Please forgive my ignorence.....

I use photoshop very little, mainly to crop, or tweek color balance/ lighting or contract (like i would in my dark room - back in the 80's).

My concern is this: I was taught, and firmly believe that if you want a good photo, you take a good photo. This was taught by Monte Zuckerman, and Ansel Adams. I have had the pliveledge of listening to lectures from both of these great photographers.

Is it just me, or are some people excusing poor photography simply because they can "fix" it in Photoshop?

I know there is a place for some of the amazing work people are doing with Photoshop, but i am wondering if some of it goes past photography? Once we start using these wonderful tools, and brushes, When is it no longer our photo, and something else?

Case in point. I had a model come into my studio a few weeks ago for an ad shoot. I selected the model because of her look on her model site. When she arrived, she looked NOTHING like her images, to which she said proudly, that she only advertises her "Photoshoped" look.....

Please help me understand...

Mark
:confused:

Hi Mark,
I'm sure many in the photography world share your same frustration.
And if you have ever spent anytime over in the Crockett Camp at Shoot Smarter University you'll know that he is all about getting it RIGHT in Camera and spending as little time in photoshop as possible, something that i have really taken to heart and do my best to try to do every time i get behind my camera.

That said, sometimes you just can't help going into photoshop and making a model or client look just a little bit better for their own ego and your print sales Do i think some take it over the top? Absolutely! But just as in any other form of art it's all subjective. What might be over the top to you or I, others might look at as being creative and cutting edge. To each their own, is my philosophy and i just do what I know to be the right way.

It's not just the models who have become more saavy and know what can be fixed in photoshop, I can't tell you how many times ive had a Soccer Mom (no offense) or weekend warrior photographer say to me "Oh you can just fixt that in Photoshop" The general public is just as aware as the people in the industry.

Just as Digital has quickly replaced, or is replacing Film, Photoshop is becoming a household word. We as photographers just need to adapt to it.

That's just my take on it, others may differ.

Continue to strive to get it right in camera as much as you can, it's a good practice to get into and just use photoshop as a tool, exactly what it was intended to be.

Cris...

Mark,

You have identified the beauty and the curse of Photoshop in one short note! PS has become part of my creative process now. The image capture [done properly--i.e., "I got it right in the camera"]--is just the beginning now. From then it is a creative field day. I'll use PS to accent the image [i.e., lighten or darken her hair or select parts of the image, or add a soft diffusion, etc.], but you are right about 'over-photoshopped' images...it's sometimes hard to tell who you are hiring! But to answer your other question: It is always your photograph through out the process--Photoshop has just become a much more equal partner in the process.

Hope that helps a little.

Steve & Chris,

Thanks, that does help, some. But i guess i am just dence about this...... I will keep plugging at it though.

When I shoot with studio lights, I don't need any photoshop. Might do a few different "versions" in Lightroom, but that's it. I find taking the shot right from the start very enjoyable because you spend less time in front of the computer. For outdoors, I use glass filters if possible (i.e: ND Grad, polarizing) to again get from the start what I want rather than fiddle after.

It's just faster and more fun, really..

One should shoot the best photo straight away. Yet there is a need for PS. We don't always get young drop dead gorgious models to shoot. Belive me PS has increase print sales,because I can get the photo to look the way they would like to look. Instead of the all the blemishes they see everyday in the mirror. Good or bad, people want to look good. Thank god for PS