Whenever I show someone my photographs, the first question asked is usually, “Are these photoshopped?” As if that somehow implies the photographs aren’t real or that I’m somehow trying to deceive them. Unfortunately, the arrival of the age of digital photography also brought on the age of digital manipulation. No longer did one need special skills to manipulate a photograph (digital image). Moving pixels from one place to another, adding or subtracting parts of an image, or even creating images from nothing all became commonplace, leading to the skepticism of nearly everyone.

People seem to have a reverence for film. The perception when looking at print photos is that film equals truth. Everyone knows that when you shoot film or produce a print from a negative, what’s there, is there, and it cannot change. Therefore, film equals truth, and digital equals skepticism.  Unfortunately, neither film nor prints deserve the reputation or the credit they have been given.

How Photoshop® Is Used In Film Photography

Many tools found in the digital world of Photoshop, originated in the analog world of film and darkroom. Through careful exposure, filters, and processing, there are many ways to affect a negative to produce the desired print result. For instance, when shooting black and white, I might use a polarizer or red filter to darken the skies, making them more dramatic. Used in conjunction, I can make the sky black while leaving the clouds white. Through careful metering—and even more careful development—I can increase the dynamic range (highlight and shadow detail) with that same film far more than what's considered normal. In the digital world, this is what is referred to as High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography. By previsualizing my photograph, I can manipulate my film to get the desired results—just as I would a digital image.

Photoshop & the Dark Room

Once I get into the darkroom with my negative, a different set of tools are available. As in Photoshop, I can burn and dodge to add or subtract light from certain print areas while it is being exposed. If I want to take it even further, I can make a weak positive of the image to sandwich with the negative, producing more contrast and increased sharpness. This is where the term "Unsharp Masking" originated, which is used in today's Photoshop to sharpen digital files. Using filters, I can add or subtract contrast, and if I'm working with color, I can saturate or desaturate as desired. Once finished printing, using careful development, I can coax details out of the print that might not be evident otherwise. 

So, in answer to their question, my images are always photoshopped. I view it as a continuation of my darkroom days and use it as a tool just as I would have when using film. Burning and dodging, unsharp masking, and filters were all available to me in the darkroom, and are still available to me now. The medium has simply changed.

For beautiful quality photographs, contact Dan Rowland Photography of Akron, OH. Dan is a trusted freelance photographer with over 25 years of experience capturing his client’s most memorable moments. He specializes in family portraits, nature photography, and abstract art, working closely with each client to provide them with one-of-a-kind photographs. Visit his website to view a gallery of his work or call (330) 671-4382 to request an appointment.