Welcome to the poll for our October Open Theme photo contest! Select the photo you think is the best from among our finalists below:

#1.


#2.


#3.


#4.


#5.


#6.


#7.


#8.


#9.


#10.


#11.


#12.


#13.


#14.


#15.

[MatKus]

Great set, I'm happy to be in this 15, but seeing competition it will be hard.
And about PP - sure I've done some, but not so much. Some minor crop and dust removing + minor microcontrast, highlights and shadows control. It's more about being in right place in right time of day (or night).
But PP is always done, no matter if I let camera do it or I'll do it myself.

[iheiramo]

PP is unavoidable part of digital photography. Even if used default settings in in camera jpg engine, it's still done and I can't really see no limits to how much PP can be added as it's artistic choise. My personal taste follows the guidelines that you shouldn't pay attention to pp when you look at the shot even when it is obvious that pp is needed to get final results. That of course is very hazy line as everyone see things differently. I have noticed that if I wanted to have popular shots in forums like Instagram I should add a lot of PP in my shots to make them stand out, but that's not my thing So in a way my taste is wrong...

[Madaboutpix]

Some really accomplished photography there. In the end, I went for the moody Lancaster bomber (tabletop?) shot. Quite unlike anything I've ever seen.

[1776freedomson]

It's outrageous we even have to vote on these. How can there even be a clear cut winner. They are ALL outstanding!! No losers here.

[pschlute]

"PP" is just a tool, just like the camera or lens. I don't see anything negative if a photo went through "PP" and nothing positive if a photo didn't go through "PP".

Indeed. As someone who shoots raw exclusively, I cannot produce a single photograph without pp.

[mwm]

All are great pictures. But monochrome steals my interest. Always. #9. Love the concept and the thought that the picture creates in my mind!!

[Serkevan]

Can we just give out prizes to everyone involved? I find this entire "choosing" thing unfair

[ffking]

Impossible task - all very nice images - I've narrowed it down to 5 which are exceptional (IMO), but I can't make up my mind

[grey goat]

Great set, I'm happy to be in this 15, but seeing competition it will be hard.
And about PP - sure I've done some, but not so much. Some minor crop and dust removing + minor microcontrast, highlights and shadows control. It's more about being in right place in right time of day (or night).
But PP is always done, no matter if I let camera do it or I'll do it myself.

MatKus, one reason I bought my M 135/3.5 was an image a forum member had made in the same region your entry was made, in similar light, creating a similar mood. Different images, of course, but they evoked similar responses in me as a viewer.

Your photograph is certainly in the right place amongst these final fifteen images. Kudos!

[CarterFoto]

As usual, most of these look more 'made' in "PP" than photographed.

They're all good images.

However, it is sometimes hard to tell whether one is judging photographic skills or Photoshop skills.

Should there not be disclosure as to:

(a) whether or not the shot is an HDR job and/or
(b) what edits, if any, were made in Photoshop?

That is *not* to disqualify them, but just so like can be compared with like.

[DCalciu]

#14 as I'm an architect and I don't like PP

[Radobojski]

No 11, I love Tuscany

[Racer X 69]

Racer sez they are all very nice, hard to choose a winner.

[Mccsiz]

Nice range of photos. I would like to see more open theme contests. It would be helpful to learn a little about each photo as well: what tweeks were applied, what lens was used, etcetera.

Cheers,
Loyd

[Photos-by-Chas]

On how much post-processing is done, everyone has a different taste on how much editing needs to be done, and where ever that line is that takes a picture from well developed to overdone. But this argument has been since the days of the dark room.


Some photographers back in the day felt Ansel Adams photos were overedited and unrealistic. Look at the difference between the contact print and the final print.

I agree there is much pp done on probably nearly every photo published in major publications and advertisements. Some photographs require it to provide the necessary "punch" to make the photo look good (or maybe better) than the SOOC result. Not every film or digital photograph is perfect with the camera settings. I recall someone somewhere mentioning that even film sent to processing labs were contrast and/or color corrected to look better whenever necessary/possible. Some were beyond salvation due to poor settings, but those that could be corrected were, or at least correction was attempted.

If Ansel Adams were alive today, I feel confident that he would use pp for any digital photos he made and he certinly would for film images, too. Ansel Adams' photos most likely are remarkable based on his location for them and for his discerning eye for composition along with his ability to produce the necessary, and proper, contrast to make the photos more appealing to the common person. Plus the every day person of his time did not get to see what he photographed except through his photos.

I know I need to pp most of my photos, except those which actually are not acceptable in any form. There is a significant number of those, too