In photography, the art and ethics of photo editing face questions quite often. I see comments mostly in the social media space in addition to general conversations. Questions from non-photographers stem from not understanding how photography and post processing go hand in hand. Other questions arise out of expectations of the viewers perspective. Specifically, is the image different from reality? Is it altered?
Or, one of the most common questions, “is that image Photoshopped?” For the record, this is not a bad question. In fact if someone asks me if It’s edited, my response is “Yes, absolutely.” Overall, I find people understand and appreciate the post-processing aspect of photography.
There are both photographers and non-photographers who consider various post processing techniques to be fake, or just don’t prefer that type work.
In reality, if we were a painter, an artist in sculpture, or other media, these questions just don’t typically happen. Imagine observing a Plein Aire event. Then, at the following art show someone asking the painter, “was that bridge really that red?”
Let’s delve into the art and ethics of photography and also why questions potentially arise around ethics of photo editing. We’ll start with how we respond to feedback (or criticism). Then, we’ll cover reality versus creativity in our work.
Our Art and Ethics are Called into Question
As photographers, at some point in our social feeds or conversations, our process is challenged. When we put our work out there, it’s inevitable. Many of the questions are coming out of curiosity, seeking understanding. Sure, there’s a few out there that share negative feedback too.
For the most part in the negative situations, I see most photographers responding politely and moving on. How we respond to the negative comments impacts our own reputation and personal brand equal to that of producing great work. When someone is overtly ugly, my approach is not to respond.
If they’re simply sharing that they think it’s over-edited, I’ll say thanks for sharing your perspective. After all, they have the right to share their opinion as we put our work in the public forum.
Before engaging in negative banter, as the owner of your work, especially on Social, consider the word, “stop.”
It takes years to build our brand. The relationships we build – friendships, clients, mentor/mentees make us stronger in our craft. Imagine a potential client looking at your work and getting ready to comment and they see us engaging in negative, name calling dialogue with someone who critiqued our work. Ouch! Or, we’re on another page engaged in negative commentary. Double ouch.
It’s easy to taint our reputation, it’s much harder to rebuild it. Sure there are times where a position statement from the artist is warranted. How we deliver that message elevates, maintains or negatively impacts our brand. Our attitude and response IS the only thing in our control.
Shooting in RAW for Editing Control & Flexibility:
In today’s digital age, photography and editing continues changing. Add in the capabilities of AI and more questions surface. High-quality digital cameras and sophisticated editing software give photographers more control and processing liberties than ever before.
One common practice among photographers is shooting in RAW file format. RAW files are conceptually similar to the digital negatives of a photograph. These files preserve all the image data captured by the camera’s sensor.
In essence, shooting in RAW enables photographers to have maximum control over many individual elements that make up the final image. Examples of these elements include exposure, color balance, color, sharpness and many more. Just like a painter maintains control over their canvas.
The Art and Ethics of Photo Editing
The debate surrounding photo editing often centers on the question of ethics. Some viewers argue that extensive editing misleads the audience and creates a sense of inauthenticity. They view such manipulations as a departure from the truth, comparing it to “fake” art.
However, this viewpoint neglects the fact that the photograph itself is a creative medium. Photography is art. Period. It is one of the fine arts. It is up to the photographer to interpret creatively or factually what they captured in the field using their process.
Furthermore, the notion of “authenticity” in photography evolved over time. Photojournalism and documentary photography aim to capture reality as it is, but artistic and fine art photography have different goals. These genres often seek to transcend reality and evoke emotions, allowing for more extensive post-processing.
Photography & Factual Story
Here are two examples where what you see is what you get is required of photographers.
- Journalistic work – It is up to journalistic photographers to represent the reality of a given situation. News, biographies need to show facts to convey accurate information. Edits are typically minimal such as removing sensor dust, lifting shadows, exposure so the image maintains viewing quality whether on screen or in print.
- Contests – Some contests call for specific requirements. Nature photography contests across many organizations require following post processing guidelines. Raw files are inspected prior to announcing the top awards in many contests to ensure compliance.
Photography and Creative Artistry: We’re Sharing Our Story of the Moment
When we delve deeper into editing, it becomes more about conveying a story. How a given moment makes us feel.
Photo editing is an integral part of the process for many photographers. Painters mix colors on their palettes or choose different brushes to achieve their vision. Photographers use many editing tools, even digital brushes, to refine and enhance their images. Post processing involves working the elements to create a unique and visually striking result.
Photography and photo editing is the work of a visual artist, allowing them to express their creativity and convey emotions through their imagery. While the final image is not always a literal representation of the original scene, it reflects the photographer’s artistic interpretation and vision.
Photographers do not need to explain their creative process unless they choose too. For me personally, my work varies based on my subjects and intent at the time of shooting and/or in post. From reflecting the actual scene (as seen the White Crowned sparrow above) all the way to changing, adding or deleting elements in an image, my intent is to keep evolving my work over time.
Art and Ethics: Conclusion
In the world of photography, shooting in RAW and using advanced editing tools are common practices allowing photographers to express their vision to the fullest. While some view heavily edited photos as “fake,” it is always important to remember that photography is an art form. The photographer is the artist.
The artistic process involves interpretation, imagination and creative expression. Just as a painter can move a tree in a painting or add flowers where there were none, photographers shape their images to convey their own unique perspective.
In the end, unless for a specific category of work, it’s not about whether an image is “real” but whether our interpretation of the story speaks to the soul and evokes emotions.
