To Edit or Not to Edit? - That is The Question

So do I? Edit my photos?

As an artist - Yes Absolutely!

For me such editing is a completely acceptable and normal step in producing the final result that i wish to convey with a particular photo. Some will argue that it is best to capture the photo such that it does not require any post processing or editing, and where that is possible I will certainly try to do this, after all this save me time.

Indeed technical mastery of all the tools available to you should ultimately produce the best result that you are capable of (and this includes the camera itself!). But I do not subscribe to the view that post processing is wrong because you made a mistake at the capture stage, or because this distorts the true nature of the captured image.

If I were into "reportage" - Sometimes but probably not

On this last point, there are clearly circumstances where post processing should not be done, or at least kept to a strict minimum (and clearly indicated). This for me is in the field of photo journalism where the audience has a natural expectation that the images presented to them are a true and real reflection of reality. But in any art related representation for me it is up to the artist to decide what is right for the image and it is the end result that should be judged, not the method of producing it.

So just how far will I go?

The image is to the right of this page is an example of the kind of photo editing that I believe to be perfectly acceptable (move you mouse over the image to see the image as taken from the camera). You will see a number of changes to the original image:

• Colour changes (colour temperature increased, saturation increased in selected areas)
• Sharpening applied and adjusted exposure together with some colour noise reduction
• Fill light for more foreground detail
• Darkened trees in the distance to the right hand side to give more depth to the image and added a vignette
• Added a tone curve to boost contrast

Note: kind thanks to Hassan Abba for the use of this photo and which he graciously allowed me to edit on his behalf for demonstration purposes.

For more of my "edited photos" see my Photo Editing Gallery.

If you are interested, I offer a photo editing service. For details see the Pricing page.