I suppose if I really wanted to I could stitch all of these elements together in Photoshop, but 1) the idea wouldn't necessarily occur to me, and 2) it was a hell of a lot easier to just see it and shoot it.
You've all heard the expression, "I'll fix it in post." It's the photographer's way of saying that he won't sweat the fine details. Instead, he'll polish up the image in Photoshop or whatever other image editing tools he has on hand.
Now please understand: I have nothing against Photoshop or post-production. I use Photoshop myself, along with a host of other image editors. It's just that having had the benefit of years of experience, I'm quite clear on what you can't fix in Photoshop and would be foolish to try.
I also try to avoid having to spend an hour in Photoshop to fix something that would have taken a few seconds to correct beforehand. I find it helps to keep these things in mind when I'm doing a shoot where second changes are either impossible or unlikely. What follows is my list. If I've overlooked anything, please feel free to contribute.
1. Camera position
If you're not as close as you'd like to be you can crop, but if you're too close there's no way Photoshop can help you zoom out. True, stitching multiple images together into a panoramic could help, but even here some camera positions are better than others. It's a lot easier to make sure the camera is at the right height and angle before you release the shutter than after.
2. Lighting direction and quality
If the sun is at high noon, Photoshop can't help you make it look as if was low in the sky, and vice-versa. Similarly, it's hard to transform a cloudy, overcast scene into a bright, sunny day. You may be able do it if you have enough supplemental lighting or light modifiers, but again, these come into play before you release the shutter, not after. The better the quality of light is to begin with, the easier time you'll have in post.
3. Image out of focus
De-focus is easy. Bringing an area of the image that's out of focus back into focus is next to impossible. Sharpening helps with minor imperfections, but it's no substitute for the real-deal. That's why you should aways check for critical focus whenever possible before you take the shot. You'll be glad you did.
4. Image blurred by camera and/or subject motion
This is another one where there's very little that Photoshop can do to fix something that's broken in this particular way. Although image stabilization or a sturdy tripod can minimize or prevent camera motion, there's nothing they can do to prevent subject motion. Sometimes there's just no substitute for a fast shutter speed, more light (supplemental if necessary), or both.
5. Lost data
Every digital photographer who has a clue what they're doing knows that there's no much you can do to recover highlights that are more than a stop over-exposed, even if you shoot raw. Some of us tend to forget, however, that under-exposure can be a problem too. Although you can boost the brightness of areas that are darker than you'd like, you also boost image noise when you do it. You'll usually end up with a lot better image if you make sure the dark tones get enough exposure, even if you have to use supplemental lighting or reflectors to do it.
6. Lack of vision
I'm not referring to literal blindness, although Photoshop can't do much for that either; I'm refererring to a lack of any real concept, intent, purpose, or creative spark. If it's just another photograph, just another mundane recording of a common subject or event, you won't find what you're looking for in Photoshop. Combine clear vision with a mastery of Photoshop, however, and you'll be a force to be reconned with.
So that's my list. Have I overlooked anything obvious? In any case, what you'll find that all six items have in common is that if you don't have your act together before you press the shutter, you drastically narrow your odds of doing so afterwards. And if you should discover that your images are perfectly fine as-is, with no need for additional tweaking, well, I ask you: Would that be so bad?
Actually - number 3 is on the chopping block. Topaz has a plug-in that corrects out of focus. Its a bit iffy, but this is the first generation of the filter. Count on it improving. Number 6 is the killer that leads to all the rest.
Posted by: John W | March 11, 2011 at 07:29 PM
This is a great list. I heard B&H were selling an "unsuck" filter to fix most, if not all, of the above issues. Bresson had one, and so did Ansel Adams. But it's heavily backordered, though.
Posted by: Syed | March 11, 2011 at 09:56 PM
Gee rub it in will yea.
Posted by: John Krill | March 11, 2011 at 11:54 PM
Digital photography has really made it possible to do more editing in post than I would never attempt with film.
I do like your list and it does speak well to the issue of learning and using your camera well and uderstanding what would be better done with software.
In my case, my aging digital camera does not do some things very well and understanding that allows me to shoot so I can take advantage of both the tools in my camera and my software.
I agree that there is no fix for a poorly concieved shot or simply not using proper care before you click. Thank goodness, with digital, if you think you blew it, it's easy to shoot a few more and see if you can do a little better.
Thanks for keeping us on our toes!
Posted by: Dennis Ernst | March 12, 2011 at 09:08 AM
So, it's still about the basics. lol
Seriously, your points reinforce what you have said in past columns. No matter what wizardry you can perform after the fact, nothing beats getting in right when you press the shutter. And more shots won't make it better. :)
Posted by: Paul Van | March 13, 2011 at 11:05 AM
John and Paul,
I hope I'm not beating a dead horse here guys, and I certainly don't want to get on the bad side of two Apostles. It's just that I find post-processing to be sooo much easier when I've got my pre-processing act together. Maybe if I was master at Photoshop I'd feel differently. I'm here to tell you, I'm not.
Posted by: Gordon Lewis | March 14, 2011 at 08:59 AM
My take on post-processing:
Ah, Love, could Thou and I with Fate
conspire,
To grasp this sorry scheme of things entire,
Would not we shatter it to bits, and then---
Re-mold it nearer to the Heart's desire?
With apologies to Omar Khayyam, and
Best regards to everyone else!
Stephen
Posted by: Stephen S. Mack | March 20, 2011 at 07:00 PM
I will try this. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: writing online | March 30, 2011 at 10:32 AM