Yes there is. If you have software that will display the complete EXIF information, the "Software" tag tells you what software (if any) was used to edit the photo. 365Project only displays a fraction of the EXIF information embedded in an image, so there's no way to tell from what's uploaded to this site. If you have the original JPG or TIFF, however, you can can read the EXIF with any one of a score of freeware programs that will parse the data.
Thanks that is what I was wondering. I want to learn to take photos like I see on here but I want to know if I need to learn photoshop to get the results I'm after or just better lenses and'/or techniques.. Trying not to get discouraged by all the amazing shots.
@kannafoot that's interesting. I didn't know that, but does it show what was done? All my photos are loaded into I photo, but many had nothing done to them or a very slight crop.
@bakpoarch Most people on the site are very forthright and happy to share insights, if you ask them questions. You could also try searching the tag "SOOC" (straight out of camera) which some people use to designate an un-edited photo. Myself, I try to focus on getting the exposure and composition I want in-camera rather than playing around with it later. Everyone has their own tastes.
@bakpoarch most don't edit a lot....I don't think...mostly it's a crop or something equally simple (saturation, clarity). Some do for special effects like HDR, those small world shots (man, I want to try that one), changing to b&w from colour. And sometimes you just edit the sh*t out of it to try and salvage something! Good luck...I think we have to learn to take a good shot to start with, learn our cameras and lenses and "see" things! Don't be discouraged....keep at it....I am no expert, but every now and again everything comes together and I get a shot that's pretty darn good! imho (in my humble opinion)
I'm still learning about aperture and exposure. LOL
But that's why I'm here, to learn from all of you guys. Thanks for all the responses. Its been so dreary and cold here all week so haven't had much chance to even look for nature shots like I want to try.
If there are any photos you are really interested in, I think it would be totally fine to ask how they achieved it with their camera and/or editing. I upload all of mine into Lightroom and most get a slight adjustment of exposure, contrast, a crop possibly, and maybe a change to b&w. Granted there are some I save that were not what I wanted in camera (I haven't uploaded one of those here...yet at least...just on facebook)...but I try to focus on getting it how I want it in camera first. Much easier and faster to get it right than to edit it to how you wanted it. But there is certainly nothing wrong with editing either, in my opinion. The really great shots you see were great shots straight from the start...and maybe some editing took them to the next level :)
Don't be discouraged...be encouraged! You will learn so much through this project!! I do some processing on most of my photos, but usually not cropping or exposure. I really try to get my composition and exposure right from the get-go. You will find that the people on this site will be very willing to share information with you...don't be afraid to ask. I will say, processing can do a lot; but you will learn so much if you work on your composition and learning your camera settings first. There is a great challenge called the camera settings challenge...going on now. Here's the link to it. Have fun! http://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/15659/camera-settings-challenge-19-manual-focus
@tigerdreamer Karen, the tags in EXIF don't give details about what was done to the shot, but rather just what software was used. Most of the folks here that shoot RAW and edit afterwards (myself included) would be more than happy to share processing techniques. I describe everything done to a shot in the description I post with the upload for that very reason.
@mitchell50 I don't think that using photoshop, hdr or any software is cheating. I do a slight bit of processing myself from picasa or free sites. But I do agree with you. I, too, think that learning about the camera is the best way to capture photos. That's pure photography to me.
Always ask what has been done if you are curious. I'm always happy to share, and I've found that most other people are, too. And I agree with @tryeveryday -- feel encouraged! You are starting the project in a wonderful position. You will have 365 shots to show your progress over the year. That 365th will be so amazing!
@mitchell50 Nope, not cheating at all. Part of the art.
@mitchell50 You are entitled to your opinion but you should know a few things, 1 every pro is editing there photos, you may not think so but if you shoot raw, and most pros do, you have to edit your photos. 2. If you shot jpg then your camera is doing that editing for your. Your digital camera processes the data and applies sharpening, contrast, and many other things. Some cameras have better jpg processors than others.
You should try to get the very best exposure in camera but it is not cheating if you process your photos further. If you think that it is then you have never developed your very own Black and White film prints, burning and dodging and contrast filters. SOOC really do not mean anything to me. If you shoot jpg than your pictures will vary depending on the jpg processing software that your camera uses and if you shoot raw then you have to process your images to make then look right.
Not trying to be argumentative but these are things that I think people should know when making a statement like photo editing is cheating...
@mitchell50 I don't think it's cheating... it's not at all the same as getting someone else to do them for you, it's still me choosing how to edit. I don't edit much, but one of my goals here is to learn how to improve in all aspects, including editing. Some what I do is straight from the camera, but I'm starting to play with tweaking them too. I don't think any amount of editing will make a crap shot great. It's terrific when I'm totally satisfied with what I took straight up, but it's all part of the learning curve for me.
@jsorensenart unless of course you don't use your camera's picture styles and manually enter how you want the camera to do it. Technically, its pre processing, but you can save poop loads of time in post processing by setting all that yourself manually (contrast, saturation, sharpening, etc). I don't have Nik Silver Efex Pro, so I generally get much better results with b&w by shooting in monchrome and telling my camera what to do with contrast, sharpness, tones and filters. With this shot, the only thing done after I pressed the shutter release was the signature at the bottom:
I didn't even crop it. Granted, I don't do "sooc" often as anyone that has followed me this past year knows ;) but it is possible to get everything the way you want it in the camera before you press the shutter release. I'm not disagreeing with the fact that the camera is still processing it. I do get a kick out of people telling me that isn't "sooc" if you alter contrast, etc in camera but they think its "sooc" if they let the camera do the processing for them.
@bakpoarch@jsorensenart Jake said it right on. I edit all my photos to some degree because I shoot in RAW. I take great satisfaction in doing so, it is not cheating at all, it's part of the creativity process. Yes, there is something to be said about getting the exposure etc right SOOC as there will be less for you to do later, but it all depends on what kind of photo you are trying to produce.
It's practicing different techniques and having an eye for what you are trying to compose that will help you with your photography. I'd say learn some editing programs or even try some of the free ones like pic monkey or ipiccy to see what you can do.....I don't know of any pro photographers that don't do at least some editing. If you don't believe me find some of your favorite photographers and ask them, they will usually gladly tell you.
@jsw0109 no offense Jeff but I believe that your idea of pre-processing is still post-processing. You are telling the camera how to edit the photo before you take the picture but the camera is applying your changes after the picture is taken. The only real control you have over how your camera sensor works is the ISO (how sensitive the sensor is to light) I know what I am going to do in lightroom or silver efex before I take an image also, in fact I may under expose or over expose the image intentionally because of the way i want to edit it. I just think the whole SOOC badge is misleading, just my two cents
@karenann Thank you Karenann I am still learning and i just cant get my self to use any editing software.To me i would feel a lot happier if i take a great photo straight from the camara.Just my opinion.
@jsorensenart oh don't get me wrong, I'm very much pro editing/post processing/manipulation. Its all about art to me. My point was just that you can get it right without doing anything after you upload the pic to your computer. What you call it (pre-processing, post processing in camera, sooc, whatever) is insignificant. My personal preference is for post processing on the computer. I think its fun and challenging. If someone wants to call that cheating, they don't have to fave those shots . They don't have to follow me either. It won't hurt my feelings. I will do what is right for me. I'll be my own trailblazer. *big grin*
@jsw0109 right on Jeff, I know you are not anti post-processing. I'm not trying to pick on you at all, just wanting to add some information to the debate.
@mitchell50 if you let your camera decide how much saturation is right, how much contrast, etc, you're going to end up disappointed in a lot of your shots. If you really are averse to doing anything to a photo once it is uploaded and you want to learn how to get your camera to use the saturation, contrast, sharpness, etc that you want it to, there was a camera settings challenge I hosted awhile ago.... I can see if I can find the link to it if you are interested. But don't call it "cheating" when people post process... the only cheating is using someone else's image and claiming it as your own. There are film die hards that will say using a digital camera is cheating... and among the film enthusiasts, there are people that will say if you don't develop the negatives yourself you are cheating. Some people just don't like it when other people do things differently from the way they do it. That doesn't make it "cheating' - just different. Diversity is a good thing.
SOOC purists don't understand that post-processing of images has been done since the beginning of photography. Yes, in the darkroom, where do you think doging and burning come from?
Since the on slaught of photo editing programs, it is possible to create an image with things orginally not in the image. This is also cheating and personally, not my style.
I use PSE9 and ACR on most all my photos. It is wonderful to use the ACR auto correction button and see not adjustment of the image. Those rare moments say to me that program has seen that there nothing to be done to make the image better. As i said those times are rare. I had some today, but I darkened the blacks and the photo was better.
My point is most all images look better with some PP and is good when you can not tell that it was done. I think PP is part of presenting the best image possible. However, we still do our work to get the best image with the camera first.
It's a non-argument, as long as people have been taking photographs then they have also edited, post-processed, manipulated them. You thinks Adams, Bresson etc. didn't just because is was all done in the dark room. Technology just made it easier, less time consuming and more accessible that's all.
Even the current most expensive photo, Andreas Gursky's Rhein II, had a factory and people digitally removed from the image. Though personally I think it may have been more interesting if the factory had been left in.
@bakpoarch If something is SOOC people normally tag it as such, you can check them out by searching SOOC in the top search bar :) but don't be afraid to ask people how they've achieved something! http://365project.org/tags/sooc
First off, I think that post-processing is no substitute to knowing your camera and certain creative techniques.
Secondly, post-processing CAN fix a slightly dodgy shot - cropping to rescue the composition, upping blacks and increasing contrast to bring more punch to a shot.
Thirdly, post-processing cannot usually rescue a rubbish shot. If it starts rubbish, you will have a hard time un-rubbishing it.
Lastly, post-processing is not a bad thing. As said before, all the greats do it, to varying degrees, but they usually know how to use the camera first.
Even simple cameras are so good now that there is not much need for editing other than cropping. But it is fun to try special effects and I think it can be considered a viable art form.
This is a really interesting discussion, I'm trying to learn how to take better pictures, and after just one week, I'm hooked and already thinking more about the end result. I have been googling alot of the abbreviations, but am now happy to have learned what SOOC means, that one has been eluding me! @bakpoarch I am now following you, we can learn together x
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But that's why I'm here, to learn from all of you guys. Thanks for all the responses. Its been so dreary and cold here all week so haven't had much chance to even look for nature shots like I want to try.
http://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/15659/camera-settings-challenge-19-manual-focus
@mitchell50 Nope, not cheating at all. Part of the art.
You should try to get the very best exposure in camera but it is not cheating if you process your photos further. If you think that it is then you have never developed your very own Black and White film prints, burning and dodging and contrast filters. SOOC really do not mean anything to me. If you shoot jpg than your pictures will vary depending on the jpg processing software that your camera uses and if you shoot raw then you have to process your images to make then look right.
Not trying to be argumentative but these are things that I think people should know when making a statement like photo editing is cheating...
I didn't even crop it. Granted, I don't do "sooc" often as anyone that has followed me this past year knows ;) but it is possible to get everything the way you want it in the camera before you press the shutter release. I'm not disagreeing with the fact that the camera is still processing it. I do get a kick out of people telling me that isn't "sooc" if you alter contrast, etc in camera but they think its "sooc" if they let the camera do the processing for them.
It's practicing different techniques and having an eye for what you are trying to compose that will help you with your photography. I'd say learn some editing programs or even try some of the free ones like pic monkey or ipiccy to see what you can do.....I don't know of any pro photographers that don't do at least some editing. If you don't believe me find some of your favorite photographers and ask them, they will usually gladly tell you.
Since the on slaught of photo editing programs, it is possible to create an image with things orginally not in the image. This is also cheating and personally, not my style.
I use PSE9 and ACR on most all my photos. It is wonderful to use the ACR auto correction button and see not adjustment of the image. Those rare moments say to me that program has seen that there nothing to be done to make the image better. As i said those times are rare. I had some today, but I darkened the blacks and the photo was better.
My point is most all images look better with some PP and is good when you can not tell that it was done. I think PP is part of presenting the best image possible. However, we still do our work to get the best image with the camera first.
Even the current most expensive photo, Andreas Gursky's Rhein II, had a factory and people digitally removed from the image. Though personally I think it may have been more interesting if the factory had been left in.
http://365project.org/tags/sooc
First off, I think that post-processing is no substitute to knowing your camera and certain creative techniques.
Secondly, post-processing CAN fix a slightly dodgy shot - cropping to rescue the composition, upping blacks and increasing contrast to bring more punch to a shot.
Thirdly, post-processing cannot usually rescue a rubbish shot. If it starts rubbish, you will have a hard time un-rubbishing it.
Lastly, post-processing is not a bad thing. As said before, all the greats do it, to varying degrees, but they usually know how to use the camera first.
How all my pictures are. :)
No post processing, not even cropping.