Post-Editing: Enhancement or Erosion?
In the quiet rhythm of daily photography, the question of post-editing lingers like a shadow behind the lens. Should we intervene? Refine? Reimagine? Or should we let the image stand as it was—unfiltered, unaltered, unadorned?
This isn’t just a technical debate. It’s a philosophical one. And like most things worth considering, the answer isn’t binary.
✅ Arguments For Post-Editing
Clarifying Intent: Editing can help distill the emotional core of an image. A subtle crop, a tonal adjustment, a shift in contrast—these aren’t distortions; they’re decisions. They guide the viewer toward what matters.
Technical Correction: Cameras don’t always see as we do. Post-processing can correct lens distortion, white balance, or exposure issues that misrepresent the scene’s true mood.
Creative Expression: Editing is part of the artistic process. Just as a painter chooses pigments, a photographer may choose to deepen shadows or mute colours to evoke silence, tension, or awe.
Consistency of Series: For projects like Clouds and Weather or Letters of the Alphabet, editing ensures visual coherence—so each image speaks in the same tonal language.
❌ Arguments Against Post-Editing
Loss of Authenticity: Over-editing risks turning presence into performance. The image may become more about technique than truth—more about polish than perception.
Detachment from the Moment: Editing can distance us from the original experience. The raw image holds the memory of the light, the air, the silence. Alter it too much, and that memory fades.
Viewer Distrust: In an era of filters and manipulation, viewers crave honesty. An untouched photo can feel more trustworthy—more earned.
Creative Overreach: Sometimes, editing becomes a crutch. Instead of refining our eye in the field, we rely on software to “fix” what wasn’t quite right. That can dilute the discipline of seeing.
🌫️ Where fotos by faj Stands
At fotos by faj, the answer is clear: no more than a few seconds of post-editing. Nothing beyond what could have been done in-camera—cropping, exposure, white balance. No retouching. No manipulation. No drama. This isn’t a rejection of editing. It’s a commitment to presence.