A Series on using Photoshop
to Edit your Photographs

This will be the beginning of a series on photo editing. We will look at whether or not you should edit your image or just use the one your camera produces. For editing and post-processing images there are a large number of software programs available. Personally, I use both Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. Having used them for many years I am most comfortable with them so I will talk about Adobe Photoshop for this series. Whatever editing software you are comfortable using is also fine. The tools used may have different names or work slightly different in your chosen software, but they will give you nice results as well. Just remember the more you use it the better your results will be. 
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Part One
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Key Points About In-Camera Processing 
And Post-Processing


In-camera processing:​

​Modern cameras often apply automatic adjustments like white balance correction, lens distortion correction, and basic sharpening to the image as it is captured. These adjustments are determined by the camera brands tech people. They are designed to create an image that most consumers will be happy with straight from the camera. It also means each brand produces a slightly different final picture. These pictures are in a jpeg format. For many people this is good enough, they have something they can share right away on their social media. 
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Shooting RAW:
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Many photographers often shoot in RAW format, which captures the most image data without heavy in-camera processing, 
allowing for greater flexibility in post-processing. This allows the photographer the freedom to make the adjustments they want. 
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Post-processing software:
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Programs like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and other dedicated editing programs are used for advanced post-processing techniques like selective adjustments, noise reduction, and creative effects. These help you produce the photograph the way you remembered it. 
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Why Should I Edit My Photographs
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When you edit your photographs, it allows you to enhance the visual appeal of your images by adjusting lighting, color, composition, and other elements to better convey your creative vision, making them more impactful and professional looking, whether for personal sharing or professional use; essentially, editing helps you "fine-tune" a photo to match what you saw in the moment or to achieve a specific aesthetic. 

Do I have to edit my photographs?

Short answer...No!

If you are happy with the photograph your camera produced, you are good to go. But if you want more control with the final picture, find a good editing program and practice with it. The more you use it the more comfortable you will become.
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What are the Main Differences Between RAW and JPEG Files
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File size
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RAW files are much larger than jpeg files because they contain all the uncompressed image data from the camera's sensors. You are not able to post RAW files on social media.

Jpegs are the result of in-camera processing and some of the data is missing allowing for an image ready to be shared by the photographer. 
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Image quality
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RAW files have a wider dynamic range and greater color spectrum than JPEGs. 
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Editing flexibility
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RAW files offer more options for correcting exposure, white balance, and noise reduction. 
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Non-destructive editing
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With a dedicated photo editing program, you can make adjustments to a RAW file without permanently altering the image.
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Sharing
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JPEG files are smaller and easier to store and share, making them more convenient for situations where you're not as concerned with quality. After editing a RAW file it can be saved as a smaller jpeg file.

Here are some other things to consider when choosing between RAW and JPEG:
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Storage space
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RAW files take up more storage space on your computer, phone and memory cards. 
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Uploading
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You can't upload RAW files directly to social media or online.
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Shooting mode
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You can shoot in RAW+JPEG mode to get the best of both worlds. 
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Processing
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Some say that processing RAW files can feel like work and that it's faster to just shoot in JPEG mode. In today's fast paced world that's fine but you are losing control and quality of your final Photograph when you don't take the time to do your own editing.
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"Photography is art, 
art is subjective" 
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This means that while photography can be considered a form of art, the interpretation and appreciation of a photograph is subjective, meaning different people will have different reactions and understandings of the same image based on their own perspectives and experiences. 

​The photograph is yours to do what you want! 
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Some editing software available

There are many photo editing software options, 
including programs that are user-friendly, 
good for beginners, or designed for professionals: 

Adobe Lightroom
A user-friendly tool that's part of the Adobe Creative Suite. 
It offers a range of editing tools, and is known for its image organizing abilities. 

Adobe Photoshop
A powerful image editing software with AI effects, 
auto-selection tools, and collaboration support. 

Pixlr X
A free, user-friendly photo editor that's good for quick editing jobs, 
especially changing colors and lighting. 

DxO PhotoLab
A program that offers image correction functionality, 
including tools to reduce noise, remove haze, 
and make geometry corrections. 

GIMP
An open-source project that's free to use and offers 
many of the same features as Photoshop, 
including cropping, resizing, applying effects, and recomposing. 

Affinity Photo
An affordable, high-quality professional 
photo editing software that offers image retouching services. 

Capture One
A program with a customizable interface and powerful editing tools 
that's well-suited for professional photographers, 
especially those working in a studio setting. 

Adobe Photoshop Elements
Designed for people who want easy, automated ways to edit their photos. 

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Continued in Part Two