Does Photography Really Need Post-Processing?
Photography is all about playing with light and shadows, while post-processing is often seen as the step that gives a photo its soul. However, the debate over whether photography needs post-processing has been a hot topic in the photography community.
The question is, does photography truly require post-processing?
In this article, you will learn:
- The Debate Around Photo Editing
- Is a Straight-Out-of-Camera Photo Truly "Real"?
- How to Properly Adjust Photos in Post-Processing?
- Conclusion
The Debate Around Photo Editing
Some people argue against post-processing in photography, saying that a photographer should focus on taking photos, not editing them. If editing becomes a big part of the process, they claim, the photographer turns into an editor instead of staying a true photographer.
Another common point is that editing often changes the original look of the photo, making it feel less natural or authentic.
Some photographers believe that only unedited, straight-out-of-camera shots truly show a photographer's skill. They think heavy editing can feel fake and might hide the photographer's actual abilities.
In extreme cases, editing can even involve creating an entirely new image in Photoshop. For some, anything made on a computer doesn't count as photography. They insist that only unedited photos capture the real joy of the art.
Our take? Except for photojournalism, which has strict rules against editing, all other types of photography can absolutely involve post-processing.
Is a Straight-Out-of-Camera Photo Truly "Real"?
Many people claim that photos straight out of the camera are the most "real," but this idea isn't entirely accurate. So, where does it fall short?
First, the human eye's dynamic range and color perception are far beyond what modern cameras can achieve. The human eye is like having 576 million pixels with seamless optical zoom. Now think about it—how can a simple JPG file straight from the camera ever match that level of "reality"?
A camera's high dynamic range (HDR) is based on sampling and simulating the real world, and only RAW files can capture that level of detail. In contrast, the "HDR" we experience with our eyes is actually a result of how the brain processes what we see.
If you truly want your photos to reflect the world as your eyes see it, shooting in RAW is the only way to go. And if you're shooting in RAW, how can you avoid post-processing?
Further Reading:
Let's take Sony cameras as an example. The straight-out-of-camera results can be pretty disappointing. Even with improvements in newer models, issues like inaccurate white balance and unnatural color science still persist.
Sony's dynamic range is often praised, but if you've ever looked at an unedited RAW file, you'll know how rough it can look. Just take a look at the photo below — you'll see what we mean.
Does this reflect the real scene? Probably not. No one sees the world like this because the human eye naturally adjusts with built-in HDR capability.
In fact, post-processing has always been a part of photography — even in the film era. After taking a shot, photographers would bring the film into the darkroom for development, which is essentially a form of editing.
If all you do is take the shot and leave it at that, it's just a piece of film — not even a photograph yet.
With today's advancements in technology, photographers don't need to avoid post-processing altogether. It can be a useful tool to enhance their work without compromising their vision.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with photographers who prefer straight-out-of-camera images. Their concern about post-processing ruining the authenticity of a photo is completely valid.
We also can't ignore that overediting does happen and can be a real problem.
How to Properly Adjust Photos in Post-Processing?
Most photography enthusiasts generally dislike excessive post-processing because it presents a non-objective world of colors.
You might wonder why many top photographers globally have photos with very obvious or even exaggerated post-processing.
However, these photos can be categorized as art rather than just a documentation or reproduction of the real world.
The key to moderate post-processing of photos is to respect the original style and intent of the photo while avoiding over-processing that could distort the image. Here are some practical suggestions that might help you:
1. Define Adjustments Goals
Before making adjustments, think about the effect you want to achieve. For example, do you need to increase brightness to compensate for underexposure, or do you want to enhance a particular mood or atmosphere?
Having a clear goal will make your adjustments more efficient.
2. Maintain Naturalness
Avoid pushing color saturation too high, excessive sharpening, or adding too much contrast, as these can make the photo look unrealistic.
Continuously compare the image before and after adjustments to ensure that the processed result does not deviate too far from the actual scene.
Making small adjustments multiple times is often more effective than making large changes all at once.
If you want to adjust parameters more efficiently and precisely during post-processing, consider trying out TourBox, a creative console beloved by many photographers and digital artists.
With TourBox, you can easily adjust parameters by simply turning its Knob with one hand to increase or decrease values by +1 and -1. This beats the hassle of dragging sliders with a mouse, which is neither precise nor efficient.
The best part is that TourBox's tactile feedback and user experience make editing photos feel like playing video games with a controller - fun and engaging. If you're interested in TourBox, click on our photo editing page to learn more.
3. Avoid Unnecessary Additions
Try to steer clear of excessive filters or over-editing, such as unnaturally adjusting the color of the sky or smoothing skin to look like plastic.
Moderate adjustments should appear "invisible."
4. Stick to Shooting in RAW Format
RAW format captures more details and dynamic range, giving you more room for adjustments in post-processing.
You can make more flexible adjustments to exposure, white balance, and other parameters while maintaining image quality.
5. Familiarize Yourself with Different Types of Post-Processing Software
Choose the right tools based on your needs.
For instance, Lightroom Classic is suitable for quick adjustments on large batches of photos, while Photoshop is better for detailed local adjustments.
Conclusion
No one can guarantee that every photo they take is flawless. Post-processing can help fix small imperfections and make your photos stand out even more.
For certain types of photography, like time-lapse, it's simply impossible to achieve perfect results straight out of the camera. Post-processing is an essential part of the workflow.
The debate over whether photography needs post-processing will probably never end. But in our view, neither completely avoiding it nor over-editing is the right approach.
The best practice is to adjust your editing based on the specific needs of each photo. Keep the focus on the photo itself, using post-processing to enhance it rather than overshadow it.
Or, you can use editing to add a creative, artistic touch to your photos, giving them a unique flair.
