I visit many sites on the net, viewing incredible photographs by many incredible photographers. Many times I see criticism about how the photograph was “touched up” or “manipulated” in Photoshop. I just don’t get it. I think what some folks are failing to realize is that Photoshop is the digital darkroom.
Yes, you can add things to a picture. You can make it look like someone else is in the picture, but was never there. But you know, manipulation of pictures is not new. Photoshop is the digital equivalent of a darkroom. People have been manipulating images for ages now. I don’t think I can count the number of times I had to do a little touching up with a brush. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many things you can change about a picture within a darkroom, it’s not funny.
I guess I just don’t get why people go crazy when someone says “I touched it up with photoshop”. I can never understand it. Photo manipulation is not new folks!
Photoshop is the best!
I got here from tummymonsters.
I agree. I touch up all my pics with PS- removing red-eye, adjusting lighting, sharpening things, blurring backgrounds, etc. Sometimes I’ll remove blemishes and other unwanted elements, too. If people don’t like it, too bad, they’re MY photos.
Of course, if you’re good, people shouldn’t be able to tell you touched it up
Yeah, I’ve only had a couple shots where i’ve touched it up, and no one could tell.
Of course, I’ve made a few shots, and people would swear i used photoshop, but I didn’t.
The most exciting thing I’ve ever done with photoshop is remove the power lines that were draped across an image I took. That took me hours. I’m not good with editing programs. So I have to rely on my photo-taking skills.
New design, melikes!
I totally agree. I’ve read several similar criticisms, and I just don’t get it. I guess I don’t really get “art elitism” in general. (ie: the “my way is more pure/better/superiour/whatever to yours”…)