JD750 Loc: SoCal

It's a necessary evil. I prefer to be behind the camera rather than behind the computer.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Truth is it would be much easier of all my pics were perfect SOOC. But they are not. So PP is necessary for the bulk of my photos.Do I like that I have to do it? No. as it shows my Inadequacies as a photographer. That's why the most used function on my camera is delete

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

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

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

As mentioned, there are some genres for which post processing is a non-negotiable requirement. Night sky is one of those, and there are others...especially those that really stretch the capabilities of the camera.

But, as has also been stated, many of today's cameras have tremendous operational flexibility and a multitude of setup options and adjustments that can, if understood and used properly, produce outstanding images without any further edits. I do not have the patience or motivation to enjoy spending endless hours at the computer screen, making corrections that I could have adjusted for "up front." Nor do I get enjoyment from removing a distraction that I could have eliminated by taking two steps to the left. There comes a point at which something that might be judged as a distraction is really part of the picture.

So, while I will do post processing, it is more of a chore than a pleasure. The exception is those few cases where it has to be an inseparable part of the process.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

elliott since you are a collage professor let my flip your query...
What do you enjoy more, preparing for a lecture or the amazing rush of presenting before a live audience?

Yep, I've taught IT and Network engineering professionally... And the agony of staying current and preparing for my classroom experience was a delicate balance... Love my students! Not so much the huge amount of work/effort to stay way ahead in a fast paced dynamic industry.

Back to you query... elliott if you have any desire to work commercially you best develop a very deep appreciation to what post processing brings to the table... btw, Lightroom is not a viable post processing tool, that choice belongs to Photoshop... Those who believe otherwise on either naive or in denial...

Bottom Line? When your work is your play and your play is your work you have arrived, until then everything else is merely a compromise...

Below is my first love and forte... Makeup Artistry... I hold a Cosmetologist License from the State of Maryland in Make-Up Artistry. Professionally trained in the aforementioned. And Airbrush for Bridal is my top revenue generator.
I've worked with hundreds of models and dozens of brides... And absolutely loved every minute of it!

All the best on your journey elliott

Agency Model BEFORE makeup...

(Download)

Agency Model After makeup... Maybe consider getting it right in camera, k?

(Download)

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Hear hear!!

What is a better term then? I sometimes use the word retouching. And there is editing which can include retouching.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

Hear, hear. This is just another reason why we get along so well, JD.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

And yet here I sit... so I'm getting up now!!

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

There was a two book series published in the '70s entitled Darkroom and Darkroom 2 where prominent photographers described their darkroom setups. A majority of them mentioned as an important requirement a good sound system, which I also had in my darkroom. Now I usually listen to music while working on photos on my computer.

ghbowser Loc: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Depends what the shot is and how I am using it. If it looks acceptable as is out of the camera, I don't mess with it. If it needs some help, then no holds barred.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

adedeluca Loc: holbrook ny

I love both

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I have yet to take a photo, even if I feel it is the best I could have done in the camera, that I couldn't find a way to improve in some way with PP.

Bill_de Loc: US

Just about 20 years ago I got a Nikon D1x. I shot nothing but RAW and post processed everything. I went to Adobe seminars, read the books, joined a computer/photography club. I moved to a D2Xs and continued with Raw and processing. I started playing a bit with JPG but was never satisfied with the results. With the D300 I started to do more JPG. With the D4s and on, I shoot RAW and JPG but actually use JPG most of the time. On images I will print to hang on a wall I use RAW.

In the beginning doing a lot of post processing was new and exciting. I still do some processing on every image I post or print, but most JPG files are pretty good SOOC and just need a little tweaking. My best all around camera is a D850.

---

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Aren't you basically saying that by wanting your photos to be SOOC you are just a walking tripod for your camera?