-- OR --
Right Brain vs. Left Brain
My question is, why can't I have *both* sides of my brain? I often see
messages wherein people state that producing a technically perfect print
"drains" all the life from a picture -- that it's no longer interesting
any more. Well, if you have to rely on imperfections to make the picture
interesting, then I'd say you didn't have a very interesting picture to
begin with.
Yes, there are people who become so obsessed with the technical details
that they never allow their creative spirit to soar free. However, these
people will *never* produce really creative pictures. It doesn't matter
if their technique is perfect or not; they just don't have the creative
Right Stuff. Even if they were unencumbered by their consuming technical
obsession, they would only end up producing mediocre images printed in
less than perfect style.
Then there are those who are very creative, but who feel that all this
techinical stuff is for geeks and they are ARTISTS not scientists.
Well, these people will produce some very interesting images, but will
constantly be stumbling over their own feet, technically-speaking. Their
brain, in a flash of brilliant creativity says, "I'd really like something
like this...", but the print turns out differently, so they shrug their
shoulders and say, "Oh well." I can't help but believe that if these
people mastered their materials that the final images would be more powerful.
Finally, there are those who work hard to master their materials and the
all the technical aspects of their processes, so they can make a
*deliberate choice* to throw them out the window. To be truely free from
the technical process you must first master it. If you have the ability
to make your materials do whatever you want them to do, then you don't
have to worry about it. You will be completely free to work creatively.
It is these people who make truly great artists. Certainly Rembrandt,
Michelangelo, or any other great artist wouldn't have been so great had
their technique sucked.
Once technique is mastered you then have the ability to break "the rules"
as you please. Just because you know how to make a print of full tonal
range doesn't mean that you have to. You are making a deliberate choice
when you choose not to, and it's that choice which is important. You are
using your mastery of technique to *not* follow the rules. Because you
know exactly how to do it, you don't have to rely on accidental
happinstance.
This technical mastery does not happen overnight. It requires hard work
and practice. A great musician must work for years perfecting her
technique before she is able to full express her creative vision.
However, should you come upon that musician years before, some might say,
"Her obssesion with technical perfection is stupid. Doesn't she realize
that she's totally draining the creative life from her music?" So too with
photographers. As we see some of our friends here struggling to perfect
their thechnique we shouldn't ridicule them or try to divert them from
their path. Rather we should encourage and urge them on for some may one
day be truly great photographers (some may *already* be truly great
photographers). ...and others may just be mediocre photographers with
technically perfect prints. :) Only time will tell. In any case, I have
serious doubts that those who do not have control over their materials
will amount to much.
David Fokos
p.s. more Pt in the Pt/Pd mix will change the tone (more neutral black),
change the speed (lower speed), change the contrast (more contrast), and
sometimes add a bit more grain.