Is it okay to be a photographer who uses photoshop?

Question

Helloo.
Okay, so I really love taking pictures, it's my passion. And like my only hobby hahaha.
But I also really love photoshopping pictures to make them look really good. But when I do this, I just feel bad, like I'm cheating or something. I don't completely alter the photo, I just change the colors and lighting. I know it's probably okay since I'm only 14 years old, but should I try to break this if I want to be a real photographer when I'm older? Thanks a lot. :)

p.s., here's an example of what I do:

http://i11.tinypic.com/48qhy83.jpg


:)

Answer 1

It is entirely okay to use photoshop in processing your images.

At this point in time, it is safe to say that photoshop is used in virtually all aspects of professional photography - even photojournalism. In photojournalism/documentary practice, photoshop is limited to corrections of technical issues: ie slight color and contrast adjustment, photomanipulation is not allowed (although it happens-and woe be it to the publication and photographer who gets caught doing it!) A rather famous example of this is National Geographic moving the Pyramids so they'd all fit on the cover. The magazine was called to account for it by the journalism community, and swore NEVER to do it again. In this age of digital photography, photoshop is the darkroom-it is just fine to process your images in the manner you described in your example shot.

As an old school photog who grew up using first a black and white darkroom then later a color darkroom, I can tell you that photoshop allows me to make even better images than I could before. I was limited in my ability to dodge and burn by the fact I only have two hands, and one can only stop the lens down so much, and they can only cover so much of the print during the exposure time. Using layers, I can adjust every part of the image in any manner I choose, and I can take as long as I need to get it done. Also, if I don't like the result, I can delete the layer and try again. I don't waste paper, chemistry and time on a print that is not perfect.

So photoshop to your heart's content darling!

Keep shooting and have fun.

Answer 2

While photo journalists have to be very careful about how they manipulate or post process photos in photoshop, just about every other photographer does this freely, and in fact, skill with post processing is just as important as skill with the camera.

Even when film is developed, there are lots of things that can be done to lighten or darken certain areas or adjust the contrast or focus. No different than post processing in photoshop, just more complicated. Even with digital, when you shoot a JPG, your camera processes the photo for you when it converts the raw file to JPG. You can control how these adjustments are done on most cameras, so again, the image is being manipulated. When you shoot in raw mode, the same thing happens when you 'develop' the raw image.

Bottom line is - don't worry. Have fun, post process all you want, and keep your entusiasm strong. You can even experiement and try new things. Photography is a wonderful thing that gives you a chance to not only stop time for a moment, but share with everyone else how you see the world. I can't think of a better way to express oneself. Nothing more truthful than that...

Answer 3

It's perfectly fine to use Photoshop, if using it makes the picture look great. Why do you think they call it PHOTOshop? Professional photographers use it all the time to touch up pictures, because, let's face it, even the best photographers run into things that are beyond their control. So, they need to touch up every once in a while.

Answer 4

Most in the artistic community split this into two parts: a photographer would consider editing a photo as "cheating" if the person who took it tried to pass it off as an original unedited photo. Most argue, that at the point of editing a photo becomes no longer a photo but a piece of art. Such is the case with retouching and such. However, in a less formal environment editing is commonly used (say for instance a photographer is tasked with taking photos for some gathering). In this case the photographs are being commercialized which legitimizes the use of editing.

Answer 5

There are different extremes of photoshop - It really comes down to personal beliefs I think, but the way I look at it is that if you are making alterations that can be made in a darkroom (like contrast, color correction, light/dark, dodge/burn, dust removal) it is still standard photography. I heard of a guy adding a 3rd animal to an image by using photoshop to clone from another into a photo and selling it - this to me is not photography, but digital art. Still an excellent image, still art, but not a photograph anymore.

Answer 6

It's fine. Unless...

Unless you're a photojournalist. You know, the people who take pictures for news stories. It's unethical (and against every major press company's policies) to alter a news photograph -- the public needs to trust that the press shows things as they are, not as they want them to look through Photoshop.

But as an artist or commercial or portrait photographer...go right ahead, alter away. It's about art and beauty in those cases...however you get the final result is fine.

Answer 7

Almost every photographer uses Photoshop, and the more you can learn about it, the better!

Levels is about the most useful tool ever for digital images. At photo.net, they don't even consider slight levels adjustment as manipulation.

Color management is a little harder to grasp. Your adjusted photo is very cold colored on my calibrated monitor Skin tones are harsh, but the levels look pretty good, I like the boosted contrast. Maybe that's the color you were after, if so, pardon my interruption!

Keep on shooting and adjusting to your heart's content!

Answer 8

It's art so of course it's okay. You have to make your photo look how you want it to look, and that isn't always possible with just the click of the shutter, so look at it this way, some artist value spending genuine time on your work, and it makes the image more worth doing, and photoshop gives you that extra time with your image.

Answer 9

It's great u do this b/c you're one step ahead of any amateur photographer. In the "real world" of photography, all ALL professional photographers use Photoshop. Good Luck and Don't Fret!!!

Answer 10

Well you can see that you can improve your pictures which is good, try to use this to learn what you are doing wrong when you take the picture, so that eventually you will know the right setting for all conditions, and get the results you want.
Every one makes mistakes so learn from them.
You can also see loads of photos that have been manipulated by professionals on purpose for special effects.