Post Processing: Less is More or More is More?

[Sky Blue Iris]

There's always the debate as to whether a good photograph is enhanced by editing or if a good photo should stand on it's own right off the card. I spoke to a local photographer, mostly shot flowers/plants, who said she felt correcting color or contrast or and creative editing was untrue to the subject matter and made it "fake". I'm of the opinion that if I want to see a grove of aspen trees depicted exactly as they're seen through a lens, I'll go outside and look at a grove of aspen trees. If I'm making a photograph of those trees I want the photo to seem better than reality, the colors richer, the sky bolder, the leaves vibrant. Not to the extent where it looks cartoony or heavy handed but just augmented enough to seem distinct.

So what about you, do you prefer to leave your shots alone and let the content do the talking or do you think that any shot can be enhanced with some tasteful (or experimental) editing?

[lputman]

Have you read through this thread?
Am I odd that I'm not interested in PP?

[Sky Blue Iris]

Originally Posted by lputman

Have you read through this thread?
Am I odd that I'm not interested in PP?

Um, no. No I had not. I guess this makes a redundant topic.

But, mine has a poll!

[TheKingInYellow]

Originally Posted by Sky Blue Iris

Um, no. No I had not. I guess this makes a redundant topic.

But, mine has a poll!

Sorry, I'll try harder on my next post

[OsmosisStudios]

I post process to enhance what is already there or emphasize something: that's acceptable to me.

[Sky Blue Iris]

Originally Posted by TheKingInYellow

Sorry, I'll try harder on my next post

No worries. I didn't mean to overlap your post. Hey, we shoot with the same gear!

[sk66]

sometimes what I "see" or feel can't be conveyed by a literal translation...I do quite heavy editing at times.