capturing the light, contrast and depth we perceive with our eyes. However, no amount of "doctoring" in Photoshop can ever fix bad composition, an out of focus image or create light where there was none. No amount of post processing can fix the nine rejects out of every ten photos that I shoot. Most photographers today do use some amount of digital processing to enhance or optimize their images. Because many photographers shoot in RAW (a file format that preserves every single detail captured by the camera) their images actually require processing before they can be viewed or printed.
What many people don't realise is that all cameras start with raw data and convert this data to JPG images with software inside the camera. They then throw away the raw data since it's no longer needed. So a certain amount of processing or "doctoring" occurs in all cameras.
I optimise my images in an attempt to convey what I saw and felt at the time of shooting a scene. If the colors or light were not present at that time, then it's impossible for me to add it afterwards. I employ various techniques including the use of various filters, long exposures and creativity to capture the image in camera.
At the end of the day, every image comes back to what you captured in your camera in the field, on the day. In fact, my process in the field is always more time consuming, complex and entertaining than it is in the digital darkroom. Throughout the entire history of photography, a photographers technique in the field had to be near perfect. And indeed, the same holds true today.
