See a lot of chat here about what a photographer does in a photo program after the image is transferred to the computer...
As a journalist, I need to create images that reflect the actual scene as it is at the time the shot is taken. Altho, as with any print or slide film, and in the darkroom, some variation of contrast and exposure time always happens to the beneift of the image itself.
But, I'm wondering how much is acceptable in any 'reality venue' as opposed to a photo showing how our world appears at any given moment. We capture one infintisimal portion of our world as it exists the second we push the shutter button.
I do very little processing after the fact for that reason. However, I began as a film-slide journalist years ago and have grudgingly given in to the DSLR, at first due to cost variables in my work, but lately, just because it works, is easier, and most publishers want digital now anyway. And in addition, I know very little about PC programs and DSLRs as to what they are actually capable of, but know it's way, way, way more than I'll every use.
SO, I wonder how we justify making all these digital inhancements to the world, or in some cases even, to overcome our own personal limitations in our shooting ability. Am, I'm absolutely guilty of it as well, so am not pointing fingers here. Just curious how we - as photographers - justify changing that view of the individual moment we've captured.
I'm setting aside the shots we do for advertising and other media here - but simply asking the other journalists in here how you perceive these processing changes and what effect it has on how you approach your work. I personally change very little, brightness, contrast, and sharpen practically all I use under most circumstances, and when I shoot my images ( almost exclusively outside work or well lit interior sports), usually set it up as if it's an old SLR without all the fancy tricks in the camera itself.
So, why buy DSLR, you ask? Because it works well and is effective and efficient in the field ... so what about you other folks out there??? What about the digital inhancements you use ... and how do you feel about its 'reality', its true portrayal of that moment in time we memorialize. Just Curious .... M 44