Why oh why?. Why do so many people think untouched is a badge of honour.
‘My photography is straight out of the camera, no editing or digital manipulation’.
Oh wow how clever was that.
I would like to point out that editing isn’t a dirty word. Taking an image & working on it in the darkroom or on the pc is normal. Top Pro’s the world over do it all the time. Some top pro’s even get other people to do it for them.
Dodging burning push processing its been going on since the beggining & still is.
If you want to tell the world that you don’t edit your images are you also telling the world that you only use a manual camera.
You don’t use a point & shoot camera or programme modes.
Actually I don’t use a camera. I use a wooden box with a pin hole & glass plates.
No; no I don’t actually, I use canvas & oils. How far back do we have to go.
Cave paintings is about as far back as it gets.
People, friends Romans & purist photographers lend me your ears.
Even a simple image crop is editing. Pushing the shutter release is only a small part of the artistic photographic process.
Don’t get your head so far up your own backsides that you cant see daylight.
Editing images is as much a part of photography as any other part. It can also be the most rewarding part.
Anyone can point a camera at a subject. If we don’t edit the image then its not our image, its the camera makers image.
Sorry folks just had to get that off my chest & if anyone out there feels offended I am profusely sorry.
I’m off to build my wooden pin hole camera now, back soon!!
dinghysailor1, 4 months ago
;)
HarrietRN, 4 months ago
Well said Robin, editing an image is indeed an art in itself.
Ushna Sardar, 4 months ago
well written Robin! keep up great work!
Carol & Kev Ha..., 4 months ago
Each to their own Robin, if you don’t like it then don’t look at it!! I myself like photography in all forms, some I edit, some I don’t!! If it needs editing then I edit, if I feel I personally prefer it unedited then I leave it!! You yourself made very much appreciated comments on an unedited image I uploaded earlier today, so that tells me you can appreciate photography in all forms yourself…or were you just humouring me???
Linda Morrison, 4 months ago
Wow…...that was darn good.I was only chatting to someone about that very subject yesterday.We all dodged and burned in the darkroom to help make an image better…using a computer isn’t any different..In saying that if a picture comes out of a camera and doesn’t need editing then all the better..saves time , sweat and tears..but more often they do need some tweaking here and there till we get the image that we seek. Great work Robin.
Forest Friends..., 4 months ago
Good point to get over robin….
I’m always very proud of my achievements once I’ve processed my pictures, without the editing, its not yours as you say, its the cameras doing. Always good to see the end result!!!!
justlinda, 4 months ago
You really do have a way with words!. A very interesting and humorous article. I have been guilty of this a couple of times myself. Hope your back is on the mend.
Shelley Heath, 4 months ago
Great piece of writing… I agree there is nothing wrong with the digital darkroom… it is an artform in itself to enhance a photo especially when a raw image is used.
Lior Goldenberg, 4 months ago
Well said, Robin. I think that the “Untouched” concept was invented by photographers that don’t know much about computers and can’t work in a digital darkroom, so they transformed their lack of skills into a “superior” form of art.
gothgirl, 4 months ago
well said! photographers have always retouched their photos from way back – its not new just different now – keep on keeping on yours are wonderful
tomg, 4 months ago
We all edit our shots, some more than others. Some shots don’t need any editing, they are rare. It is quite amazing how it is possible, with the right software, a bit of skill and the artists eye, to rescue a wonderful piece of art out of a rather bland photograph.
sticky, 4 months ago
Well get you mr high horse….................... however I concur !!!! Tweakin is fun and being precious about anythin has gotta take the pleasure out of it surely. All the stuff in Bubbleland is great, not sure we should be that worried how it was arrived at !
Cathleen Taraw..., 4 months ago
Hear, hear. I don’t understand it either.
Ian Porter, 3 months ago
Totally agree. Too many pictures on this site that could benefit from little things like straightening up!