Opinion on Photo Filters?

[D1SC0RD 987]

Everybody knows those photo filters, right? They're pretty common on Instagram and other social media websites where you can post pictures.

I used to think they were annoying but ever since I got the iPhone 5s, I am always wanting to add filters to selfies and cat pictures. 

 

What're your thoughts on them? Do they make people look too fake or what?

[Scootalove 10,689]

They sound fun to me, where you can manipulate pictures. If you ask me, my opinion on photo filters is that they are very cool.

[Shawchert 120]

I want to get filters for my DSLR.... so that i can take pictures of the mooon without it acting as a light source!! Filters can be great they can help something stand out if you use the right filter, or make something look more interesting as well.

[PsychedelicPony 440]

I think it's all a matter of opinion and how you use them, sometimes filters hurt photos and sometimes they turn a bad photo into a good one. You might get labelled as a hipster though

[Lightning-flickr 214]

Adding a filter to EVERYTHING is annoying. Sometimes it helps a photo and sometimes it hurts it, but most of the time I wish people would actually spend time on photos rather then just slapping a filter on it and calling it quits 

Edited April 2, 2014 by Lightning-flickr

[Stellafera 3,836]

I think that as long as a filter looks good and fits the photograph, I do not care about where it was applied or how easy it was to use or whatever. If you don't insist that that was how the picture originally looked, it's art, not record-keeping. 

 

I mean, look. OOH FILTERS I FILTERED THIS IN PHOTOSHOP I'M A BAD PERSON

 

 

I really do not understand the philosophy that this sort of photo manipulation is "cheating". That's like saying that Picasso was cheating because the people in the paintings didn't really look like that. I mean, if you add in a different sky with nice clouds (which IS a valid technique if you own up to it, by the way) and then claim that that was what you witnessed at the scene, sure, you're lying.

 

But I make no claim to exact veracity. I seek to make a claim to beauty.

[CT-1138 3,182]

They're okay, but I can never get what I want we it em. They never stand up to a good old photo editing program.

[Page.Turner 940]

I don't take them seriously XD I like them, though.

 

I mean, if you honestly think they're really authentic? It'd be like saying, "I take my photos with the flash on and everything else on auto. I'm such a photographer."

 

Like... what about white balance?

"Lol what's white balance? Is that the flash?"

 

D:

 

You get the jist

[Azura 1,107]

I personally think that filters has ruined how photo-editing works. I mean, if Instagram never existed and "filters" didn't exist, then people would spend more time perfecting their photos using programs like Photoshop instead of clicking a button on some dumb filter.

[Callisto 1,877]

It depends. They can look really good on some photos, but you can't just slap 'em on any random picture you choose.

[Stellafera 3,836]

I personally think that filters has ruined how photo-editing works. I mean, if Instagram never existed and "filters" didn't exist, then people would spend more time perfecting their photos using programs like Photoshop instead of clicking a button on some dumb filter.

 

Would they?

 

Or would they just never edit them at all?

 

People said the same thing about the transition from film to digital. People don't care as much before they click the shutter, they said. But I don't consider accessibility a bad thing. I think that it's great that people see that they can improve pictures on their own, and it isn't just a magical and mysterious "enhance" button.

[Shawchert 120]

I don't edit my photos because i'm inept at it, lol so usually what you see is what you get or the bare bones editor that windows gives you.

[Stellafera 3,836]

I don't edit my photos because i'm inept at it, lol so usually what you see is what you get or the bare bones editor that windows gives you.

 

This is my point exactly. Not everyone is a photo-editing wizard. Filters and things can help make it easier to learn the ropes of more complicated things like color curves and whatnot, or even be useful if you aren't willing to go that far.

Edited April 3, 2014 by Stellafera

[D1SC0RD 987]

I like filters because they can set the tone of your image if you didn't have access to the right lighting... They can also make an image look more pleasant without using photoshop to physically alter it. But I do agree that using a filter on everything would be annoying, but in quite a number of cases it can make a photo look better I think.

[Azura 1,107]

Would they?

 

Or would they just never edit them at all?

 

People said the same thing about the transition from film to digital. People don't care as much before they click the shutter, they said. But I don't consider accessibility a bad thing. I think that it's great that people see that they can improve pictures on their own, and it isn't just a magical and mysterious "enhance" button.

People take countless pictures like they don't even care about them because it's digital. It's because you can easily delete all of them and re-take over and over until you're satisfied. When people had to purchase films to take pictures, people would think before they clicked the button, unlike now.

 

Fixing up a picture takes time and a good eye to make a picture look it's very best, and I'm sure that no program out there can be compared to someone enhancing their own picture by using Photoshop or similar pictures.

[Stellafera 3,836]

People take countless pictures like they don't even care about them because it's digital. It's because you can easily delete all of them and re-take over and over until you're satisfied. When people had to purchase films to take pictures, people would think before they clicked the button, unlike now.

 

Fixing up a picture takes time and a good eye to make a picture look it's very best, and I'm sure that no program out there can be compared to someone enhancing their own picture by using Photoshop or similar pictures.

 

Granted, but if pictures from people who aren't as dedicated can be made better, I say go for it. I don't care if their family pictures were made with authentic talent or not if they look better than they did before. 

 

I've only had experience with digital photography, myself, and I do think before I click. The fact that it's cheaper so that I can experiment more helps my creativity. 

[Shawchert 120]

as someone who used to do fim photography as well as digital, it may be easier but a person just pointing and clicking isn't going to really get much out of it, you have to find the right angle, lighting, as well as a few other things that will catch the eye of a person. So some people MAY be able to just click and post, but it is the few people who actually try and do quality pictures before even editing that really count. That's my opinion.  If you don't like looking at the person's pictures go look at someone elses until you like their style. It's like with art, there are many artists good and bad.... now there are many photographers good and bad, but you can't blame filters for the base problem, nor can you blame digital either. 

[Satsuki Kiryuin 1,155]

Filters can't make a bad picture good. They can only add more flair to a good picture if used correctly.

[CT-1138 3,182]

People take countless pictures like they don't even care about them because it's digital. It's because you can easily delete all of them and re-take over and over until you're satisfied. When people had to purchase films to take pictures, people would think before they clicked the button, unlike now.

 

Fixing up a picture takes time and a good eye to make a picture look it's very best, and I'm sure that no program out there can be compared to someone enhancing their own picture by using Photoshop or similar pictures.

I'll admit to doing that. I take at least 5 photos at a time on my camera because I know I can delete the ones that turned out sucky and fix the ones that turned out mediocre on my photo editor. However, I do still try my best to get it right the first time on the camera itself; with the right angle, lighting, and such. I use my shades in my room to play with lighting and a colored lighting app on my old phone that I keep around to play with colors.

[Diamondeye83 49]

I think that used appropriately, they can make a picture look much better than it was origianally. However, i also feel like many people use them pointlessly, and i think that that is dumb.