You know I've delayed in replying to you for a number of reason first and fore most you seems to be taking this personalty. It's not meant to be but I seem to be able to do little to change that perception of yours. Also you don't seem to be getting what I'm saying. Perhaps it is my fault for even bringing up photo manipulations but that's not what this is about. This is about using a photo in a background instead of making your own. You can link to me all the photo manipulations and collages you want won't change things.

I use strong language because I feel strongly about this. Don't like my opinion that's fine it's my opinion you don't have to expose your self to it if you don't want to. But I will not censor myself to make people feel better. I don't believe all art is created equal it's not the medium so much as the effort the artists is willing to put forth. Short cuts are one thing but in all honesty I'd rather see a plan white background then a photo and I don't care if you took it your self. The medium the artist chooses says a lot about them. If you are going to use a photo as a background then the reason for doing so should be better then “I was too lazy/unskilled to draw/paint/whatever myself”. If that the only reason why you choose the photo as a background then that is a horrible reason in my book. And nothing will change my mind on that point.

If however an artist chooses to use a photo as a background to make an artistic statement then that's fine. That statement should be clear because if it's not then the artist isn't doing a very good job. But I see this so rarely it's piratically non existent.

Using photos as a background is pretty much the same as tracing. If you are going to do it you better have a damn good reason to do so.