Tuscaloosa, Alabama

This is a photograph that technically shouldn’t have happened.

It goes back to the age-old question of how far is too far in Photoshop? It was shot last night on a news assignment for the paper, and no — this isn’t the way I Photoshopped the image that will run in the paper. Later on today, I will post the series that I actually submitted, but for some reason last night I wanted to play just a bit, for no other reason than because I can.

The assignment involved shooting a local church’s 15th anniversary. The air was electric and there was much singing, dancing, and clapping. This lady in particular seemed caught up in something far greater, in tune with her own mystic experience. My original photograph didn’t capture that very well, and I found myself wanting something more. Crushing the levels and adding some lens flare came closer to matching that mood.

Would this photograph run in a newspaper? Not in a heartbeat. This would get me fired so fast it would make your head spin. But as a freelancer, I am often called to do other things, shoot in new ways, provide skills that I’m not quite comfortable using like the DVD I made last week or the website I made for a client this week. I’m a photojournalist. Photoshop trickery and web design are not my forte. But they can be. If broadening my skill set is what it takes to make a living and avoid the annoyances of a nine to five job, then so be it.

Favorite Pics (in no particular order): ”Jellyfish II” by Dave at East3rd.
”Winter Times” by Marina at Lost in Shots
”More Fall Colors” by Mark at Mark My Shots
”Top Tree” by Miles at Mute.