Good photographers don't need Photoshop or post processing, true or false?

Really? Are we corrupting the craft with Photoshop? Or are purists kidding themselves because who the hell cares when in the end, you make a good picture?

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Tags: photography, photoshop, post-processing, shutter geeks

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Tai on September 6, 2008 at 11:06am: Amen!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tedd on September 6, 2008 at 12:11pm: What makes a great image though? For some, those small imperfections are what makes it one. Remove them and it looses it's "grit", its originality. Photoshop is great for those who want to use it, but for those "Purists", I say don't use it and let your eye tell you what a great image is and is not. Photoshop is a tool that can help photographers perfect their art, but for some, Photoshop is "cheating". It's all up to the individual to determine if his or her work needs something like Photoshop to improve the quality.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Tai on September 7, 2008 at 10:13am: I think if one is to consider photography to be art (and not a science comprising only of light, gear and the skill or training to apply both to achieve a pure record of what the eye sees), one needs to open one's mind to the limitations of both these elements in expression. For instance, I do cross processing with Photoshop because sometimes, colors don't come out the way I think they should to make a nice picture, or sometimes it seems more pleasing to the eye in black and white.

That said, this is artistic photography and not photojournalism. I don't believe you should fix photos for editorial or documenting purposes.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gabe on September 7, 2008 at 6:26am: I completely agree.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jem on September 6, 2008 at 9:14am: true... considering you have all the pro equipment like lenses, filters etc.. but they are nothing without the photographer's ability to compose a perfect shot.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Tai on September 6, 2008 at 11:07am: So if there is no difference between a great photographer with the best equipment and super sharp skills, and a great photographer with the best equipment and super sharp skills AND super Photoshop skills?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jem on December 1, 2008 at 7:35am: I'm not saying it's wrong to use photoshop, but in my opinion it ruins the whole art of photography kinda thing. Photography is different from painting so to speak...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bret on September 6, 2008 at 9:20am: I don't know of any great photographer that doesn't do postprocessing - whether in an editing program or in the darkroom. In digital photography, many photographers simply do in photoshop what they would have done in the darkroom with film.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Tai on September 6, 2008 at 11:07am: Correct!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JR on September 6, 2008 at 11:11am: True!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paykan on September 6, 2008 at 11:25am: I think photoshop can be a great tool for a great photographer!! Cause they know ho to use it in more subtle ways to make their photographs even better!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tomas on September 6, 2008 at 11:53am: False. All photographs, from the first one taken in 1826 till present day have had some post processing applied to them. Only the tools have changed...

My 2 cents worth...; ▶ Reply to This