At the risk if being prescious, I would say i try to record the truth of what I saw and felt. I don't mind blury water for effect, but wouldn't overdo it. To a large extent I find myself in sympathy with the Group f/64 school of thought, even to buying a 10x8 and making contact prints. I agree that ansel Adams's prints are beutiful, but it should be remembered that even he talked about "creative departures from reality", though if the effect applied draws attention to itself rather than the photograph then it, and the photographer have both failed. What I do very strongly object to is a photo trying to pretend it's some other art-form eg watercolour. A photo is a photo and should be proud of that, not shamefacedly try to pretend to be somthing else.
wow what a long and rambling post

Dave

Oh, and a BTW, this week's issue is the best for a long time, just brilliant!