Photo Editing

Have you ever photoshopped one of your pictures, even in the slightest to make the contrast better or brighter? I certainly have, infact I feel like I do that with all of my pictures. Am I to blame it on my small camera (a Cannon PowerShot SD600), or is it really an artistic vision that could not be improved with even the best camera out there? Most "nice" cameras use filters and other built in devises to improve the image right when it's taken. This seems to me that perhaps photo editing really does improve the photo, and some photos need a little lighting adjustment to make it look like what we saw with our own eye, and tried to document.

This blog post was inspired by a couple of artists that said it better, here is the link to the page, some of the comments are wonderful. PLEASE READ!  http://meowgli.deviantart.com/journal/poll/2082069/

I thought I'd add a few of my own photos to show the differences from before and after I edited them.
Before editing:

After editing:

 

Another point I'd like to make is that I believe that it doesn't matter what kind of equipment one uses, as long as it can capture your vision. Litterally in what you or I see, and figuratively in story or meaning....Btw I'm not saying my work is as good as my vision, I have so many ideas for cool shots, but I often feel like I don't have the time or the equipment to do them. That's why most of my shots in the last couple of years have mostly been macro shots (from my backyard). That is where I think I've become an expert of sorts.

Here are a few other examples of mine of before and after photo editing:

Before editing:

After:

Over-editing ;)

Anyways, I think to conclude this post I'll say, editing can bring an individual's perspective and vision to life. And it does kind of depend on what equipment we use. Good cameras are great, but one still needs the "artistic eye," and small cheaper cameras are also great...if I use photoshop. ;) However I have gotten a lucky shot or two that hasn't "needed" any editing, but like one of the artists said in the link, even Ansel Adams would edit his images a tiny bit in the dark room...

I would also like to say, God is the great artist, and we are lucky to get to capture and document memories and beauty for our own pleasure. Photography is an art and can definetly be fun....and photoshop is fun too....

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