My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit

[Joel_W]

My question is... why does it bother you so much?

I didn't say it bothers me. I said I wonder why people do it. I've seen it a bunch of times where KmH wanted to edit someone's photo to show them what a much improved version would look like but the person wouldn't allow edits so they end up losing out. I think beginners who use that setting cheat themselves out of a valuable learning tool. That's all.

That's certainly a two sided coin. A beginner or someone without the same editing skills, other then lets say cropping, has a picture edited. What one usually gets is a why I did that, but not a technical description of how they did it. I've seen edited pictures that technically look nothing like the original. How does that help when you don't have the skills to replicate that type of advanced work, and most likely don't own Photoshop where most of the advanced editing is done these days?

As for me, you can see that I have chosen the NOT allowed option. I picked that when I 1st joined because I too thought that anyone could edit my original pictures. Now I just prefer to take suggestions when offered, and play with them myself. Sometimes I like the changes, and sometimes I don't. But that's just me.

 

[The_Traveler]

That's certainly a two sided coin. A beginner or someone without the same editing skills, other then lets say cropping, has a picture edited. What one usually gets is a why I did that, but not a technical description of how they did it. I've seen edited pictures that technically look nothing like the original. How does that help when you don't have the skills to replicate that type of advanced work, and most likely don't own Photoshop where most of the advanced editing is done these days?

That's throwing the baby out with the bath water.
There are lots of people here who will do some edits and then give a short synopsis of what they did so that the OP can have some idea in what direction to go.
If the edits are crap and a mystery besides, they can be ignored
The biggest problem in PPing for new people is not learning how to do stuff but learning what to do.
Thus, when they see it done a term like 'local contrast enhancement' or 'correct perspective' or 'increase saturation' or 'remove color tint', they can see the changes and understand how to go with their images - in the opinion of someone with perhaps more experience.

Yes, the signal to noise ratio in comments is not optimum but cutting off one channel isn't the best avenue, IMO.
Typically, if I'm not allowed to make any changes, I won't bother to comment because I would have to write more and be understood less.

Lew

 

[cgipson1]

Typically, if I'm not allowed to make any changes, I won't bother to comment because I would have to write more and be understood less.

Lew

Ditto!

 

[alexandermjoyce]

I used it when I first signed up because I had NO idea what I was getting into (in more ways than one, lol), and didn't want to give permission to a bunch of internet strangers to take my photos (which, no, are not professional or even good necessarily--but dadgumit, they're MINE) and do who knows what to. For all I knew, I was gonna post a photo of my little boys (haha...it'd have to be an OLD photo, since they are currently about 6'5" and 6'8") and someone was gonna make them look fat, and pimply and put a mustache on them.

Yes, I'm a bit of skeptic, lol.

As soon as I realized the actual POINT of "My Photos are OK to Edit" I quickly changed my selection. In fact, I wish there was a "PLEASE Someone with Some Skill Edit My Photos."

very, very valid point.
just joined and i haven't decided what to click regarding letting people edit... but having some who can show or guide you in a way that help you perfect your work.. why not?

 

[Joel_W]

I do see your points about not commenting if one can't show the changes with an edit. Sorry, but I don't agree with that statement as being an absolute. If I or someone esle posts some very nice photos, which are technically correct as well, why can't you make a positive post? I've also seen many posts with photos that have gotten CC's, and no edits have been posted to show their corrections.

 

[cgipson1]

I do see your points about not commenting if one can't show the changes with an edit. Sorry, but I don't agree with that statement as being an absolute. If I or someone esle posts some very nice photos, which are technically correct as well, why can't you make a positive post? I've also seen many posts with photos that have gotten CC's, and no edits have been posted to show their corrections.

All depends on the photo, the mood I am in, how much time I have available and / or want to put into it... and also the OP's responses to other threads / C&C's. If I see someone honestly trying to learn.. I will usually try to help! If it is the same old thing the OP has done in the past twenty threads they started with no real improvement.. I won't bother, as they aren't listening.

Being able to edit just gives us one more tool to reach the OP with.. if we are denied that "tool" then I often assume that person doesn't think they need help... and pass on.

 

[Joel_W]

I do see your points about not commenting if one can't show the changes with an edit. Sorry, but I don't agree with that statement as being an absolute. If I or someone esle posts some very nice photos, which are technically correct as well, why can't you make a positive post? I've also seen many posts with photos that have gotten CC's, and no edits have been posted to show their corrections.

All depends on the photo, the mood I am in, how much time I have available and / or want to put into it... and also the OP's responses to other threads / C&C's. If I see someone honestly trying to learn.. I will usually try to help! If it is the same old thing the OP has done in the past twenty threads they started with no real improvement.. I won't bother, as they aren't listening.

Being able to edit just gives us one more tool to reach the OP with.. if we are denied that "tool" then I often assume that person doesn't think they need help... and pass on.

Ok, I see your points, and they have merit. I'm going to change my not to ok, and see what happens. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why my (mostly florals), get plenty of views, but hardly any comments, good, bad, or indifferent.

 

[Buckster]

Just an F.Y.I./example for folks who maybe could use a little help learning how to critique and suggest improvements with words: Here's a popular photo site dedicated to the idea that it can be done with words: photoSIG » Main It's a good place to learn how to critique photos, and to learn how to take blunt-force critiques, and you'll find a lot of great photos there for inspiration as well.

Personally, I don't see the limitation imposed by not allowing others to edit, but then again, I feel I'm able to express my thoughts pretty well without drawing a picture. When someone does expressly ask for visual help via a photo edit, I'm happy to oblige and to explain the steps I took.

When I edit by request, I try to respect their original effort and stick with what they're asking for specifically. I don't usually run hog wild with it. If they ask to clear up a shadow, I clear up the shadow. Clone out a wire? I clone out the wire. Clear up some acne? I clear up the acne. I don't usually then go on to change everything else from the crop to the saturation to the contrast, dodge, burn, clone, etc. that they didn't ask for. I try to stick with just what I think is necessary to resolve the issue they've specifically asked for help with. I did have some fun in this thread just for laughs because the question was so open-ended, but that's an exception for me.

By contrast, I see others jump in and completely change a photo so that it's practically inside out and upside down with edits and changes, which is no skin off my nose but, from my point of view, it's often nothing short of a total butchery, with results that look seriously terrible to my eye. I can understand that happening when noobs get hold of a file and start going crazy with PS on it, but it even comes out of some of the folks around here that supposedly have a lot of experience and ability. Then a noob or two does the "oooh" and "ahhhh" over it, while I just shake my head and bite my lip.

No offense to anyone here, but I'm not interested in anyone butchering my photos to "help me improve", thank you very much. I'm generally pretty happy with the final results I post anyway, and while I welcome C&C, I take critiques and suggestions with a grain of salt. They are, after all, just opinions. I may concur or not, and I thank them for their time and effort to look and leave their thoughts either way, but that doesn't mean I'm necessarily going to agree and embrace their thoughts and suggestions and then implement them.

If some folks can't use words to express their thoughts about my photos, that's okay - I'll survive somehow without the stunningly spectacular insights that they feel could only have been expressed with an edit of my photo. I may lose out one in a hundred times that way, but there are still plenty of people who know how to use words to express themselves, and I honestly prefer that to enduring the way too many times someone would turn one of my photos into something that would probably make me cringe and wince to look at, based on what I see happen all too often around here.

YMMV

 

[Joel_W]

Buckster, nice said.

I've already changed from Not to OK, and will take a wait and see attitude. If I get what you discribed, then I'll just go back to Not ok, and that's that.

I do feel that when I post a picture, that's the final edit that I liked, and wanted to share here on the list. If someone does in fact have a better concept, I'm more then willing to evaluate it, as they did my original photograph. My personal issue is that I don't have Photoshop, Elements, or Lightroom yet, so there is a lot of things I can't do until I purchase one of those programs. I've also moved up from my main camera being a Nikon P500 that is JPEG only to a D70S which now allows me to shoot and edit in RAW.

 

[The_Traveler]

Personally, I don't see the limitation imposed by not allowing others to edit, but then again, I feel I'm able to express my thoughts pretty well without drawing a picture. When someone does expressly ask for visual help via a photo edit, I'm happy to oblige and to explain the steps I took.

If some folks can't use words to express their thoughts about my photos, that's okay - I'll survive somehow without the stunningly spectacular insights that they feel could only have been expressed with an edit of my photo. I may lose out one in a hundred times that way, but there are still plenty of people who know how to use words to express themselves, and I honestly prefer that to enduring the way too many times someone would turn one of my photos into something that would probably make me cringe and wince to look at, based on what I see happen all too often around here.

YMMV

This seems to me like a not so subtle passive-aggressive attempt to put down of those of us who want to use whatever tools available to do a favor for someone else. And to somehow elevate yourself as a wordsmith who can describe even the most subtle of visual elements in words.
Perhaps so.

Why not just respect how we want to work and you do things your own way without this verbal weenie-wagging?

 

[GeorgieGirl]

My interpretation was that he was saying tell me what you think is needed not take my photo and edit it.

 

[Buckster]

Personally, I don't see the limitation imposed by not allowing others to edit, but then again, I feel I'm able to express my thoughts pretty well without drawing a picture. When someone does expressly ask for visual help via a photo edit, I'm happy to oblige and to explain the steps I took.

If some folks can't use words to express their thoughts about my photos, that's okay - I'll survive somehow without the stunningly spectacular insights that they feel could only have been expressed with an edit of my photo. I may lose out one in a hundred times that way, but there are still plenty of people who know how to use words to express themselves, and I honestly prefer that to enduring the way too many times someone would turn one of my photos into something that would probably make me cringe and wince to look at, based on what I see happen all too often around here.

YMMV

This seems to me like a not so subtle passive-aggressive attempt to put down of those of us who want to use whatever tools available to do a favor for someone else. And to somehow elevate yourself as a wordsmith who can describe even the most subtle of visual elements in words.
Perhaps so.

Your armchair psychology session notwithstanding, it's not meant to put anyone down, but to express what I honestly think and feel about the issue. If you feel put down when you read it, maybe some inner reflection on why you feel that way would be helpful to you. You may be familiar with the old phrase, "If the shoe fits..."

That said, it wouldn't hurt for people to learn how to use words and phrases to convey their thoughts if they're not able to do that yet. It's a good skill set to have as a tool, and not just for this forum or photography critiques. That's why I included the link to PhotoSIG - it's a great place to learn how to do that.

Why not just respect how we want to work and you do things your own way without this verbal weenie-wagging?

I respect it already. I'm not telling anyone to change what they're doing or how they do it. I'm not saying anyone's wrong for allowing or not allowing their photos to be edited, nor for editing or not editing the photos of those who allow it. Unlike some here, I really don't care what ANYONE else does in that regard. I also don't hold back from comments and critiques by posting pissy comments instead like, "I'd help but you won't allow your photos to be edited, so too bad for you", the way I see some folks around here do it.

The question was asked "why" do some not allow their photos to edited. I simply answered honestly. If you don't like it that I answered, too bad for you, but it's not "verbal weenie wagging" on my part to simply participate in a conversation.

 

[Dom6663]

Im a noobie photographer, and I'm not great with photoshop either.

The reason I have it set this way is because it does not hinder my learning, if anything it makes me learn more. Tons of people take photos and post them, then someone else fixes them for them. If people point out what I did wrong, and what needs to change, then I personally have to go through the process of learning and recognizing what the problem is, and how to solve it.

This process is how you really learn how to avoid the issue in the first place.

In addition, if I want someone to fix one of my photos, or edit them, I can just request it to be done.

 

[LiquidGrace]

I am more of a visual learner over hearing all the technical fixes that I need to make. Mind you I'm not daft and I do know about the technical aspects and definitions to photography (albeit not all of course). I like the technical aspects to be explained with a visual of what should be done. Plain and simple, visual aids always seem to help me more.

For a person who is relatively new I feel the "edits are OK" would be a bit more beneficial to not only them but those trying to explain a point. I'm sure some newbie’s joining the forum don’t have a firm grasp of even the basic concepts of PP. This is why I feel that edits are very beneficial to them. To me it does especially for new photographers say “I’m good and don’t need your help.” It just doesn’t make it seem like for someone new they’re really ready to learn.

I don't find someone who takes my photos and editing them to be holding my hand, or doing it for me. On the contrary, I look at what they've done and then I try to recreate the end result myself. I learn through trial and error by saying "Nope that doesn't look at all like their edit." If I truly can't figure it out I will probably message them to just simply ask what they changed. Not how or the degree that they changed it just what.
Challenging myself like that, pushes me to ask questions when I'm truly unsure of how to proceed. While not all edits make the photo look better, it's at the discretion of that photographer to see the value in the edit or not.

I guess everyone learns differently and some prefer to hear what they need to fix, then try to attempt it from there, without a visual of what they should or could alter.

 

[HughGuessWho]

Personally, I don't see the limitation imposed by not allowing others to edit, but then again, I feel I'm able to express my thoughts pretty well without drawing a picture. When someone does expressly ask for visual help via a photo edit, I'm happy to oblige and to explain the steps I took.

If some folks can't use words to express their thoughts about my photos, that's okay - I'll survive somehow without the stunningly spectacular insights that they feel could only have been expressed with an edit of my photo. I may lose out one in a hundred times that way, but there are still plenty of people who know how to use words to express themselves, and I honestly prefer that to enduring the way too many times someone would turn one of my photos into something that would probably make me cringe and wince to look at, based on what I see happen all too often around here.

YMMV

This seems to me like a not so subtle passive-aggressive attempt to put down of those of us who want to use whatever tools available to do a favor for someone else. And to somehow elevate yourself as a wordsmith who can describe even the most subtle of visual elements in words.
Perhaps so.

Your armchair psychology session notwithstanding, it's not meant to put anyone down, but to express what I honestly think and feel about the issue. If you feel put down when you read it, maybe some inner reflection on why you feel that way would be helpful to you. You may be familiar with the old phrase, "If the shoe fits..."

That said, it wouldn't hurt for people to learn how to use words and phrases to convey their thoughts if they're not able to do that yet. It's a good skill set to have as a tool, and not just for this forum or photography critiques. That's why I included the link to PhotoSIG - it's a great place to learn how to do that.

Why not just respect how we want to work and you do things your own way without this verbal weenie-wagging?

I respect it already. I'm not telling anyone to change what they're doing or how they do it. I'm not saying anyone's wrong for allowing or not allowing their photos to be edited, nor for editing or not editing the photos of those who allow it. Unlike some here, I really don't care what ANYONE else does in that regard. I also don't hold back from comments and critiques by posting pissy comments instead like, "I'd help but you won't allow your photos to be edited, so too bad for you", the way I see some folks around here do it.

The question was asked "why" do some not allow their photos to edited. I simply answered honestly. If you don't like it that I answered, too bad for you, but it's not "verbal weenie wagging" on my part to simply participate in a conversation.

Pheewwwww
Now I'mREALLY feeling good about spending that $25 to joint this Warm and Fuzzy Forum.