Photo Processing Debate (Page 5): That was a good article. Personally, I enjoy PP at least if not more than taking the actual pictures. Almost always I can improve a picture with just...

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

dj01 wrote:

I just happened to have read this article yesterday and I am certainly not a photography professional in any form but am guilty of some of the same "sins" as the pro in the subject of this article.
http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/2014/03/12/mcp-thoughts/

That was a good article. Personally, I enjoy PP at least if not more than taking the actual pictures. Almost always I can improve a picture with just a little work, but, sometimes I just fool around. Yesterday I was out with my newish camera, and somehow managed to forget to adjust some of the settings, the result was a couple of really dark photo's. I normally would delete these immediately, particularly if I have others done more correctly. Sometimes, when a picture is so bad I can't see what it is, I stick it in my ACDSee editor and spend 5 seconds in the levels just to see what I screwed up. Here is the original jpg and the "fixed" one that I spent 5 seconds on. I will still delete it, cause I have a bunch correctly exposed. It is nice to know that a snapshot this bad can be recovered so easily. Today, modern camera's make this bad a picture a rarity unless you are not paying attention.

Bogin Bob Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

Hi KJ Smith ... lots of good discussion here that I 100% agree with. But I would suggest you do this:
1) grab your best photo
2) download Picasa or any other free editing tool (or search and use an online editor)
3) take 3 minutes and crop, straighten, lighten and adjust contrast
4) compare and decide

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

[quote=KJ Smith]For me, half the fun of photography is the post process. Ansel Adams did post process. It use to be if you were working for National Geographic, your captures were pure. If you don't want to use a computer, fine. I do. David

Dave_TX

mfeveland wrote:

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!!

You are right, it is simple. The OP and many (really most) others are happy with snapshots (skillfully taken or otherwise). However, the OP invited the commentary related to the benefits of PP by the way he worded his post.

TheDman Loc: USA

mfeveland wrote:

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.

That's not what the original post was about, though. She wasn't just making a statement that she doesn't like to pp, she actually asked "Why not learn to take the photos the way you want them to turn out rather than manipulating the photos". So it seems the only one not understanding the original post is you.

braindamage Loc: Appley Bridge, Lancs, U.K.

I like to think that we gather as much information with the camera so that we can later enjoy manipulating that info to acheive the desired result. It is always a buzz when no amount of post can improve an image! I used to work for the company that was in partnership with SciTex the Israeli company that developed the first image manipulation software that revolutionised the print and graphics (and photography) industries.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

KJ Smith wrote:

Not to rag on those 'Hoggers who use a computer pr... (show quote)

As my wise old grandmother said back in 1966, "What comes out of the camera is just the basics to start with."

I use my photos to create Photographic Art, so taking the photos the way I want them to turn out just ain't gonna happen in my lifetime, and probably not even in this century!

As my wise old grandmother also said, "Never throw a picture away!" I practice that, and you can see the results of taking cruddy pictures and making Photographic Art out of them at my Southern California blog, specifically these two blog posts:

http://russelrayphotos2.com/2013/09/10/making-something-out-of-nothing-at-all/

http://russelrayphotos2.com/2014/02/21/friday-flower-fiesta-2-21-14-photographic-art-featuring-orchids/

thelazya Loc: Wendell, MN

I understand you do not have a computer at home, you do at work, but you may not be able to use it for this purpose. Just keep on doing what you are doing, take tons of photos. While at Walgreens, try just a few changes on a photo. Jpegs are processed in camera and can always use some more tweaks. If you feel you do not need to, you do not need to. Just enjoy photography any way you can. It is a great hobby/profession.

bob44044 Loc: Ohio

An old argument, usually carried out by amateurs. I know of NO professional photographer that does not use software to finish their work. Before digital photography, a bunch of ways was used to the same effect, only it was done in the dark room, or the choice of film, filters, paper, developer, and on and on. This is a long dead subject. If not, why not get all your pictures from a pinhole camera.

KJ Smith Loc: Kansas City

I'll check different software programs & see what I come up with & play around with it. It's all a hobby anyway & I do want to get better, hence my joining this blog and occasionally asking questions. I certainly didn't mean to ruffle any feathers!

renomike Loc: Reno, Nevada

PalePictures wrote:

Because you or I, or anyone else, could not create... (show quote)

Amen..... Russ... :thumbup: :thumbup:

charryl Loc: New Mexico, USA

GPS Phil wrote:

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

Phil

:thumbup: :thumbup:

bobzeller Loc: San Angelo, Texas

KJ Smith wrote:

Not to rag on those 'Hoggers who use a computer pr... (show quote)

I would like to add my two cents worth. Photo processing (aka dark-room processing, digital or otherwise) has been going on since photography first came into being. Ansel Adams was the master. His beautiful creations were completed in the dark-room. He himself, has trouble remembering how the original scene looked. We professional photographers, always redo, or re-touch our images because the camera just cannot duplicate perfectly what we see. We do the same thing digitally, as we could in the liquid dark-room, except we don't get our hands as dirty. Any photo that you have ever seen in a magazine, or publication has been thru the darkroom, one way or another.

I get so tired of hearing the terms, "manipulated", "photoshopped" and "computer generated", used in such negative ways. Back in the day, I never heard anyone say "Hey, that picture was dark-roomed". When in fact they were post processed as todays photos are. In fact, the very high end cameras of today are built with the professionals who process their own images in mind.

emmons267 Loc: Arizona, Valley of the Sun

Dave_TX wrote:

You are right, it is simple. The OP and many (really most) others are happy with snapshots (skillfully taken or otherwise). However, the OP invited the commentary related to the benefits of PP by the way he worded his post.

I agree. I think that is one of the questions he implied.

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

To many photography is an art form and a means to create or re create beauty, emotion that moves people, a feeling when you view a picture. In much the same way as a painter "interprets" what he sees onto canvas.. many of us photographers paint with light to add drama, impact and emotion to an otherwise well composed and exposed shot. I am a hobbyist and trying very hard to develop my creative eye for both composing and snapping and now also painting with light for the final view!

Technically, your camera can not capture the broad dynamic range of light that your eyes can, today's digital camera's can't yet match the dynamic tone range of film either. To get close PP provides the means to expand the dynamic range and embellish a snapshot into a more pleasing work of art. Whether you do this in the camera through the programs that are in your camera developed by the manufacturer or take on that creativity yourself (which is challenging and fun. Is the artists choice and each choice is valid.