I've often wondered this (and I apologize if there is already a thread about this...) about photographers. There are many times I feel photos are over processed (using actions, playing with saturation, sharpening...etc.etc.) and I try to do very little of it. Although lately I'm finding myself playing a lot more in photoshop than I used to simply to help add a mood or effect...
Virtually none. I guess I am a bit 'old school' in that I prefer to take my pictures the same way I did with 35mm... only now it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to process the film! heheh
I am taking self portraits for my 365 so I tend to do more processing/manipulation to get the mood or theme I'm looking for. Or to just make the photo more fun.
It depends on the photo...I have lots that are sooc...some that have a tiny bit of editing and some that have tons of editing. It depends to me on what I want the final result to become. The visual in my mind...is it simple or complex? First thing I start with is a good shot, lighting, cropping, composition, etc. That has to be good period. Then the story gets told from there.
It depends on what I'm practicing or learning at the time. I have books that I go through and some of those books are program books, so my aim may be to master a technique in editing one day, or lighting the next. Pretty much means my pics are ALL over the place, but whatever. ;) I agree though, with ( @amyhughes ) Amy as generally an artist will ask themselves a series of questions prior to taking, editing, and post processing an image.
I do absolutely no processing.. I quite like the challenge of trying to get a good picture straight off.. knowing that you can't do anything afterwards.. I don't even crop it, so I have to make sure there is nothing in the edges of my photos that I don't want cause I know I won't cut them out.
I say it is because I like the challenge.. this is true, but the main reason I don't edit/process is because I don't own any software for it. I am sure my photos would be better with some processing, but for now I quite like the raw feel it gives the project overall.
I don't do much. Maybe convert to B&W, or lift a few shadows. And some cropping here and there. But the majority of my photos have little to no processing. I'm sure they'd be better if I did...I just don't know enough about Photoshop to mess with it too much.
@katiegc24, I tend to take my photos with my iphone for this as a bit of a challenge, which means I really do not edit. An easy program that I do use to crop, straighten, switch to black and white and add a touch of shadow or highlight is Picasa which is a free download from google and comes with a great photo library and the ability to create albums to store on their site and let others view.
I am of the minimal approach myself, because I like my photos to capture what I see or feel and I think while it is artistic for the full editing, it is just not reflective of what I see or feel at the moment.
i use photoshop but i could probably just get away with lightroom or something even simpler. all i do is adjust the curves and the brightness/contrast. sometimes i'll play with the vibrance/saturation but that's really all i do for now. when i turn my adjustment layers to see where i started it really shows how just a few tweaks can make a photo look a lot nicer, without looking computer generated. i really dislike pictures that seem to be more photoshop and less actual photograph....and that's unfortunately super common lately. @katiegc24 that is awesome...i respect your bravery!
I used to be the believer of SOOC all the time. However, am starting to change my mind a bit. I am always going for the perfect shot. I don't think I'll ever be one to think, "I'll fix it in post-processing." However if something happens and I don't get the shot I wanted, I'm not going to delete it if it can possibly saved. This week, I am playing around with Picnik and trying to manipulate my photos. I am struggling with it because I like things natural, however, I do like what is coming out.
It's funny that you put this up today, because all morning two things have been running through my head. First, there are two types of photos, like there are two types of books: Fiction and Nonfiction. Second, even the best authors edit and change their writing. Who says it has to be perfect the first time?
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I generally don't write so much on these. The timing of this discussion today is uncanny.
Using Ilford 400, I am using D76 at 3:1 for 45 mins at 81 degrees today, stand procs, no stop, and fixing for an extended 1 hr (to almost start to maybe bleach)
I will scan tomorrow when they are dry and post SOOC... just don't mind all the steps between...
I am so glad we don't need to do post in 35mm....
I never understood why people think we don't do post in film anymore? Adam's post is what made him famous....
The cornerstone of my artistic efforts with this project lie in post-processing. I've done high and dry photography for a long, long time, and found that agonizing over the moment, the SOOC perfection, was killing my love of capturing images and making art from my camera.
So I traded in (figuratively, not literally!) my Canon 20D for my husband's hand-me down iPhone 3G, purchased some cheapie photo effects apps from the iTunes store and have set out to just shoot and alter quickly and freely, trying to invite the concept I envision to marry with what catches my eye and whatever of that image the iPhone captures.
I DO think there is a point that post-processing can violate the sheer viewability of an image, but I think those people are generally trying to 'fix' an inferior image, rather than fulfill an artistic 'vision.'
Having said all that ... Whatever you want to do is what you should do! We're all here for different reasons - all valid, all creative, and all working hard on these great projects!
I am trying to have mostly SOOC shots for this project. I have chosen to do this because I am working on my photographic skills and my compositional skills. I feel that I can challenge myself to improve these skills by using my SOOC shots. I do crop and adjust the contrast a little and I try to note this in my commentary.
However, I think each person in this project is at a different point in their skills and what they are working on. It may come down to a personal choice. I agree with Jordan A. This is a topic that we will be discussing for a long time to come.
@cfitzgerald You said it beautifully about how I've viewed photography too. I'm wondering if the mindset of only using SOOC comes from a bit of old-school knowledge of the darkroom & film? Not sure if everyone thinks that...but that's how it feels to me. Like if you can get a pic SOOC then you must be 'more knowledgeable' or 'better skilled' at photography than those who just 'point & shoot' thus setting oneself apart from the amateur.
I was trained as a traditional b/w film photographer, natural light, zone system junkie, and worked as a custom darkroom printer for the first part of my post-college career. I know rules, and I think it's okay to break them! If someone is still at that stage of learning how to shoot traditionally and utilize the universe of ways to compose, expose, and execute a SOOC shot, I say 'Bravo!'
For me, though, all my learning eventually resulted in gorgeous unadulterated shots that were nice and perfectly executed, but boring. But that was AFTER I had worked hard to get there, which was itself a wonderful journey.
Now, using 'lesser' equipment, I don't act like I know more, and I don't care if my post-processing makes me look like I know even less! It's a process ... and that's what's important!
I personally enjoy post-processing. I've finally gotten the hang of Photoshop and feel that using a few actions really makes my pictures POP. And that's my goal...because that's the type of photo I want to give clients. I want my images to be sharp, for the lighting to be perfect, great saturation and color, etc...not over-processed, just...perfectly processed. :) I like the challenge of taking a shot SOOC that is somewhat boring on it's own and then making it come alive by editing it.
I shoot in RAW so there is no way that I can avoid some type of editing, even if it's just to convert it to jpg. Most times I at least do a bit of sharpening because it seems RAW files are a bit more grainy. Sometimes nothing else and sometimes lots more editing. It really depends on the picture.
When I started this project I made the decision that all my daily photos would be SOOC. I've only just got seriously interested in taking photographs, and like a previous poster, I think this makes me work harder at getting the composition right first time. I have to make sure I have nothing unwanted in the shot, and that the angles are all right. It might mean I have to take a few shots to get the right one, but I think it's helping me when I know I can't just fix it later.
I have got a second album, where I put edited photos, it just felt like SOOC was the right choice for me for my main 365. I want the photo to do the talking, not my processing.
I sometimes do small bits of editing, but my main one is cropping, either to get in closer to pick up the detail, or to get it to a standard print size.
I was purist on this front. Now I have been inspired by 365ers. I paid up to Picnik, initially to copyright my photos. Now I find it irresistible to tweek otherwise its impossible to get the sharpness with my P&S. It's not a £1000 camera with a £2000 lens, which I see used here occasionally! Today on my 365 album I could have left the photo SOOC, but I noticed a distracting stone right on the frame of the picture and cropped it out. Then the kid on the left was marginally better with '3' of HDR - barely worth it, but I could see the difference! Most of the time adjustments are minimal. A few times I go if the picture is really substandard and I do extreme adjustment so it's an abstract and unrecognisable from the original. It all about learning tools to use when you have a particular creative objective you want to achieve. I used a top photographer once for a project and he used the dark room and tooks 100s of shots. Don McCullen, internationally reknowned recently exhibited a photograph just covered in post-its explaining all his adjustments in the darkroom. Photoshop is the new darkroom. If Don McCullen does it and sells pics at £3k per limited edition, it's alright by me.
I like to bump my curves, maybe adjust a level, and sharpen. I also like to play with the filter effect sometimes if the skin looks off or if I want a different feel...I like to crop too. Once in a while I will clone or fix a blemish....that is pretty much all I know how to do.
i only have basic editing stuff in picassa so i don't do too much,a bit of cropping and straightening usually. i often take a picture thinking it would look fab in b&w so fiddle around with the colour sometimes,maybe adding a splash of bright in the b&w version of the pic for dramatic punctuation
Almost everything I do is SOOC, because right now I don't know how to do anything more than crop through Paint. Oh, and one time I added a border and a cartoon caption, which was the crappiest picture of all. :(
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I say it is because I like the challenge.. this is true, but the main reason I don't edit/process is because I don't own any software for it. I am sure my photos would be better with some processing, but for now I quite like the raw feel it gives the project overall.
I am of the minimal approach myself, because I like my photos to capture what I see or feel and I think while it is artistic for the full editing, it is just not reflective of what I see or feel at the moment.
@katiegc24 that is awesome...i respect your bravery!
It's funny that you put this up today, because all morning two things have been running through my head. First, there are two types of photos, like there are two types of books: Fiction and Nonfiction. Second, even the best authors edit and change their writing. Who says it has to be perfect the first time?
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I generally don't write so much on these. The timing of this discussion today is uncanny.
I will scan tomorrow when they are dry and post SOOC... just don't mind all the steps between...
I am so glad we don't need to do post in 35mm....
I never understood why people think we don't do post in film anymore? Adam's post is what made him famous....
So I traded in (figuratively, not literally!) my Canon 20D for my husband's hand-me down iPhone 3G, purchased some cheapie photo effects apps from the iTunes store and have set out to just shoot and alter quickly and freely, trying to invite the concept I envision to marry with what catches my eye and whatever of that image the iPhone captures.
I DO think there is a point that post-processing can violate the sheer viewability of an image, but I think those people are generally trying to 'fix' an inferior image, rather than fulfill an artistic 'vision.'
Having said all that ... Whatever you want to do is what you should do! We're all here for different reasons - all valid, all creative, and all working hard on these great projects!
However, I think each person in this project is at a different point in their skills and what they are working on. It may come down to a personal choice. I agree with Jordan A. This is a topic that we will be discussing for a long time to come.
Or maybe I'm just babbling now. haha
Just a thought...
For me, though, all my learning eventually resulted in gorgeous unadulterated shots that were nice and perfectly executed, but boring. But that was AFTER I had worked hard to get there, which was itself a wonderful journey.
Now, using 'lesser' equipment, I don't act like I know more, and I don't care if my post-processing makes me look like I know even less! It's a process ... and that's what's important!
I have got a second album, where I put edited photos, it just felt like SOOC was the right choice for me for my main 365. I want the photo to do the talking, not my processing.