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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Death of Basic Editing?
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01/06/2010 08:36:05 AM · #1
For two weeks now there have only been advanced editing challenges. Is heavy pp so prevalent that we can no longer have a challenge without it?

I personally would love to see some minimal editing or ZERO editing challenges.

Joe
01/06/2010 08:50:10 AM · #2
Well, for me. . .I say "Good Riddance" to basic editing. It's not that I heavily pp my work, but I loathe putting a photo out there that could be turned from ordinary to extraordinary with just a few advanced editing tweaks. And certain types of photos are just not going to be as dramatic or inspiring without some of that simple tweaking. Photographers in the day of Ansel Adams did it in the darkroom. It's nothing new. But it can certainly be what separates a photo from being a snapshot that anyone could have taken, to something that stops you in your tracks. So my vote: let them allllllll be advanced editing. I'm loving it!
01/06/2010 09:00:31 AM · #3
Originally posted by SandyP:

Well, for me. . .I say "Good Riddance" to basic editing. ... So my vote: let them allllllll be advanced editing. I'm loving it!


I'll drink to that!
01/06/2010 09:06:19 AM · #4
I agree too - 'Basic' images of mine are always sub-optimised.
01/06/2010 09:07:27 AM · #5
Originally posted by SandyP:

Well, for me. . .I say "Good Riddance" to basic editing.


Amen.

01/06/2010 09:09:43 AM · #6
Originally posted by Kelli:

Originally posted by SandyP:

Well, for me. . .I say "Good Riddance" to basic editing. ... So my vote: let them allllllll be advanced editing. I'm loving it!

I'll drink to that!

Me too! I think this might make DPC more attractive for non-members which in turn will bring up the participation which in turn might make more of the non-members become registered members. There are many times that I have dropped basic entries after shooting only because I haven't been able to remove a chocolate stain on a kid's lip or annoying dust spots on a sweather.
01/06/2010 09:12:16 AM · #7
Originally posted by jmulvihill:

... Is heavy pp so prevalent that we can no longer have a challenge without it? ...

Yes.

I for one get tired of seeing heavily burned photos (vignettes, isolation of subject material, etc...) in challenge entries, and the overuse of Topaz/HDR.

Basic editing challenges need to remain part of DPChallenge on a regular weekly basis IMO. There's something to be said for paying attention to your composition at the time of pressing the shutter. Plenty of "tweaks" can still be made in Basic that will do justice to a properly captured image.
01/06/2010 09:12:44 AM · #8
I like Advanced too, but don't forget, just because it says "Advanced" doesn't mean you can't do "Basic".

My photos need all the extra work they can get - so if I can skip Basic, I'm doing it :)
01/06/2010 09:15:20 AM · #9
I am trying to learn all of the PP software so it's giving me the chance to see what I can do. If they do get rid of basic editing.... it would be fine by me, but I too would like to see a challenge here and there with minimal or zero editing.
01/06/2010 09:25:28 AM · #10
Basic editing is half the reason I'm here. You should learn to take pictures with your eyes and camera and not depend on software to enhance your images. I do basic in advanced all the time. Nobody notices. ;)
01/06/2010 09:31:36 AM · #11
Originally posted by glad2badad:

I for one get tired of seeing heavily burned photos (vignettes, isolation of subject material, etc...) in challenge entries, and the overuse of Topaz/HDR.


Photographic skills seem to be suffering when contributors use these crutches (and overblown frames) to make up for a shot that suffers from being out of focus, poorly exposed, or other some other basic technical skill. As a regular voter, I am feeling that many of the challenges are rather poor quality these days.
01/06/2010 09:36:15 AM · #12
I'm wondering if this moan is actually a weekly event. Yawn. ;)

Message edited by author 2010-01-06 09:36:54.
01/06/2010 09:42:09 AM · #13
for the next week at least...

Extra Rules: Note: One more week of Open Advanced Editing Challenges!

(I copied that from the extra rules in Tuesdays challenges.)

Letting the non paying members get a taste of what we pay for, hoping they'll jump aboard. Nice pitch ..I like the basic editing even though I groan about it sometimes..It makes it more of a challenge to me...and that's the reason here..to be challenged. (imo)
01/06/2010 09:42:41 AM · #14
Originally posted by clive_patric_nolan:

I'm wondering if this moan is actually a weekly event. Yawn. ;)


A good reminder Clive - thanks for the wake-up call; too easy to get pulled into the discussion.
01/06/2010 09:46:48 AM · #15
Originally posted by Jac:

Basic editing is half the reason I'm here. You should learn to take pictures with your eyes and camera and not depend on software to enhance your images. I do basic in advanced all the time. Nobody notices. ;)

So do I. Most of my images regardless of editing mode are under the basic rules. But I still like the option to remove unwanted spots that makes the image less attractive.

The oversharpening and overtopazing and HDR's others are referring to is also possible and legal in basic editing. What many before used to do with dodge and burn (only allowed in advanced) is now automatically done in Topaz and Lucis Art which is allowed in basic.
01/06/2010 09:47:37 AM · #16
Originally posted by pineapple:

Originally posted by glad2badad:

I for one get tired of seeing heavily burned photos (vignettes, isolation of subject material, etc...) in challenge entries, and the overuse of Topaz/HDR.


Photographic skills seem to be suffering when contributors use these crutches (and overblown frames) to make up for a shot that suffers from being out of focus, poorly exposed, or other some other basic technical skill. As a regular voter, I am feeling that many of the challenges are rather poor quality these days.


I am starting to agree, the heavy processing of images is damaging this sites integrity IMHO. They sometimes look spectacular, but less like photos.
01/06/2010 09:49:26 AM · #17
Originally posted by liberty:

..I like the basic editing even though I groan about it sometimes..It makes it more of a challenge to me...

Yep. I know when I go out to shoot for a challenge it's easier to relax a little if it's running under the Advanced rules. I can clone out a stray branch or blur/burn a "distracting" element afterwards. Not so with Basic. Have to think a little harder and be more careful when getting a photo for the Basic challenges. I like that challenge (most of the time). :-)
01/06/2010 09:49:28 AM · #18
Fact; blue moons aren't blue and do not emit blue light. :)
01/06/2010 09:50:57 AM · #19
Originally posted by TrollMan:

Originally posted by Jac:

Basic editing is half the reason I'm here. You should learn to take pictures with your eyes and camera and not depend on software to enhance your images. I do basic in advanced all the time. Nobody notices. ;)

So do I. Most of my images regardless of editing mode are under the basic rules. But I still like the option to remove unwanted spots that makes the image less attractive.

The oversharpening and overtopazing and HDR's others are referring to is also possible and legal in basic editing. What many before used to do with dodge and burn (only allowed in advanced) is now automatically done in Topaz and Lucis Art which is allowed in basic.


I still do not understand why Topaz is allowed in Basic Editing. It shouldn't be. I too use advanced rules to spot edit or clone out unwanted electric powerlines or dust spots but that's about it. I rarely burn or dodge.

Message edited by author 2010-01-06 09:53:15.
01/06/2010 09:53:16 AM · #20
Originally posted by rob_smith:

I am starting to agree, the heavy processing of images is damaging this sites integrity IMHO. They sometimes look spectacular, but less like photos.


Aaaand, now if you don't process like this you get comments that your entry looks flat, dull and unimpressive. That's the only comment that I've gotten so far on my current free study entry. I tried to keep it real and for a shot that I think is one of my best of the year, I have the second lowest score of my time here at DPC.

It seems that the overprocessed look is the new normal here.

Hehehe, just wait for the Best of 2009. I've got a shocker for those who reward the gawdy, overprocessed look. It will be interesting so see if I am rewarded with a good score for pandering to the voters for a change.
01/06/2010 09:54:05 AM · #21
Originally posted by TrollMan:

... What many before used to do with dodge and burn (only allowed in advanced) is now automatically done in Topaz and Lucis Art which is allowed in basic.

Not true. Many an image on here is selectively burned to isolate and/or cover undesired parts of a photo, or to direct a viewer to a specific highlight of a photo. Can't do that (selections are against the rules in Basic) with Topaz or Lucis Art.
01/06/2010 10:00:26 AM · #22
Originally posted by yakatme:

Originally posted by rob_smith:

I am starting to agree, the heavy processing of images is damaging this sites integrity IMHO. They sometimes look spectacular, but less like photos.


Aaaand, now if you don't process like this you get comments that your entry looks flat, dull and unimpressive. That's the only comment that I've gotten so far on my current free study entry. I tried to keep it real and for a shot that I think is one of my best of the year, I have the second lowest score of my time here at DPC.

It seems that the overprocessed look is the new normal here.

Hehehe, just wait for the Best of 2009. I've got a shocker for those who reward the gawdy, overprocessed look. It will be interesting so see if I am rewarded with a good score for pandering to the voters for a change.

But once again: I still think that the ovcerprocessed look is more prevelant in basic editing since it is allowed at the same time as they need too apply it to the entire image instead of select areas.
Personally I like to use Lucis Art or Neat Image etc. in such moderation that nobody can see that I used it.
01/06/2010 10:14:09 AM · #23
Sounds like it's time for another minimal editing challenge!!!! Actually the only bad thing about Basic editing challenges is that all your comments come back saying stuff like "this photo would be much better if you edited out that shadow" (shadown can be replaced by branch, chair, hair, etc). Are you get the "The mole on her neck is distracting, you should have cloned that out". You think in advanced editing...the commenter would be right....in basic editing...i probably would have except I would be DQed.

Minimal
Advanced
Expert

is all we really need.....Minimal is pretty much straight from camera except you can get rid of sensor dust
Advanced (covers basic) and allows you to do selective editing
Expert allows you to combine photos into one and all that good stuff that I don't know how to do yet.

But I guess you need to leave basic in for those who don't pay.
01/06/2010 10:19:28 AM · #24
Originally posted by Jac:

Fact; blue moons aren't blue and do not emit blue light. :)

Color modification is allowed even in basic.
01/06/2010 10:42:25 AM · #25
Originally posted by albc28:


Minimal
Advanced
Expert

is all we really need.....Minimal is pretty much straight from camera except you can get rid of sensor dust


You can't in minimal. Straight from camera. That's it. You can resize. Rotate. Do ONE sharpen. Submit. That's it. You can't even shoot RAW. If you want to do a B&W conversion you can do a complete desat.

Personally I like things about all the different rulesets. Minimal takes post processing right out of the equation altogether and forces you to get that spectacular image with the click of the shutter and not your mouse. Basic allows a bit of flexibility and allows you to correct certain things that minimal doesn't allow you to. Advanced I think is what many (most?) people like in terms of freedom of editing. Expert is the free-for-all no holds barred set of rules.

All of them have their place. People managed to show us remarkable images regardless what ruleset is being used.

edit: Quick question - When was the last minimal editing challenge? Just wanted to look over the results again

Message edited by author 2010-01-06 10:43:45.
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