Apaflo wrote:
Nobody has ever created an "unmanipulated" photograph!
Photographs are an abstraction of reality, and are a manipulation by definition.
You choose to use this manipulation and not that manipulation, which is fine. But don't claim to be a purist, don't claim to be a perfectionist, and don't claim the other guy doing it all isn't likely to produce better results.
Hang the precise definition of manipulation! I take pains to meter carefully, to avoid over or underexposure in critical areas. I crop to fit the scene only because I cannot adjust my camera's format. I set white balance and let colors fall where they may. I shoot RAW, and adjust sharpness and contrast to my taste. Then I export as TIFF, and print it out. Thus far, I have been immensely satisfied.
If you wish to make a fool of yourself by falsely accusing me of claiming to be a purist and perfectionist, and claiming that the other guy doing it all isn't likely to produce better results, that's your problem.