Bob Crum

To summarize part one: All photos are subject to personal interpretation.

Recall that a photographer friend took issue with my recent Photo of the Week. She was brutal calling it hideous. No problem. Opinions and belly buttons... everybody's got one. She expressed her opinion. OK. It only hurts for a little while. I hope!

If you'll recall I had a plan... a vision. I waited for the right time. When it all came together I executed. Though I considered it a success, the story was not obvious to her. Maybe many others also missed what I attempted to portray in a photo. She may have a point. Photojournalism is not without challenges!

Consider a technically correct photo, in focus and correctly exposed. As such, the viewer should have but only one logical option: Like or dislike the subject or overall composition. An opinion! Does it matter?

When I cook, I cook to suit my taste. Would I add a spice that my taste buds dislike? I treat photography the same way. My way!

Several years ago I was photographing up on the Rocky Peak trail where I heard mermaids sometime frequent as a retreat from seaweed. The trail leads to a panoramic 2,715-foot summit on the border between Los Angeles and Ventura counties in the Santa Susana Mountains. The area is peppered with huge boulders.

A couple of years later, I was asked to give a photography presentation to a group of artistic types in Thousand Oaks. As I was showing the photo of a huge boulder and it's dark shadow one in the audience blurted: “Why did you take that photo, shadow ruins it.”

Such comments in a public setting might unnerve some. I smiled. It gave me the opportunity emphasize the subjective nature of photography. I explained to the objector that my photography is intended to please my harshest critic: Me! The photo – by design and intention – wonderfully illustrates the dynamic range between light and darkness. In essence, as an integral part of the boulder, the shadow exhibited it's own mysterious character.

Any photographer who remotely thinks about creating photos to please everybody is doomed to frustration. Is it any different regarding any form of art?

Another aspect of photography often overlooked is 'style'... a certain 'look'. As I say repeatedly, the camera merely collects data... I create the photo. Through the years I have developed a personal style that I apply universally. It starts with the camera but I don't do anything special or particular in-camera. My “style” is produced during post processing (PP).

My post processing is not conventional. Warning: Tech info ahead! The left and right walls pertain to the extremes of the histogram. A histogram is a graphical representation of the pixels exposed in the image. The left side (wall) represents dark areas while the right side (wall) represents the bright areas. Conventional rules dictate that the middle area represents correct exposure. Not my rule. Unless mood dictates otherwise, I generally push the exposure toward the right wall without clipping which is why my photos tend to be on the bright side. Have you noticed?

Again... it's all subjective. Simply what I prefer. Maybe you like it. Maybe you don't. Irrelevant because it's just photography! Whenever I'm asked to critique photos I first address apparent technical issues. Lacking any, I then only address composition if, in my opinion, a different perspective might tell the story better. Constructive notes only.

Hark! Autumn is now! Charge your camera batteries! Think about hillsides full of red and gold-colored leaves. Aaaaah. I'm planning day trips in search of random displays of gorgeous fall foliage. Anyone want to go? Failing to find such trees, I'll spray paint some. Tree- friendly paint of course.

The photo of the week is from my recent trip up to Gopher Glen Apple Farm in See Canyon. A favorite side road. But no Aspens.

Happy photoing.

Send comments, suggestions or questions to bob@fillmoregazette.com