Adobe

There's a demonstration of a new feature called "content aware fill and delete" posted at MacRumors. It's probably available on Adobe, too, but I haven't checked.

There's no commitment it will be in CS5, but if it is, I'd have to say it is compelling and scary at the same time. The last demonstration, in particular, is a jaw-dropper. The line between reality and post-processing just gets fuzzier.

Jim, I recently saw another youtube on this feature and it was at least stated to be in CS5. It's an amazing feature for speed of clean-ups. But, as you pointed out, it is a bit scary at the same time.

It is rather amazing.

OK, time for a reality check Jim
So, if this shows up on CS5 and we use it, do we need to sign a waiver to post on NPN? Am I going to be able to turn half a bear into a full bear? This type of post processing really blurs reality and perhaps honesty. But then art is in the eye of the critic....

This will be problematic... but doesn't the EXIF data (or could it possibly in CS5) indicate if this has been used or not? of course this is only useful in competitions... will be no way to tell what is real or not anymore

If you find a half of a bear that would be interesting! Sounds like a good power line eraser to me!

To Frozen Feather Images,
Jim, I have to agree with you on this one. This could open up a whole can of worms. It is not the art, it is how it is? How far will they and can they go with this?

Jim, for nature photographers especially the line will be blurred. On NPN the Photo Posting Guidelines here state: 6. If the image has been digitally altered beyond simple adjustments to color, contrast and sharpening, etc., please state so in your post! But I know for a fact that people do not always admit that.

The questions by nonphotographers of "Is that background real", "Did the bird really look that colorful" or "That flower looks too perfect to be natural, is it?" will become more commonplace.

If you can pick birds up and move them around where you want them in an image, "create" tree branches where there were none or change the ones that you have to some thing you prefer more, then will it be real Nature Photography or will it be manipulation of Nature in post processing?

Even today, those sufficiently skilled in PS can significantly change their digital images in an essentially undetectable way if they wish. Looking at PS development we can see that what is happening is that this power is becoming available to those with lower and lower levels of PS expertise. At the same time our cameras are becoming smarter too. I don’t think that these developments are bad or should be feared. They allow us to concentrate our attention on the subject, the behavior of the subject and the habitat. They help us to tailor our message in our images: to emphasize a bird over background for example. Of course, they also allow many more photographers to more easily create fictional nature images. That will provide some entertainment in future as these images are discovered by sharp eyed nature photographers. However, I think that those who value their reputations will continue to behave ethically as they do now. Also, I think that our best photographers will continue to be our best because they have the aesthetic judgment along with the determination to find and capture beautiful and unusual images of nature.

H'mm - with Power, one must exercise great caution. It will be an excellent way to ruin a reputation by making great images.

T

Very impressive, slightly scary and certainly gives a lot of food for thought...