robak (QLD) replied:

Doug

There was a time in the late 1800's when a bunch of painters tried to display their work in a gallery. They were laughed at and ridiculed becuase their paintings were "not real". "These are not paintings, these are impressions"

These guys were not referred to as painters, but rather the derogatory term - "the impresionists" waas used for them.

Each to their own, I reckon
:)

R.

bombsquad replied:

To me Photography with colored filters is fraudulent and not a true representation of what was actually seen at the time - they should all have at least a footnote telling the viewer they are being decieved.

Cheers Andrew

Pajman Pete (SA) replied:

From the shadows it looks like very late afternoon and with the right light and sand this colour is not too far off reality. Late evening light has the quality of intensifying colours dramatically.

The camera will also record the light differently to what your eye perceives. Your brain does quite a bit of editing without your realising it (even without liquid enhancers). Just look at those dramatic mountain pictures you took that look ordinary at home. An effect called battering means that you perceive vertical distances to be greater that they really are. Photos of rough seas taken from ships look very tame when you look at them later - same effect.

Wolfie would have a good idea if this was faked up or not.

Cheers

Pete

Glenn (VIC) replied:

Hi Doug,

I was on a camel ride at Curtin Springs at sunset. A storm had just passed so the sky was purple/grey. The colour of the sand was the same as in the desert storm photo. It was sereal being there at the time, but even more so when the photos came out. It looked like I had altered them, but I hadn't. That is the beauty of nature, it can change what is normal into pure magnificence at the blink of an eye.

Cheers

Glenn

Member - Duncs replied:

Well Doug,

I live in Broken Hill and have seen plenty of sand that colour, especially late in the day.

When we were approaching Big Red, trying to get there before the sunset but really cutting it fine, the sand was almost irridescent(sp). Whish I'd had time to get a few pics.

Duncs

Member - Andrew W (SA) replied:

another thing that makes a difference is soft light (like in this image with a storm on the horizon).

Other times you will find soft light is at dawn, especially in the few moments of twilight, and dusk.

Some photographers hang out for this sort of light - they'll get up early day after day, on the off chance.

Ciao for now
Andrew who has seen some wonderful light in the outback.

Lone Wolf replied:

Doug,

I doubt that ANY photo in any magazine, web page, or elsewhere is as is. They all go through some sort of change, according to the mood the photographer, art director, or customer wants.

The photo of your rig, is very real, but you only have what.... 10 minutes to get that shot, in that light? An overseas tourist would look at your rig, and think.... wow! Then when they come out here, they are blinded by our harsh summer light, yet, they remember your photo, which is in the evening, and has not been touched up.

Your rig pic looks nice, but if you had of taken the same photo at lunchtime, it would look like crap, and attract no comment, or visitors.

Photography is not JUST about capturing a record, it's art, it's painting with light, playing around, experimenting.

Some of my best work in the Flinders is done when it's dark, but with 15 minute exposures, and a soft moon, I have no shadows, and extreme depth of field. I haven't played with white balance, it's what the camera sees, for 15 minutes, yet our eyes don't.

Cheers

Wolfie