1 Tip To Improve Your Photography. Photoshop is NOT Helping You!

I’ve just published my latest video: Photoshop is NOT Helping You! 1 Tip To Improve Your Photography . 

Photoshop is not helping you. Composition theory will. Improve your photography skills: from composition to visual storytelling.

#PhotoshopEditing #PhotographyPhilosophy #CompositionTheory

Impact of Photoshop on Photography

Join me on a journey of self-discovery as we explore the impact of Photoshop on our photography skills and learn how to improve composition photography and master composition photography. In this video, we’ll uncover the hidden truth behind the philosophy of “fix it in post” and how it affects our approach to composition, visual storytelling, and the fundamentals of photography.

The Value of Composition and Visual Language

As someone who has been in the photography industry for years, I have witnessed the evolution of post-production from a niche tool to an essential aspect of the photography process. However, with the rise of post-production, I believe that we have lost sight of the value of composition, visual language, and the fundamentals of photography, including photography philosophy and photography fundamentals for beginners.

Practical Tips to Improve Your Photography Skills

Through personal anecdotes and stories, I will share my insights on how Photoshop Editing has changed the way we approach photography and how it has made us worse at it, but don’t worry, we will also delve into practical tips and strategies to improve your photography skills, including how to improve your composition photography and improve your composition, master composition photography, and understand composition theory photography.

Avoiding the Dark Side of Post-Production

From the over-reliance on editing apps to the neglect of visual storytelling, we will explore the dark side of post-production and how it hinders our growth as photographers. You will learn how to avoid the mindset of “fix it in post” and instead focus on learning the fundamentals of photography, including how to improve composition in art, composition skills photography, and how to improve your composition photography.

Appreciating the Fundamentals of Photography

By the end of this video, you will have a new appreciation for the fundamentals of photography, including composition theory photography, and the role of post-production in enhancing, not detracting from, your skills as a photographer. So grab your camera, sit back, and join me on this journey of discovery.

Takeaways

Here are five action points you can take away from this video:

1. Don’t rely too much on post-production to fix your photos. Focus on improving your composition skills and getting the best shot possible at the point of capture.

2. Remember that post-production is not a magical solution to make a bad photo great.

3. Avoid the mindset of “fix it in post” and instead focus on learning the fundamentals of photography.

4. Understand that editing is an important part of the photography process, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of composition skills.

5. Approach photography with the spirit of getting the best shot possible at the point of capture, as this will ultimately make you a better photographer.

 

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Improve Your Photography – Transcript

Photoshop and Photography

I think its pretty clear Photoshop has changed photography… but I think its also made us worse at photography.

The Evolution of Editing

I’m a little late hearing about this, but I recently found out Photoshop is 30 years old!

I remember saving my pennies up in, it must have been around 1999, to buy my first copy of Photoshop. Photoshop LE.

At the time, I was in my late teens and broke, so one hundred pounds SHOW LABEL ON CD was a big investment. But it was also a statement of intent. Buying that copy of Photoshop in 1999 was the first time I invested in shaping my future.

In the years since then, Photoshop’s become a pretty big deal. I mean it’s become a verb now.

Post-Production. Editing. Retouching. Photo-Manipulation.

Whichever term you prefer – it’s an essential part of the photography process.

Capture. Edit. Publish.

The Way We Take Photos

But here’s the thing. It hasn’t always looked like this.

Your typical 1990’s photographer didn’t edit their photos.

Editing just wasn’t part of the typical workflow then. When a roll of film was finished, you sent it off to get developed. The first time you got to see your photos was days later, when this envelope turned up in the post.

Editing is Part of Self-Expression

The way we take photos has completely changed.

Most of the billions of new photos published every day have some post-production applied to them. Anything from a professional retouch to an Instagram filter.

In fact, publishing an unedited photo is so rare today, that we feel compelled to point it out.

#NOFILTER

Thanks to Photoshop, publishing without editing… just doesn’t feel right anymore.

The idea actually makes me anxious. Editing is part of my self-expression.

The Value of Composition

Almost every photo needs some tonal adjustments, some cropping, some color grading.

In my mind, an unedited photo is like a RAW material. It still has to be carefully worked into the final product.

It’s pretty clear Photoshop has changed photography. I think it’s also made us worse at it.

Post-Production and Composition

So how is Photoshop making us bad photographers?

Post-production is big business. We’re inundated with apps that promise to “fix” our photos.

Brands like Adobe want us to buy into the idea that, whatever happens, you can “fix it in post”.

They’re elevating the value of post-production at the expense of composition.

The Importance of Learning Fundamentals of Photography

I think that’s a terrible philosophy, because it takes you away from learning the fundamentals of photography.

I have a South African mate who’s a photo-retoucher. He says the worst part of his job is when clients send over a bad photo and expect the post-production process – him – to fix it.

OK. That’s not quite what he said. His exact words were “You can’t polish a tur…”

Post-production is awesome – but it’s not magic.

Improve Your Photography

Your retouching skills shouldn’t come at the expense of visual language or composition skills.

In the 90’s, if you wanted to end up with a great photo, you had to get it right at the point of capture. There was no post-production cushion.

Maybe we should still create photos in that spirit. Making sure we get the best photo in camera will not only make your post-production much easier… but it’s going to make you a better photographer.