Taking, or making photographs?

Just reading a couple posts and its something I discuss a lot with friends etc..

In this world of digital imagry etc, are we now making photographs as against taking them? Many of you on here will know I dont care for all this photoshop stuff, to me, the art of photography is learning how to take that perfect photo in the first place, not altering everything in an imaging suite then showing the picture. I am aware its a contentious subject, but how do you feel?

I will often sharpen or crop an image, but rarely anything else, for one Im crap at it, (probably because Im not interested in it, so dont study it) and secondly I think photography should be all about taking the perfect photograph. With my recent B/W pics, I said I wanted to learn how to make them better and perhaps not alter them, so how do you guys feel.

Should we be learning about photography and striving for the perfect image by way of knowing what you are doing? or, does it matter if the contrast, exposure is rubbish, because photoshop will correct it and it will look ok?
Dawn.

I see the camera, editing software and everything else that you use to take/modify pictures as your tools.

To me, it's the end result that matters - some people are great with the camera, some people are great with editing, whatever floats your boat I guess.

I have however noticed that those that don't like/put down/slag off, people editing photos are usually the ones that are not very good at it themselves, and I wonder how different their opinion would be if that wasn't the case :- /

Personally I like seeing the end result, and I don't mind how someone got to it. Those that get to it one way get that kind of respect, and those that get to it another get that kind.

For my own photos I try to take the best possible photo I can to begin with - so my editing usually involves just the following:

• Resizing (/cropping if really required)
• Levels
• Slight sharpening (to compensate for reduction in size)
• And occasional use of the clone stamp tool (to remove any foriegn objects)

I just don't have the time to spend ages on an image, and would prefer to be behind a camera than a screen (as I'm sat infront of one all day anyway!).

However I wouldn't mind getting into HDR at some point - love some of the ones you guys have posted here.

Well if that was aimed at me Azz, you are way off line! Photography IS taking pictures, NOT changing all the bits that are wrong just to make it look right, that is image manipulation to my way of thinking. If I studied PS till the cows come home, and even seeing what is done by some of the people on here, I dont care for it, I have always said that. I have NEVER bought an imaging suite, I was given BOTH of mine, PS is rarely opened.

I agree with the crop, sharpen (as I said) stuff, and on a few occasions have removed a lead from a dog, but thats my limit. Whilst I appreciate many will like to change the pictures they take, to make them look better, it isnt for me.

I will try to learn how to do things properly, and limit what changes are made, whilst I can see how people like these changes and effects, "fantasy photographs" (not my wording on another forum!) are more editing than taking. Its not a gripe, nor a slur on anyone, anywhere, its personal feelings, rarely would I comment on them, although there have been a few on forums that I have because I genuinely did like the overall effect.

I believe that photography is art ..and art can be almost anything Some of my images come straight off the camera and I do nothing to them...some I love to tweak and HDR ..it just depends

Art is ..well ..just art I think ...and you either like it or don't Sorry, Dawn, can't give a better answer than that

When I will always try and get the best shot when I take the picture, though a lot of times I will crop, sharpen, clone, part of this is I have took what I think is a great shot, it looks great on the viewfinder only to look a bit off when I put it on the pc.

I also like playing around with ps although I am not that good at it, but if I was I would still play around to see what things can be done to maybe improve. I think it is part of photography these days and some of the things people can do is amazing and an art form in itself, but like many other hobbies/professions people will always disagree

I have to come down on the side of Dawn as you may have already guessed by other posts of mine. When I take a photo I want it so that when looking back at it, may be years later, it is what I actually saw and not what I think I saw.

Of course there are arguements for both sides, there are those who want to have the best picture possible, nothing wrong in that, and those like myself who go for the purest route.

It also comes down somewhat to either being a professional photographer whose living is selling photos or a keen amateur who wants the best as well but without too much alteration.

I was told once that the better the photo in the camera the less alteration afterwards. This still holds true today.

A case could be made that those who rely tremendously on editing are not very good photographers, conversely it could be argued that why settle for second best if a photo can be inproved upon by editing. This discussion I don't think will ever be resolved and as said by others it is personal preference.

Bazza

Yes mel, thats what I mean, you either like it or you dont.

I agree with that Stormey, what looks good at such a small size sometimes looks rubbish when its bigger!

Mmm dunno about that Bazza, I think those that do PS stuff are very talented, its just my personal choice that I want to learn to take better pictures, and in my eyes image manipulation is not taking good photographs, its changing the parts of those you are noy happy with.

Lol Dawn it was just a general observation.

I think it just boils down to personal choice - I like to see the positives in both tho, I have respect for the top photographers, and I have respect for the top editors, and everyone else in-between... I just like seeing a good image, however it came to be

I think those of us who started out in film are more aware of composition & avoiding "blots on the landscape"....like people in a scenery shot, telephone wires & things.
I like to fill the frame with the image as much as possible & not crop too much.
But, on the other hand, I'm a whizz at cloning,using curves & noise ninja if I have to "rescue" a shot.
I also like to use natural light as much as possible...so some shots whilst technically not perfect are natural looking & that is my style.
I like to think people can look at my work & know I took it because of my style.

Oh I don't know ...I don;t RELY on editing but CHOOSE to edit ..now does that make a crap photographer?

The same scene, 2 different pics, both of which I really like, one HDR and one not ..