Sentinels. Jan 2025
Today I was in Panjim, sitting besides the Mandovi. To my right I spotted this tree overlooking the river. The bank was still in shade when I made my first picture. The problem was I was unable to achieve sufficient separation between the tree and the background. Moreover, there’s this building just to the right of the lighthouse in the background.
I moved closer and wider to the tree but was not happy. Finally after about 30 minutes, the sun kissed the top of the tree. In a few minutes it was shining upon it. That’s when I made this picture.
However, I could not get a frame without the building that was bothering me. And so, I demolished it in post 😉
As a photojournalist, I abhorred photo manipulation. I’d still do, if this were a documentary image. But it is not. It’s about what I feel about something I see. In that sense, I embrace Photoshop.
I know there is a big debate among creative, especially photographers about AI manipulated images. It’s hard to draw the line for what’s acceptable manipulation and what’s not. Is it OK to remove a building? What about if I were to add the lighthouse if it did not exist? Or how about replace the sky to insert something dramatic like storm clouds? Yes? Then how about a sail boat maybe?
As I said, its all grey. Here’s my two cents. If you call it a photograph, it must start with someone using a camera to create an image. Once done, as long as the essence of the image remains, its fine to enhance the elements of the image – starting with exposure corrections, dodge and burn, to removing elements that distract from the subject.
Its still grey I realise (what about adding an element to enhance the subject?). I guess we, as creatives have gone down a slippery slope.
I know artists who create compelling (and realistic) images purely with prompts. They are superb and could pass off as photographs. Perhaps the visual itself is something that will be questioned. Much like early photography’s fractured relationship with paintings.
How about a new name for art created with prompts. Then again, as Zen teaches us, why do we feel compelled to name everything? If a work is something we enjoy, it is thus.