Photoshop? What do you think about it's use?

fadetoblack · 20 Jan 2012 at 20:47

Hi

I am new to the Dslr/photograph seen so I joined a Local camera club anyway few weeks late the club ran an open competition. I was shocked that maybe 80% of the photos were photoshopped. Don't get me wrong the photos were great but is this the norm?

Nexus · 20 Jan 2012 at 20:53

Depends what you mean by Photoshopped?

If it's basic processing of cropping, improving contrast, colours, exposure etc, then I think that's part of the digital photography workflow, much in the same vain as what you would have done in a darkroom with film.

If you mean full on manipulation of images, combining different images etc... then it has it's place for certain things, but it's going beyond being about what you framed up with your camera.

GTRacer · 20 Jan 2012 at 20:54

Yes, it is the norm. Photos have always been manipulated, it's just another creative decision you take from the moment you decide to take the photo to the moment you present it.

fadetoblack · 20 Jan 2012 at 20:56

Cheers for clearing that up

Vertigo · 20 Jan 2012 at 22:05

My feelings are similar to Nexus. I have no problems with PS being used to enhance or correct images in terms of exposure, contrast, saturation and so on, but I'm not particularly fond of its use when the fundamental nature of the image is changed.

It's a subjective line, how much an image can be changed before it's no longer the "same" image that was captured but, for me, when this line is crossed then it ceases to be photography and becomes art. Photography for me is about capturing moments. If the moment you're looking at never actually took place but was fabricated afterward, it's not photography.

fadetoblack · 21 Jan 2012 at 07:42

Vertigo1 said:
My feelings are similar to Nexus. I have no problems with PS being used to enhance or correct images in terms of exposure, contrast, saturation and so on, but I'm not particularly fond of its use when the fundamental nature of the image is changed.

It's a subjective line, how much an image can be changed before it's no longer the "same" image that was captured but, for me, when this line is crossed then it ceases to be photography and becomes art. Photography for me is about capturing moments. If the moment you're looking at never actually took place but was fabricated afterward, it's not photography.

Thanks for good reply

theheyes · 21 Jan 2012 at 10:11

My "rule" is to work with what you've got, take away but dont add. Which basically boils down to taking the RAW file in whichever direction you like, cloning out the odd distraction but drawing the line at adding in different skies etc.

chameleon · 21 Jan 2012 at 14:21

I often tweak my photos. Usually just a bit of sharpening and level adjust but also sometimes to take out unwanted features. I often go out to take photos of steam trains out on the main line but as more and more lines are being electrified, masts often get in the way. I will clone these out and maybe the wires too, to give a much cleaner, nicer picture.
Manipulation can be way overdone and end up creating a work of fiction. Just look at a lot of the pics of celebs and models in the glossy mags.

adbp1 · 21 Jan 2012 at 19:07

i can barely use ps at the best of times! most common i use would be adjustments and few clone/spot heal and cropping.