Editing ??

In the following picture I plan to replace the broken bulbs in the scoreboard with "working" ones . This will be for parents only so I dont see it as an issue. Do you?

Is there a guideline about what is considered "legal" or accepted in terms of editing. Obviously adding a ball to an image is not appropriate but is there "do's" and "dont's" spelled out somewhere?

I am talking about for editorial purposes not for personall use. Thanks!

I wouldn't do it. The missing bulbs, IMHO, are not taking away from your images, and adding them in would just create a sundry of ethical issues that I don't think you want to deal with.

If it's only for sale to parents and to "fix" something that should be working then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

FWIW, if you're dealing with resale to parents, grandparents, etc... you really aren't dealing with an "Editorial" situation. To me, editorial would mean it were to be run in a newpaper or magazine. In that case, I wouldn't mess with anything more than slight levels adjustment and a crop.

If it isn't for editorial use, I say edit away to your heart's content. Why not make the picture the best you can if people are going to be framing it and showing it off to friends and family? I say go for it. If you are talking for editorial use, best to leave the bulbs burnt out.

I agree ^^ .

For its intended use, have at it. It's almost like removing a blemish off the face of the scoreboard.

BTW - You've got a '4' in the first inning, why not copy it over to the final, might be quicker.

There isn't anything unethical in replacing burned out light bulbs...now if you were changing the score by doing that...That would be a whole different story! I say go ahead and complete the picture, it will look better.

Your not changing anything that is even remotely important. Fixing the light bulbs is no more unethical than fixing red eye. Your just enhance what should be there.

Basically I was thinking that enhancing something that is already there is normal... adding something is not.

so I guess the bulb is already there ... I'm just switching it on

I say go ahead and change the score so that the other team shows as the winner on the scoreboard and see how many parents notice...just to have some fun!

LOL

For it's intended use fixing the bulbs wouldn't get you thrown in the slammer...might want to explain to people who ask that you did though.

For editorial however, "fixing" the lights would be a no-no as you're manipulating the image adding light that wasn't there. Remember there's been photographers fired over little things like that, heck even less. Adding (ex: ball), cloning (ex: cloning eyes to overlap red eye), subtracting (ex: taking out an eye to make him a pirate), manipulating (changing dark skies to blue) all no-no's. Even fixing blemishes could be considered a no-no editorial wise as they had one at the time of the shoot.

Other purposes are fine, look at American Idol and the fact that all those promotional shots thats not Simon Cowells body, its a stand in and they photoshopped his head onto it. Of course those are "photo illustrations" and not "photos".

IMO, the burned-out bulbs actually help tell the story. The ball field and the scoreboard aren't perfect. The condition of the field and the scoreboard is part of its charm and "real"-ness.

What if the paint on the scoreboard was chipped? Would you want to digitally repaint it? You wouldn't be changing the color of the scoreboard...

I say leave it exactly in its imperfect state. It's a local/city/muni field, with all the warts, burned out bulbs and everything else that make a local ball field interesting.

After all, it's not as though they were playing a The Fenway, were they?

You know Dennis, sometimes logic is just too obvious ...thanks

dmwierz wrote in post #5836391
IMO, the burned-out bulbs actually help tell the story. The ball field and the scoreboard aren't perfect. The condition of the field and the scoreboard is part of its charm and "real"-ness.

What if the paint on the scoreboard was chipped? Would you want to digitally repaint it? You wouldn't be changing the color of the scoreboard...

I say leave it exactly in its imperfect state. It's a local/city/muni field, with all the warts, burned out bulbs and everything else that make a local ball field interesting.

After all, it's not as though they were playing a The Fenway, were they?

These were my feelings basically, but you say them much better

Manutd101.... you said "sundry" and from there you lost me