mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

In another section here, I was referred to as "ignorant" because I said that

"I'm also not a fan of constructed "fake" images with parts pasted in from different sources."

I also said, "This has led to the depreciated term "Photoshopped" to mean a dishonest manipulation of reality."

I did not say or imply that this was MY definition of "Photoshopped", but that it is the common perception of the public. Adobe certainly is not happy with the use of their trademarked product name as a verb. Images "Photoshopped" for political ends make news. Removing female participants in a photo of a public event to satisfy cultural prejudice's, photos of Obama to promote racial stereotypes, all lead to the public perception.

I'm all in favor of creative artwork composed of photo images. But, cringe upon seeing some of the results.

Some of my competition in architectural photography manipulate images a bit "too much" in my opinion. See examples.

The term "Photoshopping" is a convenient way to explain to non-photographers what we do, but may be the wrong term to use. I use "Post Processing".

Some of my RE clients say: "Oh! can you photoshop out the dog on the couch and the dog crate in the corner?" They have the impression that it's okay to manipulate the heck out of an image to make it look like a totally different shot.

I would love to read all of your thoughts.

Actually fooled some...


Sky replaced taken on a grey cloudy day

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Everyone has an opinion, and at times even the smartest people on the planet though the Earth was flat, so rather than be offended by a comment it might be easier to ask why? S-
- Why do you think that?
- Why do you feel that way?
- Do you have anything to back it up?

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

And you might find an interesting discussion here Is Post Processing Dishonest? http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-360161-1.html

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Bot of those are clearly photoshopped.
Photographers are displaying large samples in shopping malls clearly marked "photoshop free." It doesn't mean "Lightroom free" etc.

I delivered dance photos for a Diwali. No editing to speak of. and the response from the Hindu rep who paid me was "Jim, these are real!"

So I think people are tired of photographers trying to make them look better with obvious photoshop work

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

"Has 'photoshopping' become a derogatory term?"

I think it is often complimentary - as in expressing awe that someone has the technical skill to manipulate an image to such a degree :)

Interesting to hear your experiences with real estate photography. When I was in the business, 1994 - 2002, there were barely even any digital cameras used, let alone proficiency with radically changing image content. When do you feel the shift started happening, and why did it?

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I suspect you think most paintings are fake too because they don't reflect the actual scene.

It amuses me that some people think their preferences are superior. We all need something to look down on. :thumbdown:

LarryInSeattle Loc: Seattle, WA

Does an artist/painter painting a landscape or a portrait, for that matter, have to paint exactly what he/she sees? If the artist makes the barn a little smaller than it really is or deletes the barn altogether from the scene, is it any less art? No.
The artist/photographer has no more restrictions on him/her than the artist/painter does. It is still his/her art whether he/she merely adjusts the brightness and contrast or changes the sky or color saturation.
This question of post processing being dishonest is ridiculous!

TheDman Loc: USA

Yes it absolutely is used as a derogatory term now, but when I see someone using it as such, this is my immediate impression of those people's computer literacy. Knowledgeable photographers are more inclined to think this way.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

How about if the pp is done to deliberately deceive or mislead the viewer?

Kuzano

Photoshop is a branded version of software from ADOBE.
Photo Processed is the manipulation of an image
Photo editing is the manipulation of an image.

Photoshopped can only be the attempt to accuse a person of photo processing or photoediting that is done by using the term to blame Photoshop as the tool used.

Images that are badly manipulated can by done by a poor user using photoshop. OR one of hundreds of other photo editing/processing programs.

Images that are wonderfully manipulated can by done by a good user using Photoshop, OR one of hundreds of other photo editing/processing programs.

The word Photoshopped is accusatory to Adobe Photoshop and is also not a correct action as a verb. There can be no noun aspect of Photoshopped.

I say accusatory to Adobe Photoshop because the word photoshopped is more commonly used in a negative context. It's just how people are.

Rarely does anyone say, "Yeah, I Photoshopped that beauty. Ain't it grand".

Often people say, "Wow, he really photoshopped the CRAP out of that ugly monstrosity!"

In both cases ... verbs with good or bad connotations.

Dare I go on?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Answer to the title:

For IWACs, YES. The others, no.*

As to 'Photoshopping, Photoshopped' this has become a generic term for 'image manipulation'. Leave Adobe out of it.

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* Note the caps: IWACs are strident in their 'opinions', professionals are not, they have no opinion, they use image manipulation as a matter of fact.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Any medium can be modified to enhance or detract from the circumstances it is being used to describe. The written and spoken word has been used in this manner throughout history. So has paint on canvas. Why would photography be any different? "Photoshopped" is just a well known and convenient term used by many to describe the effect. At this point that is not going to change, so why worry about it? Some people will abuse the medium, as they have every other one, and others will describe that abuse with whatever term is handiest.

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

I've been doing it (RE photos) since 2000. There are several sites specializing in making fun of the "BAD MLS Photos" -- taken by agents who don't have a clue. I the past 5 - 6 years it has become clear that properties professionally photographed sell faster at higher prices. If you're curious, my RE site is: http://www.foxvalleytours.com/fvtoors/index.php

Here's one of the worst examples (a screen shot right out of the MLS)...

And to relate to this topic, PP includes straightening, perspective correction, brightness, color correction, HDR techniques, and more to make home look "Right and Good". What's NOT allowed includes: removing power lines, pasting in a lake view, etc.

And, for others, my original post was NOT to infer that PP is "bad", but that the term "Photoshop" as a verb is understood in a very different way by the bulk of the non-photographer public.

Photos by RE agent

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks for a great chuckle, and the memories. My favorites were the snow-covered front lawns in July.

Didn't mean to pull you off-topic!

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

You are overthinking this. The term "photoshopped" has come to mean, to the general non-photographer public, an image which has been manipulated to distort reality. Images where waistlines have been trimmed or bosoms have been enhanced are distortions of reality to an unacceptable degree, whereas nobody objects to the removal of skin blemishes or whitening of teeth. I think the term "photoshopped" is generally used to describe images where the manipulation is unacceptable to the speaker, or user of the term.