Excessive use of post processing: My major interest in photography is scenics. I love the beauty of the world that is around us. So, I love to look at other people's work as well. Too...

Bob Locher Loc: Southwest Oregon

My major interest in photography is scenics. I love the beauty of the world that is around us. So, I love to look at other people's work as well.

Too many of the pictures I see posted, here and more so on other sites, to my eye have been obviously extensively and excessively worked over in post processing. Colors are too vivid and often unbelievable, edge sharpness is far too exaggerated, contrast has obviously been "adjusted". Often pictures are simply too "cute".

To my eye such pictures are ugly. I guess I'd have to say that if you can tell a picture has been "enhanced" in post-processing then it was probably overdone.

I have nothing against the concept of post-processing and I do it myself, though I am far from a master of it. It can offer wonderful opportunities to improve a photograph, change it to monochrome, remove dust and blemishes, correct color balance, merge photos etc. etc.

But it is and should remain a means to an end, not the end itself.

Is this just me or do others share my view?

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

There are a FEW others that share your view - but (we) are in the overwhelming minority ...and, Photography is, after all, an ART form.

..

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

You are not the first - or the 50th - to voice this "concern" on this forum. Apparently you (and all who wrote the same thing before you) feel there is only one correct way to shoot or edit photos and that is your way. Why can't folks pursue and enjoy this hobby in whatever way they choose?

Hyperhad Loc: Thunder Bay, Canada

Each person must decide what "look" they want in their images. Most of us make images for ourselves. Some like a more "heavily processed" look, other prefer a lighter touch. There really is no right or wrong look. I. myself, prefer a lighter touch, but don't discount going beyond your usual look. Try pushing your adjustments beyond what you normally do, even in just one area, such as contrast. You may like what you see, or you may not. But going beyond your usual adjustments may surprise you, in a good way. That's a good way to develop your PP skills.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I'm right with you, Bob! I see many pictures (even on here) but unless they're on the FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION forum I normally choose not to comment.
I like a nice landscape and a little enhancement does no harm but grass as green as a billiard table is usually a turn off for me. Similarly I like old English Chocolate box views - A cottage or other older building and I find the best thing here is to do your sharpening at 100%.

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

I agree whole-heartedly. There seems to be too much emphasis on improving what should have been rendered properly in camera in the first place.
Some birders especially seem to be addicted to over sharpening to the point their birds look almost artificial, or at a minimum, stuffed.
Post processing certainly has it's place but people should remember the adage; "less is more," when you work on your photos.
Our hobby is supposed to be photography, not computer processing.

chippy65 Loc: Cambridge

Yes, I agree very strongly. "You can't believe your own eyes".... From 'Celebrity' and fashion pictures worked over to give the "perfect image"

to fake news. Photographic evidence used to be the gold standard of something that was to command absolute confidence.

In the most extreme examples the photographic medium is guilty of telling lies.

Police and forensic offices assiduously take photographic evidence to be used in court. Have the pictures taken come under suspicion of fakery ?

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Bob Locher wrote:

My major interest in photography is scenics. I lov... (show quote)

I tend to your view but can appreciate more processing in others images than my own. I strive for an image that looks like the best "film" image I might have gotten. But of course I never fully attain that as I do shoot 4x5" film at times and do not have a medium or large format digital camera. So I'm looking for a "natural" looking APS-C Senor camera image, i.e., it looks like a photograph.

But as I said, I'm more opened minded about others Art. And I even occasionally play with Topaz effects.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

So, now we'll get a page of responses for each complaint. Most of the people here respect the sainted Ansel Adams above all others. Anyone can take a picture of what was actually there - their goal is to use that as a starting point to impose their imagination on the scene. They're not very interested in what the original scene looked like; they want 'pop' or 'wow' in every image -the type of thing that sells. And they're allowed to feel that way. This place should be big enough for all of us.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Bob Locher wrote:

My major interest in photography is scenics. I lov... (show quote)

Post processing comes in two varieties - to correct/enhance what the camera shot, - sharpening, white/color balance, exposure, black and white clipping, cropping, etc. Then it can be to create an artist's vision - transform what was shot into something more, an artistic interpretation. No one should say that either one is right or wrong - and that is the beauty of the medium.

I do agree that there are a lot of amateurish attempts at art - and come off as garish, gaudy and over-done. But I have seen many images which were minimally processed that could have been much more. By the same token, I have seen images that were on the verge of being deleted because they were blurry or over/under exposed - clear errors - but were excellent candidates for a more creative approach.

I will argue that post processing can serve both purposes - as a means to an end as well as the end itself.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Linda From Maine wrote:

You are not the first - or the 50th - to voice this "concern" on this forum. Apparently you (and all who wrote the same thing before you) feel there is only one correct way to shoot or edit photos and that is your way. Why can't folks pursue and enjoy this hobby in whatever way they choose?

Well Linda, before you know what you're doing, you produce abortions like this image of a stock pond at Bridlewood winery in Santa Ynez. This also happens to be the last photograph I ever processed in Photomatix Pro. The other issue is, no matter how many times I have entered the word: Overcooked in commenting on a photograph here, there'S always some users who congratulate the snapshotter on "good work."

Creative Criticism is supposed to help you get better, not reinforce bad habits.

(Download)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

Well Linda, before you know what you're doing, you... (show quote)

Great use of color!

Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona

Go get em Linda, isn't there room for all approaches and tastes in photography, from Ansel Adams to Andy Warhol. One persons taste may not be what I like, it is in the eye of beholder, come to think of it, thats what beauty is, In the eye of the beholder.

Linda From Maine wrote:

You are not the first - or the 50th - to voice this "concern" on this forum. Apparently you (and all who wrote the same thing before you) feel there is only one correct way to shoot or edit photos and that is your way. Why can't folks pursue and enjoy this hobby in whatever way they choose?

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Bob Locher wrote:

My major interest in photography is scenics. I lov... (show quote)

Dear Judgmental,

If we all shared your values and tastes life would be extremely dull and perhaps worse.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Linda From Maine wrote:

You are not the first - or the 50th - to voice this "concern" on this forum. Apparently you (and all who wrote the same thing before you) feel there is only one correct way to shoot or edit photos and that is your way. Why can't folks pursue and enjoy this hobby in whatever way they choose?

Completely agree. We all tend to think that "our way" is the only good way, because we like it. I prefer muted colors, yet there are many out there that think muted colors (desaturated) are ugly, so you just can't please everyone, or sometimes, you just can't please other photographers, while paying clients love your style.