In Neil's example of fixing the blown highlights in the sky - that's just overcoming the camera's dynamic range limitations. If anything the first version WITH the blown highlights is the incorrect/manipulated one. If you were standing there looking at the scene your eyes would show you the final fixed version. So yeah, I'm all for this. (Though if the shadows/highlights are clipped RAW is not going to save you).
In a similar vein, I'm all for correcting lens distortion and light fall off, because again, it's not what your eyes would have seen, it's a limitation of the lens. (Although personally I think the distortion from some superwides looks cool). Likewise white balance, colour tone or contrast correction, nothing wrong with that, if the camera got it wrong, just fix it in post. Also, fixing red eye, removing dust spots, lens flare and hot pixels, surely this is par for the course?
I agree with those who state above, however, that when you start adding and removing stuff you're on shaky ground. Or those air brushed portraits - yuk. |