoshop to create the feelings he wants to achieve, to accentuate its dramatic or tranquil character.

Why do many people think landscape or outdoor photos always have to be "unaltered"? Of course if you want to show the current conditions of a particualr route or mountain, you should show them as they are. But that is not his intent at all.

Van Gogh did not paint landscapes as they were, he saw and painted them though his eyes and created ever-lasting masterpieces. The important part is that Marc Adamus does not hide his use of photoshop but is open about it. I personally find his photos inspiring and amazing.

Find and read the Playboy interview of Ansel Adams from 1983. He tells that his photos were doctored in the darkroom with various techniques and seldom look as the original scene looked but made to look the way he felt when he created them. The darkroom and the manipulations he performed there were the essence of his work. He donated his negatives in the hopes that future artist would get something even better from his original. He foresaw photoshop as technology was advancing and seemed to long for it while knowing the technology had already passed him by. This from one of the greatest nature photographers the world has ever known. Photography as an art form must include freedom for the maker to create the image he envisions. No less than a painter or sculptor. Limiting a photographer to only the use of his camera is like limiting a painter to one brush.

The bottom line of what I am saying is that his photos look terrible... to me and to many others, but perhaps not to everyone.

I believe the primary reason they look so terrible is his poor use of PhotoShop, and overuse of it. I have not seen the originals, however. If he used PhotoShop to make the images look better, as Ansel Adams did, then that is one thing, but we have a different situation here. I am not intending to imply a painter can have only one brush.

I just did some work with one of my photos. IMHO it does not look better than the original, though perhaps there is someone out there who thinks otherwise. My overuse and unpleasant use of PhotoShop here doesn't make me an artist. Or at least it does not make me a good one.

Dude! Photo of the Week Material!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok I had to say that. Within the first few seconds of viewing the photo I already noticed "flaws". First off you didn't photoshop the bottom of the photo with highlights, too much saturation, and a lack of sharpness. Marc Adamus would be ashamed.

Sorry, I believe in free speech and all, but YOU FOLKS ARE TAKING THIS WAY TOO SERIOUSLY ...

For example, take a look at my most recent image. Geez Louise, is there a DOCTOR in the House ??? For crying out loud ..



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdabOMoQzl8[/youtube]