November Dawn

[GrahamS]

It raises that age-old question (and just to get a debate going again) of how much manipulation of a scene such as this is appropriate. For me, flipping it like this would be a step too far, as that is too far removed from what is there. However, I do B & W. How is that not removing the image from reality?

I could easily confuse myself if I thought too much about it.

I think that there is a fine line between photography and illustration. Flipping left to right just about toes the line. Changing the colour of the barn, or inserting farmer Brown on his tractor into the field opposite, or adding flying bids to the sky, would IMO, cross the line and make an illustration of the image. Provided we define the objective and purpose of the manipulation and qualify the result, there is a place for both types of image in art.

Look at the second image in this thread as an example of what I would define as illustration:
Central European Lines

[tbob]

It raises that age-old question (and just to get a debate going again) of how much manipulation of a scene such as this is appropriate. For me, flipping it like this would be a step too far, as that is too far removed from what is there. However, I do B & W. How is that not removing the image from reality?

I could easily confuse myself if I thought too much about it.

This level of manipulation doesn't exceed my comfort level with changing the representation of reality. The main elements are still there . In this instance their spatial relations are changed to evoke a slightly stronger response from the viewer. I regard black and white as same type of manipulation for effect on the viewer. The point of an artist is to make the viewer see and feel what the artist wants them to see and feel. If removing the colour makes the viewer concentrate on form, line and texture then make it black and white. If the viewer moves through the picture; seeing the old barn first then moving across to the clouds that is fine with me because it still accomplishes my purpose

My wife and I looked at Graham's version last night and discussed it. She prefers mine because she orients on the cloud first then wants to move to the barn. Just goes to show what I know about all this.

Where is the line? Pretty nebulous. I use the criterion; I don't know what art is but I know what I like. Too much beyond that and my critical faculties fail me