oh, I’ll fix that in lightroom or photoshop

Preventing Editing Overload

Yes we all thought that when we were free of film and processing, we had arrived at a no-cost free zone—after the original expense of the digital camera. The computer system that processed our images was going to extend our creativity into new horizons. We started to take pictures of anything and everything. The downside of the “I can have everything” attitude, though, was spending a lot more time in front of a computer screen editing images rather then paying attention to the details in the camera viewfinder and getting it right from the start.

Digital photography has certainly democratized Photography.  It allows us to freely experiment with different forms of visual expression.

But the time required to review, edit, and process can defeat the advantage of this enhancement to the creative process. Learn to think before you shoot and focus on what it is you’re trying to communicate with your images. Certainly, shooting rapidly during a sports event is required get the best shot sometimes, but with a bit of practice, you will soon learn to anticipate where the action is and learn the best angles and perspectives to photograph. As they say, life is not a race but a journey. Appreciating the visual impact you can make with your photos is a learning process that requires you to edit closely, keeping only those images that express your vision.

Bite your tongue every time you hear yourself saying, “oh, I’ll fix that in lightroom or photoshop.” better to get the best shot you can while shooting than to count on using software later on to fix your photo.