Has Photoshop made it too easy?

Has Photoshop and similar programs made photography too easy? What?! Some of you who have followed me for a while may think this is totally opposite of what I’ve written about in the past but bear with me.

I think I have somewhat figured out why the anti-post-processing crowd may believe what they believe, at least some of them. I think they may believe Photoshop has made it too easy. They struggled to learn how to “do it in camera” or some types of photographs were nearly impossible for them to create because their darkroom skills weren’t as advanced. Now comes along Photoshop, Lightroom, and similar programs that have opened the doors to advanced processing of images that were nearly impossible or, at the very least, difficult to achieve. Some of them are the, “I suffered and struggled so you must suffer and struggle as well” crowd.

I’ll be the first to admit that many of the past masters of photography were fabulous photographers. They knew how to use their equipment, but also remember that in those days, they were the very few. The numbers of photographers were a mere fraction of those today. I’ll also admit it has become easier to do some awesome advanced techniques just as masking, sky replacements, element selections, and compositing but to make the images look natural takes practice and honing of skills.

Every advancement in technology has met, at least, some resistance from previous generations. People complained about the advancements in transportation, computers, television, and communications.

No! Photoshop hasn’t made it too easy. Photoshop and similar programs have just changed the technology. I’m older and have been involved in photography for 40+ years. I love the advancements in technology. I also don’t have a problem with keeping the “old ways” alive. There is room for us all. There is enough respect and admiration for us all.