photoshop?

[cm_cnnr]

Im curious on peoples opinions of photoshop? Is it something that is really necessary or can you get by without it? Personally for me i perfer an unedited photo. it feels more real for me at least. so what about you? do you use photoshop? if so how much and why?

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Yes, as needed, it makes images better.

 

[SlickSalmon]

Yes, needed. Every digital photo you take is edited somewhere, somehow. With Photoshop, you get to do that editing yourself.

 

[Trever1t]

There's no such thing as an unedited digital photo (or film for that matter), only people who don't know how or take the time to learn.

 

[JoshC.]

Yes. Without photoshop you're giving up your own artistic impact on the photo. Basically, you're letting the camera do the editing for you, because when an image is taken in JPEG, the camera does just that: it takes the information given when you pressed the shutter release button, processes it, and throws away the rest. So in an sense, its automatically editing your photo.
Look at photoshop as the "digital dark room," where you can make tweaks to get the image to come out exactly as you visioned it.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

I think its definately worth buying if you are serious about your photography. People will argue to get it right in camera, and this is a good thing to shoot for. But you will always want the power to adjust colors, fix white balance, sharpen, and adjust contrast just as starters but there is much much more you can do with it.

 

[dxqcanada5]

The closest thing to an "unedited" photography is one shot on Slide Film.

I use Photoshop or Lightroom in the same way as I developed my negs and printed ... only to make slight adjustments.

 

[Trever1t]

soblik survives!

 

[cm_cnnr]

i appreciate the help. thank you very much.

 

[Iris van Lens]

You can get by without it. I understand when someone says they prefer unedited photos. But the person wants then to learn the discipline of taking near perfect exposures (or underexposing perhaps to get the contrast and saturation they like). Sometimes a perfect exposure isn't available in the situation. Unless you bracket very quick, some editing will be needed later on. The trick with Photoshop and similar sophisticated editing programmes is to know what not to edit, what to leave just so. It's impossible to guess at what another perons criteria is for the look they want.For every person that seeks to emulate what they perceive as 'pro' pictures, there is another who wants to emulate 1970's film snaps made with an instamatic.

Im curious on peoples opinions of photoshop? Is it something that is really necessary or can you get by without it? Personally for me i perfer an unedited photo. it feels more real for me at least. so what about you? do you use photoshop? if so how much and why?

 

[Iris van Lens]

Yes but a slide film with the default tone-curve of an unedited RAW file would look pretty lame. The curve adjustment strived for in Photoshop is the beauty of the film you chose.

The closest thing to an "unedited" photography is one shot on Slide Film.

I use Photoshop or Lightroom in the same way as I developed my negs and printed ... only to make slight adjustments.

 

[djacobox372]

The closest thing to an "unedited" photography is one shot on Slide Film.

I use Photoshop or Lightroom in the same way as I developed my negs and printed ... only to make slight adjustments.

With film you are making an editing choice when choosing particular film--each films chemistry is "tweaked" to provide a certain color and contrast style.

 

[molested_cow]

You don't need Adobe Photoshop to edit photos. In fact, it's over kill if you just want to edit photos. There are other more photo-specific and affordable softwares that do what you need for photo editing.

Whether you need it or not, well, it's up to you. There's no harm to not have it, but you can do a ton of interesting things with it. If you are a professional photographer, you will definitely need it.

 

[rambler]

You not need to edit every shot, but editing can rescue photos you might otherwise erase. I have been using Elements 9 which is excellent. Look at Lightroom also, both a bit less $$ that Photoshop.
Each can be downloaded to your computer to try for a month for free. One easy feature to learn is how to edit things right out of the picture that you do not want in there. You can lighten a dark image, layer photos, merge photos to make panorama shots, turn color photos into black and whites and much more. For example, you might have three images of the same landscape, one too dark another too light, you can merge them to make it just right. I have two books that help me learn what to do. One is "Elements 9 for Dummies"! Ansel Adams edited his photos, so it's okay for you, too!
Many of very useful features can be done quite easily. For example, if you take a photo in RAW, you have several options of white balance that can be looked at with just a click of the mouse. You will have sevearl different looks to the same photo, and you get to choose the one you like best. It is easy to make it lighter or darker, add contrast, tone, saturation, etc. all of which will be come evident to you quite easily. Each step is done with the drag of your mouse and you see how the picture will change right in front of you, back and forth anyway until you see the image you want to save.
Obviously, I am all in favor of these editing programs and there is plenty of online info on how to use them.