best features in Photoshop CS6

[haven]

What features make Photoshop CS6 worth the upgrade from earlier versions of the software?
Martin Evening, writing for DP Review, finds five reasons.
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/0648361571/photoshop-cs6-top-5-features-for-photographers

 

[haven]

Tangential question: Is a Photoshop creation a photograph, or some other form of art? I know that photographers have used darkroom wizardry since the invention of the craft, and several photographers depended heavily on post-production alterations in the darkroom (Ansel Adams, for example). But Photoshop and similar digital tools go far, far beyond what a darkroom magician can accomplish.

How often, and to what extent do you use Photoshop?

I have a friend who specializes in erasing people from photos. Don't want your ex-husband in that extended family photo? No problem!

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

There is a fine line in the proverbial question of "How much is too much?" I think.

I like to use CS5 to tweak a few things, maybe boost some saturation or take a bit out depending on the image. Maybe clone out a hair that was out of place or an unsightly mark the person doesn't want shown. But I see some images posted around the web and Facebook and think, "There is no way you can call that a photograph! That's more artwork than photography!"

I also think if you're intention is to make the image with a camera, then manipulate it to the point of cartoon or drawing, then don't try and pawn it off as a photograph. Just say "Look at this art I made" and I'd probably respond "Wow, that is a really cool piece of art!" but would argue if you tried to say "Look at this photo I took."

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

The comments below that link are the best part of the read....********

 

[haven]

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/1photo-pages/the_making_of_the_pilbara_storm.shtml

Here's a description of how a striking landscape "photo" was created using Photoshop.

 

[Lost Canadian]

But Photoshop and similar digital tools go far, far beyond what a darkroom magician can accomplish.

Photoshop just makes it faster, but photographers have been pushing the limits of the medium long before Photoshop arrived on scene.

Case in point, this is Jerry Uelsmann's darkroom work that spans decades.

I don't use Photoshop, but have no problem with those who do. At the end of the day it's about the image, how you get there is irrelevant in my books. The only caveat is when images are used for journalistic purposes. Photojournalism requires a certain level of honest interpretation. Manipulating a journalistic image too much, such as adding or removing elements can create ethical quandaries.

 

[Honu]

We have a post production company and do a lot of ps work mostly for the wedding/portrait crowd and just work with pros
I have this analogy going back to film days LR or doing raw is like the wet side and PS is like the dry side
Back in the late 70s through 80s time when I really got into the zone system and shot mostly BW in the 90s I shot all color underwater mostly shot lumiere film
So always say I love digital ! i can develop my negative if you want to call it that multiple times for dif looks etc... And dodge burn etc.. And print as many copies as I want


Every image dodge burn enhance contrast or reduce and general pop the photo a bit more
The most common fixes
Remove bags under eyes enhance eyes stray hairs fix up distractions such as exit signs etc...
The not so often but common remove people usually meaning distracting people coming from behind someone etc..
Add people that were missed in the group shot remove major things such as telephone wires and poles and fences etc...

My own commercial work much like the thread On LL you linked to totally enhance whats their
I tend do do everything on layers and use masks a wacom tablet and my own customized Xkeys

Example on some of my wedding work again just pop whats there
I am not a fan of the overdone plastic skin look so I try not to overcook photos just enhance !

remove the girl behind the bride


Touch up eyes general pop

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

I'm with Honu and Trevor, there are multiple ways to look at this but I'd have to agree with Trevor's point that each image is the artists interpretation of what they want you to see.

The work he posted is outstanding and coming from a darkroom background, that is hours upon hours of darkroom mastery!!!

 

[grimbo]

I use it to enhance the photo like this example. Have done the final images for a years of this comp.

The models are street models, in other words friends of the hairdressers in the comp. the photos are professionally taken but then I have to stylize, clean up and manipulate the shots for collateral etc

So in these cases it's cleaning up the backgrounds to white, clearup spots and stray hairs etc, fix blemishes, enhance the colouring, some body sculpting work, fix skin tones, etc

In the end the idea is to make it look like nothing has been done

As to cs6 to be honest the upgrades haven't been that groundbreaking in my day to day use and to be honest it's been a pain in the proverbial getting it to run properly with our server