First off, I have an issue with the term post-processing. There is no post about it. It's a term that, somehow, snuck in from Hollywood movie making in which additional processes are used to color timing, add special effects, etc. The operative word is post, meaning after.

Photography is and has been, a multi-step practice. There is the initial step of making and exposure. This latent image is then processed to produce either a positive or a negative. If a negative an additional step is needed to produce a positive, usually printing. For those who feel this is too much of an effort, Dr. Land developed a system that combined all these steps in one.

In past years, processing an exposed bit of film required a darkroom, which most people did have space, time, or desire to get involved with the processing part. Kodak solved this problem with "you press the button, we do the rest".

That said, photographers of note, processed and printed their own photographs. So did a lot of photographers of not-so-great note. Now with the more modern approach to photography, we have computer-involved processing. Since almost everyone has a computer, of some sort, it's easier to process than in the past.

To me, processing is part of photography. For me, it has been for over 50 years. As one of those photographers of note expressed, "You don't take a photograph, you make it." It's a very enjoyable part. Once inside my photo lab, the world goes away. Nothing exists beyond the 4 walls that enclose me, my film, chemicals, computers, etc. Now, add a bit of music to that environment and it's difficult to want to leave. So, yes, I love the art of making a photograph. For those who aren't fans of processing, there's always Polaroid and jpg.

Don't get me wrong. I thoroughly enjoy the adventure of going out to take photographs. I also enjoy the adventure in the lab.
--Bob