Re: In the early mornng rain.

Thanks Glenn,

You hit the nail on the head. Photoshop has gotten a bad rap as it has been used to fake and distort so many images. It is to the point where I am often asked "Did you Photoshop that image?" The question is not asked in a positive way but implying that I was being dishonest.

I have been a member of the National Press Photographers Association since the early 1970s....I am in retired member status now. The NPPA code of ethics states....

6. Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.

I have removed power and phone lines from some of my railroad images. It is always a tough decision when doing that. Sometimes it is not possible to get in a spot where the lines are not visible, so you encounter the question....is my image journalism or art? In art, anything goes. In journalism you are dealing with truth (or you should be).

Sorry if I rambled a bit, it is not an easy topic to discuss as a lot is technology and a lot is personal opinion. A lot has to do with what are you going to do with the image. I often make different versions of my images depending on if it is to be used online or in print media. I have had a lot of photos published in magazines and sometimes the editors have asked me to produce a specific file for their publication. Print editors do not like washed out highlights (they like clouds in the sky) or shadows with no detail (railroaders like to see the running gear).