Comments on: Photoshop Sign Removal

By: Maria Langer

Maria Langer — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:00:57 +0000

Joan: I think I used the Shadow and Highlights adjustment of Photoshop on the retouched shot. That would definitely explain the washout, especially in the shadows. My bad.

By: joan blake

joan blake — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:25:57 +0000

To my eye the second photo looks washed out. the sky color and shadows definitely suffered and so even as the sign is missing, so is the “punch” of the original.

By: Brian H.

Brian H. — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:53:34 +0000

I’m up in the air on this issue also. I’ve photoshopped a few things out of my photos, like wires going to barns, etc. Can’t help you, but I’m always in favor of authenticity, but sometimes that can ruin a good picture. : )

By: Patty Hankins

Patty Hankins — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:23:14 +0000

For me – what I”m willing to do in post processing depends on what my intended use of the photograph is. For something that is intended to document as closely to what I saw as possible – I do minimal edits and don’t remove things.

For photos intended to be displayed as fine art – I’m much more willing to do extensive editing. My goal is to share with the viewer what I saw and felt when I took the photo. And sometimes that means repairing a hole in leaf, removing a sign etc. I try to get it as close as I can in camera but don’t have a problem editing in photoshop. I’d just rather be photographing that working in photoshop :-)

I spent some time talking with Alain Briot about what edits to do when I attended one of his workshops. What he said was that for fine art photography – if someone painting the scene wouldn’t have added whatever it is (the sign, the damaged leaf, etc) to their painting, why should I feel like I need to leave it in my photograph? This really made me rethink how I use photoshop.

I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to what should or shouldn’t be done in photoshop or other editing programs. I think it’s more important that each photographer figures out what works for them and feels comfortable with their decisions.