One of the most frequently asked questions I get is – do I edit (or more commonly – do I Photoshop) my photos? And often – it’s asked in a tone of voice that indicates that they think there’s something wrong or cheating about editing my photos before sharing them with others.
My answer is Yes! For me, as a photographer and an artist, capturing the image in my camera is just part of my process of creating a photograph. My photograph isn’t complete until I have edited it on my computer and created either a version for sharing on the web or a print.
When I get to place I’m considering photographing, I stop and take a look around to see what catches my eye. And only when have I thought about what caught my eye and how do I want to share that with others – do I take my camera out of my pack and start photographing.
As I photograph a scene, I’ll usually try multiple compositions to capture just the image I want. I’m likely to move around a bit to see how that changes my view. Oftentimes, I’ll try photographing from a higher or lower position. Frequently, I’ll change the lens that I’m using. At some point, I know that I’ve captured what I want to share – and then will pack my camera back in my bag and look for my next photo opportunity.
When I get home, I decide which of the images I captured best show what I want to share – and then start editing it. Editing is a vital part of my photo creation process. My camera, as wonderful as it is, only captures the exact scene before it. It doesn’t capture my feelings or what I was thinking about. For me to share those – I need to edit my photo in Lightroom and/or Photoshop – so that I can share what I experienced in the field with you.
With some photos, it only takes a few minutes and few simple tools to create my final photographs. Other photos – it can take a few hours of editing, a few conversations with Bill, and down time in between editing sessions to create a photograph I want to present to the world.
This is the process that works for me to create the photographs I want to create. I’d love to hear your thoughts about the importance of editing in the creation of your photos. Just leave your comments below.