What you said about 'shopping' - interesting. And reminds me of encylopeadic v creative writing on hootoo.
My sister's a bit of a photo purist. I said to her sometimes the shopped version is closer to how something felt than the pure photo. Take focus, in reality the brain edits out all sorts of stuff. In fact I think you need to develop a way of deliberately looking before taking a photo to avoid distractions being in it. When it comes to the how, I don't see how it can matter whether it's in developer tanks or in the PC. (Your environmental point aside, which I hadn't thought of.)
Someone said in a comment in one of the competitions that a photo had stirred them - I think that's what it's about.
I got photoshop elements just 4 weeks ago, I'm kicking myself for waiting so long and straightening horizens all over the place!
I'm wondering if my Mum reminds you of your Mom because of her expression on finding herself spending a considerable amount of time looking at derelict stuff? Quarries in my case...
I haven't read 'The Road'. There's a story in that photo, that's for sure.
I'm still learning ropes on fotki - it's not exactly designed for conversation.
