Let's take cropping for instance. That's a form of postprocessing that makes the shot better! Yet people sometimes just show the shot as taken. let's face it, you have to be darn good to have the perfect set-up while taking an action-shop.
Ah, I have to agree on the cropping. The presentation can make all the difference, just as the mount & frame of a painting. Most of the photos I post here are cropped but I never regarded that as post-processing. Some people seem to consider it as cheating but photgraphers have been cropping their photos almost since photography was invented.
On the other hand, why not postprocess to raise the quality of your work? The ultimate goal should be to do as little work on the shots as possible, but when you have the possibilities, why not do it?
That's fine if you want to spend hours tweaking your images. I set out to learn how to take the best shots possible with the equipment I have by using the camera/lens settings. This is not always possible & a little enhancement (in IrfanView or PSP) can improve a disappointing photo, especially if it was a rare opportunity that you messed up.
Otherwise I would go back & hope to do better next time.
As you know, I spend most weekends during the season at air displays taking photos of rare & interesting aircraft. I like to get them in the air where they belong rather than on the ground. Unfortunately the weather doesn't always cooperate & most airfields in this country seem to be the wrong way round for ideal photography with the light just in the wrong position while the show is taking place. Duxford is a good example of this & even Bones
Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 3:51 pm
.
