I am a self reported "process junkie". I love to mess with photos and edit with all kinds of cool effects. It also helps me fine tune pictures in a way my camera just is not able to (until I move up to a DSLR someday). But tonight in my class, I felt like the instructor was scoffing at me, and criticizing me for lack of ability, and that was why I edit my photos too much.
Do I overly edit my photos on here? What can I do to achieve more with my camera that with editing software? Feeling really discouraged right now.
personally, I see it as preference. Everyone will have their own opinion on this so here is mine.
I see photos that are not touched with any method of editing, some moderately and some full force, sometimes I look at the unedited and wonder why didn't they take the time to make it a bit more "artistic" or vice versa...Both are talents, you have to have an eye to take a good picture and you have to in order to edit one in an artistic manner.
To each his own.
And bottom line.... teachers aren't always right!!! They are prone to the human condition as well as we peons!
I absolutely love what you do with your photos! You are very talented. I don't think you over process them. But, I have the same problem. I LOVE to play with the editing and see how different I can make one photo look.
If you like to play around, I was doing that on a great site on Facebook. I posted a SOOC shot of my son and his boots, and had 10 very talented photographers take their spin on it. You are more than welcome to take your spin on it to see what you can come up with.
@heatheryv that sounds so fun, I would love to do that, and see what other people do. If I had an ace membership on here, with the extra albums, I would try the WWYD challenges people post!
@mrsharkleroad Aww Tiffany, I'm sorry you feel that way. I just took an extra gander through your shots and your compositions, angles, point of view and creative shots are all there and all very well executed. When you don't have all the fancy gadgets it is much harder to create the shot you really wanted SOOC. You have a creative mind and I don't think there is anything wrong with editing your photo to how you envision it. I know a lot of photographers that are amazing with any camera but, shoot mostly black and white because it is much more forgiving if you can't manipulate your light during the processing stage.
It is possible to get amazing photos out of any camera but, you will have to use more on natural light and shadow. If your instructor is looking for SOOC shots only try shooting in natural light or places where natural light is pouring in. Also shoot black and white if it's allowed.
Don't let it get you down though, most photos are post shot processed even minimally. Photography is a very personal thing so if you like editing then edit away! If the goal is to learn the techniques of photography then maybe ask your instructor for some constructive criticism on how you can get your vision without the use of editing.
you can create your own "WORLD" here, its your project.... ♥
in terms of editing software try photoshop.... theres a lot ov version here, try, CS4 or CS5 ...
your instructor is wrong...a lot of teachers regurgitate the teaching they were taught and some try to indoctrinate their ideals upon others...the way I see it photography is art...in the same way a dj blends records why can't a photographer blend/remix images...I see photography as a means to getting closer to an artistic vision...some photo's are perfect without edits but some are perfect examples of art with tweaking...I say go all guns blazing by any means necessary to craft your captured imagination...anyone that tells you otherwise is only tapping part of a bigger infinite fabric and is running around with a dull grey universe...
*raises hand* ...my name is Sarah and I am a process junkie :D
I like the processed look, even the over-processed look depending on the subject... I like how it puts a twist of fantasy on reality :)
I've known a few people like that most of them like to lord it over others and take any opportunity to show that they are better than everyone else...its rubbish, in the end it is a choice, you can choose to take technically perfect but artistically mediocre shots or you can choose to give your shots a meaning and CREATE. The instructor is in the end not you, and does not know what you want to achieve from your art, so what if you edit, the work you create speaks volumes far more than any number of nice landscapes or still lifes. We all have our own way of working and our own spin on how we approach a subject, how boring life would be if we all captured and edited our work in the same way, you keep doing what you are doing, the only people that critisise are those that dont understand what you are about. I think you are producing some great stuff :D dont let them get you down.
I'm not sure what the course you're taking is, but I can say that most instructors of photography (in particular) want to be sure the students really, really, really understand and can work within the confines of the traditional 'rules' of achieving proper exposure, color balance, composition, and tone. Ideally, all photographers would start with those 'rules' and work forward, eventually using post-processing to achieve more artistic interpretations of the images they have learned to capture through traditional means. But the truth is, we live in a world right now where anyone can get any number of editing apps or software to fancy up a shot - and where some people think if it's been through a process, it's somehow extra special.
I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS YOU! I can see you are using processing for specific emphasis and to call attention to certain themes or concepts, which is less about photography and more about making art!
BUT your instructor, having a teaching agenda that he is paid to follow, may want to discourage you from processing so much at this time, so he can be sure you're starting at the same level of shooting that he feels his students should have. Maybe??
It doesn't sound like he was very tactful in whatever it was he said to you, but I also don't think you should take offense, either. A favorite quote of mine might apply: "In criticizing, the teacher is hoping to teach. That's all." - Bankei
I like all kinds of photos, the ones edited, the ones they call SOOC, and whatever, it depends on the photo, every one is different.
Don't let people do that with you. I really like your photos, and your edited photos, they have style, and in my point of view style very often wins over a technically perfect photo. Lets say, there a lot great people in this project, but after you see a perfect photo every day from them, is like eating the same awesome food in every meal you going to have, am I making sense?
You have to follow your style and ideas, and learn from tutorials, and even your teacher.
That is all!
@jesase I do totally understand what you mean, and I do hope that was the instructor's intent. It is just a basic intro class, and not everyone is on the same level, so perhaps it was also a way to discourage other students from feeling like the HAVE to do that type of stuff. The same instructor is also trying to get us to enroll in a Photoshop class being taught next session, so perhaps it is also a subtle way to discourage people from trying to do it on their own lol.
But truly, thank you all for the encouragement. I really do try to "paint a picture" with my shots, and sometimes they need a little boost. I just have to allow myself to find my own style, while still learning tried and true techniques.
@mrsharkleroad - don't let anyone tell you that what you are doing is wrong. Like others have said, do what you like, thats your style. Forget all that outside noise. Better to stay true to what you enjoy than change to what others want to see.
Let's do it!!!! I don't have the Ace account either, but I do have an email you can email me on and I can forward the SOOC to you and see what you can do with it. You are more than welcome to send one of your A.MAZING shots to me, and I will give you my take on it. And if anyone else wants to do that that doesn't have the Ace membership, you are more than welcome to join in as well. My email is heatheryoung_28@yahoo.com.
Your photos are YOUR photos - you are not taking HIS photos. You can get take aways from the class but remember that his style is not yours. :) That said, I'm an editing junkie too and I love it - just want to get better at both. Also, there are several people here that edit every single photo, every time to the point that it really becomes art. No one criticizes them for lack of talent...just the opposite. So do what you love. It's your project. Just my two cents.
@mrsharkleroad personally, i LOVE editing, it is almost my favorite part of photography, i like the way you edit your photos and i think they are very nice. just remember: editing IS a part of photography. :)
@mrsharkleroad Just been through your photos, Yes there is a lot of editing going on BUT your work is good it's your style and it works for you.
It sounds to me like you are on a course that is not suitable for you or your talents, I would consider what you are getting out of this course. If you would like feedback to help you improve your work use the critique tag. Personally I haven't been brave enough yet but soon ;-)
Your style, your pictures, and your "over-processing" make you YOU. So if you like 'em, stick with 'em. Art is a means of expression, so you can never go "wrong" with it. :)
I think you have your own style. I think even if you get another camera you will still have your own style. Your style may change or evolve, but you will still love what you love. I enjoyed the quick browse of your project (would have took more time but I gotta go!)
I really, really, really like today's editing options as much as I enjoyed working in the darkroom years ago. Just remind them Ansel Adams was a darkroom editor too and is one of the best known black and white photographers still. Unless your instructor has asked that you limit the editing then go for it! ;-)
there will always be purists who think that editing photos for an artistic aesthetic is not "honest" or "talented". your professor may be like this or as someone above mentioned might be concerned about you learning photography as well as being artistic. in general i think you should do what makes you happy and what speaks to YOU and if someone doesn't like it, who cares.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
I see photos that are not touched with any method of editing, some moderately and some full force, sometimes I look at the unedited and wonder why didn't they take the time to make it a bit more "artistic" or vice versa...Both are talents, you have to have an eye to take a good picture and you have to in order to edit one in an artistic manner.
To each his own.
And bottom line.... teachers aren't always right!!! They are prone to the human condition as well as we peons!
If you like to play around, I was doing that on a great site on Facebook. I posted a SOOC shot of my son and his boots, and had 10 very talented photographers take their spin on it. You are more than welcome to take your spin on it to see what you can come up with.
It is possible to get amazing photos out of any camera but, you will have to use more on natural light and shadow. If your instructor is looking for SOOC shots only try shooting in natural light or places where natural light is pouring in. Also shoot black and white if it's allowed.
Don't let it get you down though, most photos are post shot processed even minimally. Photography is a very personal thing so if you like editing then edit away! If the goal is to learn the techniques of photography then maybe ask your instructor for some constructive criticism on how you can get your vision without the use of editing.
in terms of editing software try photoshop.... theres a lot ov version here, try, CS4 or CS5 ...
I like the processed look, even the over-processed look depending on the subject... I like how it puts a twist of fantasy on reality :)
I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS YOU! I can see you are using processing for specific emphasis and to call attention to certain themes or concepts, which is less about photography and more about making art!
BUT your instructor, having a teaching agenda that he is paid to follow, may want to discourage you from processing so much at this time, so he can be sure you're starting at the same level of shooting that he feels his students should have. Maybe??
It doesn't sound like he was very tactful in whatever it was he said to you, but I also don't think you should take offense, either. A favorite quote of mine might apply: "In criticizing, the teacher is hoping to teach. That's all." - Bankei
Don't let people do that with you. I really like your photos, and your edited photos, they have style, and in my point of view style very often wins over a technically perfect photo. Lets say, there a lot great people in this project, but after you see a perfect photo every day from them, is like eating the same awesome food in every meal you going to have, am I making sense?
You have to follow your style and ideas, and learn from tutorials, and even your teacher.
That is all!
@jesase I do totally understand what you mean, and I do hope that was the instructor's intent. It is just a basic intro class, and not everyone is on the same level, so perhaps it was also a way to discourage other students from feeling like the HAVE to do that type of stuff. The same instructor is also trying to get us to enroll in a Photoshop class being taught next session, so perhaps it is also a subtle way to discourage people from trying to do it on their own lol.
But truly, thank you all for the encouragement. I really do try to "paint a picture" with my shots, and sometimes they need a little boost. I just have to allow myself to find my own style, while still learning tried and true techniques.
See, this is why I LOVE this community so much!
Your photos are YOUR photos - you are not taking HIS photos. You can get take aways from the class but remember that his style is not yours. :) That said, I'm an editing junkie too and I love it - just want to get better at both. Also, there are several people here that edit every single photo, every time to the point that it really becomes art. No one criticizes them for lack of talent...just the opposite. So do what you love. It's your project. Just my two cents.
It sounds to me like you are on a course that is not suitable for you or your talents, I would consider what you are getting out of this course. If you would like feedback to help you improve your work use the critique tag. Personally I haven't been brave enough yet but soon ;-)
You would NOT see anyone criticising Ansel Adams for his post processing. Yet he was a master at it.
These days post processing is seen as "cheating" for some reason, but to do GOOD PP is not easy.
If you are happy with how you pp your photo's then stand by it, but also be open to CC aswell...it helps us improve :)