John: Here are both the Market Squash and the Crypt shown in normal mode above a higher contrast mode: CONTRAST

I'd have to say that I prefer the original renderings to the higher contrast ones -- but that is me, and that is viewing them on my computer. I'd be curious what others think...

Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), May 21, 2002

Answers

I prefer the softer. High contrast seems too harsh on subjects that flourish w/ a bit of subtlety. Let's go for nuance.

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), May 22, 2002.

Jack, tha's the dilemma I'm facing constantly: higher contrats for more «pop» in the picture, but with less details in the shadow, or lower contrats for more overall detail rendition, but with less character to the pic. The problem surfaces when you have to make the choice, ie when you're working in PS (or, I guess, when you're wet printing, for that matter), or when you're looking at the two versions side by side, like here. It doesn't occur when you're the viewer and you're offered but one proposition. You like it or you don't, but you don't agonize over what is the best print. I tend to like the more contrasted squash, but the «normal» crypt. Go figure. But then again, I'm not sure. When I work on my pics in PS, I usually go for more contrast and a bit of sharpening, but as soon as I save the work, I kind of regret it, because I think I've lost some details, and maybe some «mood». So, I guess even the highest photography, like all forms of art, is but a compromise. The greatest works can always be questioned. The only work thats is never questioned is the real masterpiece. It immediately imposes itself as such, and this is where the viewer (or reader, or listener) derives such intense pleasure from. He feels there is no other way in that precise moment in time and space. We don't produce masterpieces very often, do we?

-- Olivier (olreiche@videotron.ca), May 22, 2002.

I like the high contrast crypt because the shadow contrast at the front is more dramatic. The pumpkin, I don't really care for though since there are already high contrast (sign) elements in it already. But hey, you're talking to someone who frequently interprets the world through a #29 red.

;-)

Cheers,

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), May 22, 2002.

Nice stuff Jack. I guess it depends on the viewing distance whether one contrast level is better than the other. Oliver, I also have regretted adjustments after the "save". I now scan at the highest resolution in 16 bit and save/copy/lock it as a digital neg. It's sort of like the RAW file from a digital camera, because it's always there to go back to. Once you switch to 8 bit in PhotoShop there's no going back. For really important images I've started to save the original as Genuine Fractals STN files, which are resolution independant.

-- Marc Williams (mwilliams111313MI@comcast.net), May 24, 2002.