Pix Of The Day: Less Can Be More In Photography
CREDIT: © NAME/MonoLandscapes.co.uk
WHERE: western USA. WHAT: 'Liquid Light' monochrome landscapes.
Thumbnail clicks [1][2][3][4] pop-up source pages with larger images.

Peter J. Clark subtitles his MonoLandscapes.co.uk web site 'Liquid Light'. We chose the 'American Images' section from the galleries on offer, and for the thumbnail strip four images that we hope represent the scope of the gallery, and also tempt you to browse through all the available images. You may like to start by reviewing a page we recently featured, 'Coyote Buttes', on Clifford Kolber's 'Nature's Vision' web site.

You will no doubt quickly detect that there has been a level of manipulation in Peter's images that goes beyond 'correction & adjustment': using the page navigation controls to flick [Next] or [Back] between those two pages will let you see what we mean… or could it be those Benbo tripods are even more solid than we remember?

Although we take no strong position on manipulation, holding the view that every part of the photographic process from before acquisition to after presentation contains some input from anyone who is involved in any way. It is just a matter of degree. However, there are those who think that at very least there are generally acceptable parameters, and that stepping outside those should at very least be documented. Few would apply such criteria strictly when images are intended to be art rather than documentary in any sense. The debate will probably last longer than our lifetime.

Peter includes a summary of his "philosophy of Pictorial Photography" on his 'Profile' page, which begins, "A successful pictorial image will stand on it's own without the need for title or explanation…", so if, unlike us, you do have strong views take them up with the photographer. Before dashing off an earnest email, we suggest you check out Peter's qualifications and experience, and read his ebooks, entitled 'How to Achieve Near Perfection in Image Adjustment in Photoshop', and 'Techniques for Creativity in Photoshop', which were co-authored with Dr ER Sethna.

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