New member here! Question for everyone...

[MidnightRider]

Hello all, Im finally getting into digital photography for real. Purchasing a G5 within the week and will be trying to get back into my photography as a full time hobby.

Digital is such a fascinating medium to work with and I have a question about proper etiquette.

Ive shot with digital in the past (mediocre or even bad quality cameras) and many times I have taken my photos and removed things that I feel remove something from the photo. For instance, if I shoot an outdoor shot, and there is some garbage on the ground, beer can whatever, I will edit that out of the pic with either Photoshop or Micrographx. Is this acceptable? Or would it be considered "cheating" to alter an image from its true form when you took the photo?

When I used to do my own film processing and darkroom, I would sometimes burn or dodge out as much of certain things as I could so that the viewer of the image would not be distracted by something unintended like power lines, beer cans, or something else.

On the same token, I would never, ever ADD anything to a picture that was not there.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks!

Midnight Rider

[gsmx2]

MHO

Even when shooting film and processing my own photographs, I would crop an image, dodge to bring out some detail in a highlight, or do what I could to get a better print.

So although I try to get the best image onto the sensor I can, I won't hesitiate to work it over some if necessary.

One of the advantages of digital is the ability to remove an unwanted telephone pole, wires and such. And if I can take some fireworks from one shot and add them to another shot to fill up black space....I'll do it as long as I am not trying to create a "substantive duplication of the scene as I saw it."

gsm x2

[CyberDyneSystems]

It's only cheating when YOU think you have taken it too far, otherwise all ids fair in love, war and photography.

Any way,. what you mention is mere developing tricks.. no one could fiind fault with that.

[neil_r]

In the bad old days, I had to hang around for hours for those buggers to move out of shot, now I can make whole tour busses disappear….

Neil

[mvrekum]

It all depends on what you want as a final result. I for instance try to keep my images as unretouched as possible. That means that I look first, before I take the picture.
If there is junk in the background that I do not want, I look for a different background rather then editing it later in photoshop or other tool (or remove the junk if possible).
However, when I photograph people and a person has some inconsitancies (spelled right?) on the skin that are normaly not there, I edit that.

Anyway, looking first is better then editing later.

Martin

[GPR1]

It depends on what I want to be the end result of the picture. If I want to accurately record a scene, I only apply editing that helps me accurately record the scene -- levels and curves for basic tonal values, cropping for effective composition, etc. These things have anologous processes in the darkroom (where I started).

When I'm creating an "art" shot where I'm not claiming "truthfullness" but trying to create a mood, I'm more willing to clone out objects, etc.

Greg

[MidnightRider]

Excellent information guys. Thanks! 8)

[RichardtheSane]

I agree with a lot of what has been said, but I would still like to add my bit.
First good choice on the G5. I just got one as a backup to my 10D and it is a remarkably good camera.

I like to get the composition as good as possible on the sensor, but may need to do a bit of cropping in some shots. I also like to have the scene ready to just do my cropping, then adjust levels, curves etc. I don't like having to remove things from a shot unless I have to. I would rather go and pick it put and move it (if it is litter on the floor or something similar) or wait for people in the way to get out of the frame. Often setting up and then waiting is a good way to meet people too, maked the day more interesting if you have had a chance to discuss what you are doing with people.

At the end of the day if I can record the image in the frame as I visualised it then I am not cheating.

[shniks]

Hi, in case you want to hear more I asked exactly the same question in this forum and got lots of replies. Check out:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23943
[/url]