Over the past few years I saw a wave of people converting photography as a new hobby. Other than being happy that these people try to explore their creativity and what not, I notice that most of their pictures are made by editing tools more than by photography techniques. In fact, some people applied so much excessive effects that it looks more and more like fabricated collage instead of organic photography. It’s as if the pictures are not saying a thousand words but more about a thousand layers applied on top of the original picture. And that the quality of the photo (especially colors) is prioritized before what is actually in the picture.

I’m not a photographer myself but like anyone I occasionally enjoy looking at beautiful images and IMHO photography should essentially be about capturing moment, isn’t that why camera was made in the first place? That’s why I adore Matt Stuart works. This guy is amazing when it comes to freezing moments whether it’s funny, amazing or just simply random. Surely he did some retouching in his pictures too, but you can still get the impression that even without any effects applied to the photo, you still see what the picture is all about. But then again it’s a matter of personal preference, certainly there’s nothing wrong with adding effects to pictures in order to get it closer and closer to perfection. But a line needs to be drawn somewhere, that’s all I’m saying. If any of you knows other photographer with similar style, give me a heads up will you. Thanks.