Which excites you more: taking pictures or post processing?

Shooting for sure . . . but, when my shot is PP'd, and I send it off to get printed on canvas, and then stretch and mount it, and go into my woodshop and make the perfect custom frame, then hang it on the wall . . . THEN I get the biggest thrill!

Problem is, running out of wall space . . .

Tee Why wrote in post #9850769
Both. If I really have what I think is a great image, I can' wait to get home, look at it and start processing it. If I don't care, then I know the shots stink.

+1

I enjoy shooting dance recitals, but the initial sift through the aftermath to see what went right and what "missed" is almost as good.

The ensuing several days of plodding through the thousands of pics doing the actual, full blown PP (straighten, adjust exposure, noise reduction, sharpen, etc) to get them ready for posting can get to be a real chore.

Shooting. I find PP to be... stressful.

sjones wrote in post #9853355
I think most folks here responding try to first 'get it right' in the camera: post processing is not merely a corrective exercise. Also, just to note, twiddling with saturation, color, sharpness, and other parameters in camera is effectively post processing.

Not to argue semantics, but PP is POST PROCESSING - meaning the actions you take AFTER pressing the shutter release. The beauty of getting the exposure, white balance, saturation, color, sharpness, etc right (i.e. before I press the shutter) means I don't have to twiddle with that on a per-image basis later, because the camera applied those settings for me as I hit the shutter. True I can do a batch in DPP or lightroom, but having to open each image to see if it needs the formula is doing something to each image.

I know that it can be fun to add touches to images, even making more of a painting than capturing an image. But in general when going through 2000 shots from a wedding, PP just plain sucks.

timbop wrote in post #9856505
Not to argue semantics, but PP is POST PROCESSING - meaning the actions you take AFTER pressing the shutter release. The beauty of getting the exposure, white balance, saturation, color, sharpness, etc right (i.e. before I press the shutter) means I don't have to twiddle with that on a per-image basis later, because the camera applied those settings for me as I hit the shutter. True I can do a batch in DPP or lightroom, but having to open each image to see if it needs the formula is doing something to each image.

I know that it can be fun to add touches to images, even making more of a painting than capturing an image. But in general when going through 2000 shots from a wedding, PP just plain sucks.

Well, that's why I said 'effectively.'

The adjustments made in camera are actually applied to the image after the user presses the shutter, albeit very rapidly, but post exposure digital manipulation has nevertheless taken place. That one might adjust saturation, for example, in camera or in software afterward is inconsequential in terms of "getting it right in the camera."

The reason I made this comment is that some people, and I ain't pointing fingers at anyone specifically, believe that making adjustments in camera for jpeg is a purer approach than those who work on the computer; that they aren't 'manipulating' photos like those who use Photoshop, even if the person using Photoshop makes less drastic changes to the original image.

One offers more convenience, the other more control, but it would be nonsensical to imply that a photographer who shoots in RAW is invariably "getting it wrong" in camera because digital manipulation usually must takes place on the computer. (The issue also kicks up the glorious RAW vs. JPEG debate, but I digress…)

Using a popular reference, Ansel Adams was, if anything, technically psychotic about "getting it right in the camera," but it was in his darkroom where most of his images attained their gift. If one can get exactly what they want straight out of the camera, that's great, but it is not necessarily a badge of honor, let alone an indication of superior skill…just means someone decided to twiddle with saturation at a different time than someone else. It is effectively the same thing as far as I am concerned, even if they might have different advantages.

Again, my comment is directed at a general attitude that some people have adopted.

I understand what you're saying sjones, and would like to go on record that I by no means am disrespecting those with great Photoshop skills (mine suck). I have a much more pragmatic approach as I mentioned - I am lazy and don't want to spend hours removing a background I didn't notice, for example. I know that the camera is applying settings as the jpeg is created (although I usually shoot raw). However, it is the camera doing the work to get the result close to what I wanted to see - which reduces my workload on the backend and satisfies my need to do as little work as possible

Similar was asked of me when I was shooting film.. What do I enjoy most,, the shooting or the darkroom?? Shooting everytime..

Shooting or post processing?? Shooting everytime!! I try to get everything right in the camera to limit my time in front of the computer..

timbop wrote in post #9857388
I understand what you're saying sjones, and would like to go on record that I by no means am disrespecting those with great Photoshop skills (mine suck). I have a much more pragmatic approach as I mentioned - I am lazy and don't want to spend hours removing a background I didn't notice, for example. I know that the camera is applying settings as the jpeg is created (although I usually shoot raw). However, it is the camera doing the work to get the result close to what I wanted to see - which reduces my workload on the backend and satisfies my need to do as little work as possible

Don't you ever visualize more in an image than can be done in the camera? Is that where your vision ends?

It's all of a piece. There is no separation, the entire thing is called "creating an image" and the shooting and processing are both part of it. I love the feeling of knowing when I'm getting a shot that it's going to be really good. And I love the feeling in processing when it comes together and matches my vision. I saw this in black and white when I shot it:

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

hmmm, should I take this bait.....

OK, for the most part I do not add anything in postprocessing. While it is true that I can manipulate colors to be more rich than they should be, I do not. While I occasionally clone elements out of an image, I don't generally intend to use the clone tool. I prefer to use a reflector or flash to control lighting, rather than inserting styles. I do absolutely adjust WB and exposure, and often use curves to "correct" an image. I also love B&W, but do the B&W conversion in post.

One of my favorite wedding shots to do is a night shot whan the sky is a nice deep blue-black. It takes a little practice to get it right (and know when the sky is right). With the right exposure, it makes for a great image. I could insert a fake sky, but to me that is too much effort. I guess I am either lazy, or unimaginative.

Here's a mediocre sample I happened to have handy:
http://pricelessimages​.net/kim/images/dpp_00​49.jpg

Adding on to my last comment, I don't feel the same attatchment when post-processing as I do when I work in the darkroom. For both film and digital I like shooting more. But with digital I don't have that satisfaction of pouring my time into a print and getting it just right.

Shooting, and PP ...but i find myself drawing a blank with what to do with every image

Definitely taking the pictures... But the PP is important to make it look best

TAKING THE PICTURES!! I hate editing!

I love shooting!!

However I also love coming back from shooting; dumping the heavy bag down (in the gentlist of ways of course) settling down in a comfy chair; throwing some music on, grabbing some food and starting to look at the results properly. If the shooting went really well (good light, agreeable subjects, etc....) then often I can't wait to get a proper look.
Most of the times that its a drag to edit are when I am going through the less than fantastic shots or when I have a shot that takes a lot of processing and corrections to get just how I want it. Or if I have focus stack that is not working out well (major headache those - but oh os fantastic when they work!)