Post editing - why the hate?

[StevieBee]

Not much of this here but I'm on a couple of Facebook Photo Groups and there seems to be a general consensus that anything done to an image out of camera is evil incarnated.

Surely Lightroom and Photoshop are just modern version of what used to be done in a darkroom?

I get that the temptation to over-edit exists but personally I gain as much enjoyment form tweaking and changing as I do from actually composing and shooting.

Be interesting to see if I'm a lone voice on this.

[feef]

I can see both sides.

I tend not to do anything in 'post' other than maybe cropping, but that's more down to my lack of skill and knowledge in how to use the editing software.

That being said, I do like the whole idea that the final image is the image I captured from what I envisaged at the time.

But I have no 'hate' for anyone who does edit. I dislike overdone image tho, and some do seem to edit for the sake of it

[Simpo Two]

StevieBee said:

Not much of this here but I'm on a couple of Facebook Photo Groups and there seems to be a general consensus that anything done to an image out of camera is evil incarnated.

Depends what you're doing to it. I find that most JPGs benefit from a touch of levels and curves, and of course if you shoot RAW you have to process them.

Tell your friends that if they shoot film they will have to leave the film undeveloped... using chemicals to make it look better is cheating...

[TheRainMaker]

StevieBee said:

Not much of this here but I'm on a couple of Facebook Photo Groups and there seems to be a general consensus that anything done to an image out of camera is evil incarnated.

Normally by people who don't know how to use Lightroom etc.

It just screens to me, I don't know how to use my kit.

[anomiepete]

I know exactly where you're coming from. Yet for me I get a great deal of enjoyment out of the whole photographic process and that includes post processing.

[TheRainMaker]

StevieBee said:

Be interesting to see if I'm a lone voice on this.

No you are not

[Benjarke]

I think the key here is finding the balance between tweaking the photo and it being over edited.

The key really is finding the balance so your photos look good and very natural, not over edited.

I always try to achieve this with my post production, most people don't realise the work that goes into making an photo look great without looking like its edited.

[StevieBee]

What sparked this off was a picture I posted somewhere. Taken at LeMans this year - hadn't intended to take anything, was justing watching the end but though this might be an historic moment worth capturing:



Turned out it was but not - as you can see - the best of images. So, hit Photoshop and got this (work in progress - the track's not right)



But apparently this is 'not a true record of the event captured'!!

[anonymous-user]

Shooting in raw and then fixing on Photoshop is sometimes the only way to get a decent image that you wouldn't get in camera
For example really low light in raw allows a wider set of choices when you fix it compared with deciding to push the ISO to a specific level in camera

[anonymous-user]

A guy on a photographic course I did a few years ago was a hater of post editing.

But he also believed digital photography to be the work of the devil.

[feef]

StevieBee said:

What sparked this off was a picture I posted somewhere. Taken at LeMans this year - hadn't intended to take anything, was justing watching the end but though this might be an historic moment worth capturing:



Turned out it was but not - as you can see - the best of images. So, hit Photoshop and got this (work in progress - the track's not right)



But apparently this is 'not a true record of the event captured'!!

I loathe being critical of something I can't do, as your photoshop skills are obviously WAY better than mine, but there's something about the edited image that just doesn't look right, mainly around the wheels. It looks edited, which I think may be the issue.

[StevieBee]

feef said:

I loathe being critical of something I can't do, as your photoshop skills are obviously WAY better than mine, but there's something about the edited image that just doesn't look right, mainly around the wheels. It looks edited, which I think may be the issue.

Please - critique away! As I say, it is a work in progress. I can't get the track to blend with the wheels and lower edge of the car but I will persevere!

[eltawater]

I'm impressed by the fence removal, well done!

But not a fan of the fake motion blur, although I can understand why you've done so if to work around the gaps left by the fence removal

[StevieBee]

eltawater said:

I'm impressed by the fence removal, well done!

But not a fan of the fake motion blur, although I can understand why you've done so if to work around the gaps left by the fence removal

Sussed! yeah, clone stamping has its uses but also its limits, over such an expansive area you still get a sense that something was there. Tried a couple of things but motion seemed to the best option.

I guess the only solution for next year is a Press Pass ..... but that 'aint going to happen!

[feef]

StevieBee said:

feef said:

I loathe being critical of something I can't do, as your photoshop skills are obviously WAY better than mine, but there's something about the edited image that just doesn't look right, mainly around the wheels. It looks edited, which I think may be the issue.

Please - critique away! As I say, it is a work in progress. I can't get the track to blend with the wheels and lower edge of the car but I will persevere!

yeah, it's the lower edge that looks odd.. as if the car is hovering

[C&C]

feef said:

StevieBee said:

feef said:

I loathe being critical of something I can't do, as your photoshop skills are obviously WAY better than mine, but there's something about the edited image that just doesn't look right, mainly around the wheels. It looks edited, which I think may be the issue.

Please - critique away! As I say, it is a work in progress. I can't get the track to blend with the wheels and lower edge of the car but I will persevere!

yeah, it's the lower edge that looks odd.. as if the car is hovering

I think the other thing is that the writing on the tyre sidewall is blurred suggesting the circular motion, but the spokes of the wheel are not blurred.

[Lynchie999]

StevieBee said:

I'm impressed by the fence removal, well done!



I guess the only solution for next year is a Press Pass ..... but that 'aint going to happen!

Good effort on fence removal! but yes, looks odd with motion blur...

... next time... super slow shutter and pan out the fence!

and on the topic of the OP... yes, its normally people that don't know how to do it that complain... its horses for courses... some clients want / need loads of processing and editing... some hardly none at all when a fast turn around is required, all depends on end usage..

Edited by Lynchie999 on Tuesday 6th November 15:16

[feef]

[quote=C&C]

I think the other thing is that the writing on the tyre sidewall is blurred suggesting the circular motion, but the spokes of the wheel are not blurred.

[/quote]

Ahh that's it.. I KNEW there was something odd, but couldn't put my finger on it

[Tony1963]

I hope all the world’s painters take note and only produce paintings of EXACTLY what they see at the time. I mean, how dare they use artistic licence!

Do what you want. If a group you’re in doesn’t like it, leave the group. It really is that simple.

[anonymous-user]

I had a few members of a local club frothing at the mouth, when they saw some of my edited pics. Admittedly they were heavily edited but the reactions were off the scale. I thought one chap was going to keel over he was so upset.