To let edit or not to let edit.

[12sndsgood]

I really don't have any issue with it, when I see it done its 99% of the time someone just doing a really quick change to show someone what they are talking about, sometimes you will like the edit, sometimes you will like the origonal. but it just helps get the persons responce across. or shows you another way of editing that you maybe didn't think about, I see no harm in it at all. it doesn't negate what I put up. nor does it become something I have to change. its just another opinion on what you have done.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I have "Not Ok to Edit" because it's my work and why would I permit someone to touch it? Operative term is that "it's my work", I"ll decide what needs to be done to it.

Why bother posting for CC then?

No, it's an honest question.


I find the thoughts of others INVALUABLE to my growth as an artist. Fresh eyes can sometimes make you see something from a perspective other than your own, and give you something to think about, whether you take it onboard or not. If you don't want to be influenced by others, you'll have a hard time going through the world blindfolded.


I find comments like that shallow and arrogant. Of course it is your decision, and your perspective. It always will be. That comment comes off as dismissive and that one is "all that". I find it laughable.

 

[paigew]

I really don't have any issue with it, when I see it done its 99% of the time someone just doing a really quick change ....

this is my main problem with it! Someone thinking that in 5 minutes they can greatly improve a photo I have spent a lot of time on. Maybe they can improve it, but I would rather hear the advice and try myself if I like the idea. I am not always against editing of my pics, it depends who is doing it and if I think I can learn from them.

 

[paigew]

I have "Not Ok to Edit" because it's my work and why would I permit someone to touch it? Operative term is that "it's my work", I"ll decide what needs to be done to it.

Why bother posting for CC then?

No, it's an honest question.


I find the thoughts of others INVALUABLE to my growth as an artist. Fresh eyes can sometimes make you see something from a perspective other than your own, and give you something to think about, whether you take it onboard or not. If you don't want to be influenced by others, you'll have a hard time going through the world blindfolded.


I find comments like that shallow and arrogant. Of course it is your decision, and your perspective. It always will be. That comment comes off as dismissive and that one is "all that". I find it laughable.

Bitter, it is different with you. Most people aren't going to randomly post an edit of one of YOUR pics! They respect your artistic vision! Same goes for other members here who have a lot of experience.

 

[nmoody]

Im no professional and dont make a cent off of my pictures, there is no reason for me to set my status to "My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit"

If anything I will learn more by others showing me my issues by correcting them problems and explaining it to me.

 

[BlueMeanieTSi]

Whether I like the edit or not doesn't matter, I'm not selling someone else's edit to my customer. It's not like forum members are stealing my images, posting their edits as their own or posting their edits on another site.

I have my vision and the way I like it and that's what's final so who the F cares what someone else thinks would make it better?

To me the only possible answer that rings true to that question is "pride". anything else is an excuse that leads back to it.

 

[12sndsgood]

I really don't have any issue with it, when I see it done its 99% of the time someone just doing a really quick change ....

this is my main problem with it! Someone thinking that in 5 minutes they can greatly improve a photo I have spent a lot of time on. Maybe they can improve it, but I would rather hear the advice and try myself if I like the idea. I am not always against editing of my pics, it depends who is doing it and if I think I can learn from them.

If my white balance is off it doesnt matter wether I have spent 5 minutes or 5 hours. off is off. its just people showing you what you can do to fix it. some people have a hard time reading what is written and taking that in and processing it, where as with a picture they can look at the new edit, look at there and instantly see the diffrence. It has nothing to do with someone saying yorur sucks here is a better photo, its just a more vissable means of communicating your ideas. im sure there are a lot of people who can take a photo of mine and improve it in 5 minutes. a lot of time when you sit there staring at a photo you start seeing it diffrently and can easily mis things. I work in the engineering field and we routinely have others review our work before we send it out because after months of staring at a floorplan you just miss things.

Who is doing the editing shouldn't really matter. nor should you have a preconceived notion that just because someone isn't as popular on the site offers up an opinion that you should dismiss it. if a complete moron gives one piece of advice that is right that you didn't realise or didnt know, you have learned something regardless of the reputation or intelligence of that person.

 

[MTVision]

I actually like it when people edit my photos. I've learned so much from people doing it especially when they tell me what they did and why. It's much easier to see it visually then to just have someone try to explain it to me. Granted I may not agree or like the edit but it's alway educational. I don't really see what harm can come from it....but that's just me

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Bitter, it is different with you. Most people aren't going to randomly post an edit of one of YOUR pics! They respect your artistic vision! Same goes for other members here who have a lot of experience.

I do welcome it though. While I feel I am decent, I know my vision is not the end all, be all. I don't find my work so precious, that I am above suggestions. Defending ones decisions, also provides a learning environment. Again, why post if one feels they are above being challenged.

What I said above doesn't apply to everyone who doesn't allow edits. Most, if asked, allow it. Those that don't, I typically ignore.

It's comments like "I'll decide what to do with my work" that I question why they ask for CC. Photography is a visual art, and sometimes in teaching, you need to visually show changes. A picture is worth a thousand words, ain't it? Lead by example?

People are here to either improve, or to simply show their work. But the vast majority come here to improve. So why restrict the learning environment?

That's my opinion.

 

[paigew]

Yes I don't find my work to be 'so precious' either. Its when people take an image you worked hard on and add way too much saturation or quickly convert to b/w and think that it instantly makes the image so much better. I on those types of edits I would prefer someone say "your wb is off, add more contrast, have you tried b/w?". That way I can take their suggestions and do them to fit my style/vision.

 

[BlueMeanieTSi]

Yes I don't find my work to be 'so precious' either. Its when people take an image you worked hard on and add way too much saturation or quickly convert to b/w and think that it instantly makes the image so much better. I on those types of edits I would prefer someone say "your wb is off, add more contrast, have you tried b/w?". That way I can take their suggestions and do them to fit my style/vision.

Why does that matter to you if they do those things?

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Yes I don't find my work to be 'so precious' either. Its when people take an image you worked hard on and add way too much saturation or quickly convert to b/w and think that it instantly makes the image so much better. I on those types of edits I would prefer someone say "your wb is off, add more contrast, have you tried b/w?". That way I can take their suggestions and do them to fit my style/vision.

Oh, I know where you are coming from, and I am not trying to change your mind.
After all, when asked, you allowed me to post a suggested crop.


But I see this as a learning environment not just for the OP (you for example), and sometimes those edits also get critiqued, and become examples of what not to do, (LOL) and everyone has a chance to learn, just maybe not you in that instance.

I see far to many people not take suggestions on board, and not post a re-edit themselves. I see fewer that don't even take the suggestion on board in future posts.

 

[paigew]

Yes I don't find my work to be 'so precious' either. Its when people take an image you worked hard on and add way too much saturation or quickly convert to b/w and think that it instantly makes the image so much better. I on those types of edits I would prefer someone say "your wb is off, add more contrast, have you tried b/w?". That way I can take their suggestions and do them to fit my style/vision.

Why does that matter to you if they do those things?

Look I am not here to argue about why my 'choice' to allow edits is the right one. I am not against edits or advice. I have learned sooo much from this forum. But I feel that I am now at a phase in my photography where I have a vision for each photo I process. I play around with different contrasts, curves, blacks, clarity, etc. I adjust everything manually. For me it is just getting annoyed at those who think they can improve my photo immensely by just hitting "convert to b/w" button. Or something like that. More so directed at people who are less experienced than myself.

The same as if I posted a pic on fb and someone did selective coloring on it. I would be annoyed. Thats it. I'm not against it. If you reallllly want to edit my photos go for it. I won't be mad, I won't sue, I won't block you. I will just be like "uh yeah, thanks but no thanks". . Maybe I will change it back to avoid people thinking I have too much pride It really is quicker to say "increase your blacks" rather than downloading, opening in Lr, editing, then reposting here. Just tell me what you suggest and I will give it a try! I love critique and advice

 

[fjrabon]

1) I view it as giving back, to some extent. When I first started doing post work, I actually probably learned as much about doing it from editing other people's photos as I did my own. To start, with my own photos, there was this sort of emotional attachment to them, that probably sort of hindered my ability to learn post very well. Working with other people's photos, there wasn't an emotional attachment, and I could really gain a better feel for what my 'post style' was, and how to do things, etc. I think allowing people to edit my photos possibly allows others to learn in that same way and get better with post.

2) Generally if I put something up here for C+C, I'm not totally happy with it 100%, but still think it's good enough to warrant showing and want thoughts. Even if I ultimately disagree with the edits, somebody presenting those alternatives and making me decide why I ultimately liked the way I edited it to begin with gives me a stronger view of my artistic vision. So, either they showed me something good that I didn't think about and helped me improve the photograph, or they showed me something I didn't like as much, but in the process helped me better understand what I like about my art, and in defending it, why I like that aspect of it. Either way, good has come.

3) in cases where somebody does a poor, not well considered edit (which is what many of the 'not ok to edit' people seem to be afraid of), most of the time other commenters will quickly come on and say they prefer the original.

4) You gain valuable insight into how viewers take your work in. By seeing their edits, you get a feel for what they saw, what they saw as needing to be enhanced, changed or deleted. I have an okay idea about how I feel about my work, but it is helpful to visually see how others feel about it as well, to know if Im communicating what I wanted to get across. If someone totally changes my photo to show something totally different, it may mean that I wasn't clear enough in what I was trying to convey for them to be able to 'get it'. The artist cannot complain that an audience doesn't get their work. Part of the job of the artist is to enable his audience, whoever they may be, to understand their work correctly. If the audience doesn't get it, the artist has failed, not the audience.

 

[BlueMeanieTSi]

For me it is just getting annoyed at those who think they can improve my photo immensely by just hitting "convert to b/w" button. Or something like that. More so directed at people who are less experienced than myself.

Maybe I will change it back to avoid people thinking I have too much pride

It's 100% a pride issue, with a bit of bigotry on top.