Post Production - The age old argument

There is always the discussion about post production on digital images, and whether or not it’s cheating.

In a nutshell it isn’t.

Post production is essential as the camera is only recording information. It is up to the artist to interpret the image.

Whether or not it is a faithful representation of the scene is a discussion for another time and place.

An example of why post production is necessary can be seen in the next photo. One is ‘straight out of camera’, the other has been Photoshopped.

The 2nd image is how I witnessed the day.

Straight out of camera

Sunset as I saw it.

As you can see, there is a huge difference. Flat, devoid of contrast and lacking in colour, the first shot just comprises of information.

It is up to me as the photographer to pull out what I witnessed.

The next time anyone challenges you to the debate, simply point them in this direction and tell them that it is the artist who creates the art, not the equipment.

And if they continue their diatribe about ‘straight out of camera’, point them to any of the work by Ansel Adams, who took pride in explaining his dodging and burning techniques.