brow3904 Loc: Upstate South Carolina

The same reason most of us comb our hair and wash our face (maybe even put on some makeup) before going out in public. We like to present ourself as "good looking" as we can. When I take a photo I want to have it look as good as I can. Unfortunately, I have difficulty in both cases but I continue to work on it.

As for processing programs Picasa is free and allows some nice ways to enhance photos. Printing can be expensive for snapshots but there are places you can get them printed for as low as 9 cents each. So, with a little processing and inexpensive processing you can have a photo album on your coffee table to make you proud to share with your friends and family.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

It does seem that no matter how much space you have there's not enough. For me, this problem limits me in my other hobby, woodworking, more than it limits my photography but let me suggest taking a middle ground.

Since your are participating on this forum I have to assume you have access to a computer. You should buy some software for editing photos; I'd suggest Corel's Paint Shop Pro. You can buy the latest edition for $60 or you can pick up an older edition on eBay, probably for $20 or less. Others might recommend Adobe's Lightroom but I suspect it will cost you more and probably do less but it might be easier to learn. This is just my impression - I don't use Lightroom.

You may find that editing photos is actually something you enjoy as much as you do taking the photos. You will certainly find that you can make many photos better with just a little editing. And you don't have to buy a printer, paper, inks, etc. You can put your edited photos onto a memory card and take them to the same drug store you are now using. Some stores will offer the alternative of just uploading your photos to their site. There are numerous web-sites that let you do this and they will mail the finished photos to you.

donnahde Loc: Newark, DE

[quote=GPS Phil]Getting it right in the camera, as far as I'm concerned means that I have an image that is worth saving for PP.

Bingo!!

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

To me, "straight out of the camera" harkens back to the 40's and early 50's when most of us amateur photographers were using box cameras that gave you little control of what the processed results; only the "news guys" or professionals had equipment like the Speed Graphics, and it was expensive.

Now with the DSLR's we can make all sorts of adjustments before the shot--if you have the time, and kids, sports, wildlife, etc. don't often give you that luxury. Even if you do have the time, frequently the photograph isn't quite what you saw, or thought you saw, so why not fix it in PP?

If you don't want to do that, it's your choice, but don't hassle the rest of us for fixing. If it is matter of cost, look at Picassa; it's free and has a fair amount of capabilities.

steve03 Loc: long Lsland

Try Picasso its free. That is how I got started.

sailor_smb

IMHO, people that prefer to "get it right in camera" are forgetting one thing. They like to think that because they haven't done any PP themselves that there hasn't been any PP done. If they are shooting in jpeg then they are just letting a programmer or a group of programmers at the camera factory do the PP for them. Nothing wrong with that if you are satisfied with the PP job the programmers are doing. RAW files have no PP. Many photographers prefer to do their own PP based on the subject they saw when they took the image rather than accept the PP programmed in to their cameras by someone who has never even seen that subject.
"Getting it right in camera" to me means getting the exposure settings you wanted when you took the image whether you shot in jpeg or raw. After that it is just a choice of whether you want the camera (and it's programmers) to do the PP or whether you want to do the PP yourself.

Dave_TX

You can do a lot with the Digital Photo Professional software that came with your T3i. you already paid for it so why not use it? If you lost the CD you can download it from the Canon website.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I can sum it up in 1 sentence. Different strokes for different folks.

Pine1 Loc: Midland & Lakeway

Wouldn't it be nice if the camera processing was really great. But it isn't. Today, post processing is just an extension of processing that is done with the camera, except for RAW which has to be processed because it is just data (lots of it). If you want go go beyond snapshots you will need to take the extra step. If not, just shoot and have fun. Good luck.

emmons267 Loc: Arizona, Valley of the Sun

As usual, you're so self-absorbed that your missing the point. Period.

emmons267 Loc: Arizona, Valley of the Sun

As usual, most of the responders seem to miss your point.

georgeschroeder

If you are satisfied with your image from the camera the way it is, why worry about what others are doing? Some women don't wear makeup, others need to be prim and proper and more attractive.

TheDman Loc: USA

There was some deep, hidden meaning behind "why do you post-process"?

emmons267 Loc: Arizona, Valley of the Sun

I'm guessing here, but I'd say you're one of the post-processors that can't understand why other photographers don't enjoy post-processing and do enjoy getting the best shot they can, right from the camera. That's it - nothing more.

Simple, isn't it!!

Photoman74 Loc: Conroe Tx

Born 1943 - Started photo 1950-1 - Used B&W, Kodachrome & Color -
Each had it's own Challenges & PP Chemicals & light variances. Senors another type of film - Photoshop another Darkroom. Get it right 1st time, did not happen then does not happen now - YES do your best, but saw image possibility - Knew would be gone in 1 sec. Do I go thru all the steps with the check list Camera settings - Light direction - composition - tripod- flash and more - or do I get the shot or come back for the next year hope it re-occurs Take the shot? The pre setting of your camera having been done as much as possible before shoot time (trip) In studio lights set up - tripod set camera mounted lens installed camera settings verified - Customer arrives - has cut & died hair wore long flashy jewelry white reflective blouse with a Mexican skirt - wanted corporate
portrait (Not for Mexican restaurant) Yes do your best in Camera - Get your best from the camera by using PP - Gimp is free - Do not print every image - only best by commercial printing - flash drives for storage
Bottom Line - take great images - create excellent photographs