Question about camera and post processing

I'm new to everything so please forgive any lack of understanding on my part. I love photography and am trying to understand how everything relates and how to produce a great photo. I'd like to think that getting a great pic straight out of the camera is possible the majority of the time and that's what I should strive for, but it seems even those with bounds of experience use post processing to improve their images. Is this (post processing) just part of the game, that you can't have digital photography without it? Or is it possible to sharpen your picture-taking ablilities/camera skills such that there is minimal need for any post processing? Thanks for any thoughts.

Depends on whether you shoot RAW or jpeg. You can get away with minimal pping with a jpeg, but RAW requires a little more effort.

daystar,
Yes its possible to get great images from your camera without post processing needed. You can fine tune your camera (I don't know what you have, I suggest putting what you use in your signature) by adjusting the color, saturation, sharpness and white balance to get excellent prints with no software editing needed.

The way you phrase the question seems to indicate that you think its either a good "capture" in camera, or its a rescue job in post processing.

Nothing is further from the truth. It is important to do both to the best of your ability. A poor image will allways be a poor image, nothing will ever change that, but a good image with good, imaginative and sympathetic post processing will produce something you will be proud of.

In camera pre-sets will only ever be a "best-guess". Personally I only shoot RAW and this allows me to make my decisions once I've got my image safely home. I don't allow the camera to do even minimal sharpening, thats my job.

Thanks for the replys! I do need to add some stuff into my siggy. I've got a Canon Rebel 300D.

Lowner wrote in post #6123485
The way you phrase the question seems to indicate that you think its either a good "capture" in camera, or its a rescue job in post processing.

Nothing is further from the truth. It is important to do both to the best of your ability. A poor image will allways be a poor image, nothing will ever change that, but a good image with good, imaginative and sympathetic post processing will produce something you will be proud of.

In camera pre-sets will only ever be a "best-guess". Personally I only shoot RAW and this allows me to make my decisions once I've got my image safely home. I don't allow the camera to do even minimal sharpening, thats my job.

Yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head as far as how I perceived the relationship. Again, still learning and trying to figure all this digital stuff out. I currently don't have any pp software so I don't understand alot of the process that so many use (layers, curves, etc.). I feel overwhelmed just trying to get it together with the camera! LOL

daystar wrote in post #6123401
is it possible to sharpen your picture-taking ablilities/camera skills such that there is minimal need for any post processing? Thanks for any thoughts.

It depends on what you're looking for. There are some kinds of photography (HDR, for example) that can't be done in-camera. Many people's tastes run to a level of contrast, saturation, and sharpness that can't be done in-camera. Many other people don't want to put the effort into learning how to nail the photos in-camera. And for many people the fun is in the computer work and not in the camera work.

Myself, I moved away from post-processing and toward getting the capture the way I want it. I haven't post-processed a photo in about a year and a half. That's my personal preference. I make no claim that it's right for everyone, only that it's right for me.

The DReb/300D doesn't have the range of in-camera image adjustments that later cameras do, so it'll be more of a challenge for you. Pages 51-57 of the manual pretty much cover all that you can do.

Doug Pardee wrote in post #6123556
It depends on what you're looking for. There are some kinds of photography (HDR, for example) that can't be done in-camera. Many people's tastes run to a level of contrast, saturation, and sharpness that can't be done in-camera. Many other people don't want to put the effort into learning how to nail the photos in-camera. And for many people the fun is in the computer work and not in the camera work.

Myself, I moved away from post-processing and toward getting the capture the way I want it. I haven't post-processed a photo in about a year and a half. That's my personal preference. I make no claim that it's right for everyone, only that it's right for me.

The DReb/300D doesn't have the range of in-camera image adjustments that later cameras do, so it'll be more of a challenge for you. Pages 51-57 of the manual pretty much cover all that you can do.

I think this is what I would hope for for myself........being able to get the shot with the camera and not have to depend too heavily on pping. I can't go spend a huge amount on a new camera at this time, but for something to consider in the future, what might you recommend for the casual photographer trying to grow in skills/ability?