Is photoshop ruining photography
I personally think good photographic technique and good photoshop technique are both important and when they are used in balance can create some incredible images. However, in relation to landscapes, I am not in favour of placing in false sky's, clouds etc.
The article does raise some food for thought which is always a good thing.
Fletcher8.
Regarding lanscapes, it would however be nice when looking at an image if you knew whether it was "real" or not.
"Real" to me does include dodging and burning, removing a bit of litter or the like which you were unable to move on the day.
"Real" to me doesn't include dropping in a new sky, removing castles, etc.
Not being "real" doesn't mean it isn't valid. I'd just like to know.
As to the particular image in the article. On skimming through it, what they seem to have missed out, is that the photographer broke the rules of the competition which only allowed the type of manipulation I referred to in keeping the image "real"
Bit of a shame that the judges including Charlie Waite didn't notice that the rules had been broken, and that it was other photographers who brought it to light.
As an aside the photographer was also criticised for copying work. The image was almost identical to one taken by another member of his camera club a number of years ago.However, he did credit the previous photographer as providing the inspiration for the shot. And I think to criticise on that basis is ridiculous as we've all been to places where you can almost see the tripod holes where people have been time and time again.
Alan
PPG
Flickr
Certainly when the image is used to win a "Photography" competition it is wrong. Had there been a "Landscape Photoshopper ..." then it would have been a worthy winner.
In general I will only edit an individual image to tweak it, white balance, contrast, brightness or maybe remove an unwanted or to get a result I have been asked to create.
I keep processing to a minimum in most cases, much prefering to spend my time in the great outdoors than staring at a PC screen. That's not to say that I won't sometimes try a few heavy edits on a photo that otherwise would be heading for the delete bin, I've been very pleased with some of the results too...the important thing though is honesty, I'll happily tell anyone if a photo isn't in its natural state, unfortunately it seems others are increasingly reluctant to do so and it's this that is getting photography a bad name
Simon
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An sd card (or similar) is relatively cheap - in fact, considering the potential number of times the card can be erased and re-written to, I'd go so far as to say that there is virtually no cost whatsoever, so the lazy photographer can theoretically shoot 1,000,000,000 images in the hope that at least one of that billion photos could be considered "photogenic". Now, factor in digital manipulation - I appreciate that these programs are designed primarily to enhance an image (colour, lighting, etc), but to "cut and paste" other elements from another image, or set of images in order to enter (and in this case, win) is wrong. If such manipulation is being done for personal pleasure, then I'm okay with that, but to portray such images in a "look at me, I'm bloody brilliant" sort of way is just plain WRONG!
just looked at this link ken what rubbish as it says it is his opinion Declan O’Neill and i bet he has use or does use PS or some thing like that and i do belive that any one who says they dont pp there work are liaring. as we all need to PP or its like taking photos and not getting them developed.
Thanks Richard

6th Year Apprentice Pensioner

I have no issue looking at the work of a gifted technician - I can admire skill in what ever form it takes.
There are several very good exponents of the art of processing who post on this forum regularly - most of whom are honest about what they do and I can admire their work.
At the same time - I often think it would be good to see what they can do without PS.
I am not going to try to self justify any pp work I do - we all do what we feel comfortable with. In my case - as little as possible - not because I am against it - I just hate doing it. Spending hours on one photograph is my idea of hell. Shear pleasure to me is the rare occasion I download an image to the PC - look at it and think - job done!
Processing to me is only "cheating" if the processor attempts to pass it off as UN-processed. I don't enter competitions and one of the reasons is that I know I am up against "exponents of the dark art".
Is there a way of identifying an unprocessed image? if not there should be and competitions should require submission of original and re-worked image in my view.
Carl
No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more
In using Photoshop and it's ilk, you are saying one of two things, your photos are crap and your equipment is crap!
I have not read the article!
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I just ask myself, Why ?
Second image from other photographer - l could kind of work out that it was more than one image merged. So l asked, how many and what satisfaction do you get. Answer " seven images merged, and for me it's all about the viewer not being able to tell "
I gave up at that point. Each to their own l suppose.
Fired many shots. Didn't kill anything.
it's people lacking in integrity, morality or honesty that are the real problem, not the tools they use to decieve.
100% agree.
Bob
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gartmore
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Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -