One thing that always gives me a headache is the question of, “Are we going too far?”
Simplicity is excellent – Photoshop increases photographers’ efficiency by 10s of 100s of folds. This is excellent, of course, to the photographer, because it enhances their ability to do their job. This becomes a problem, however, because with the advent of 10 megapixel cameras, SLR technology and amazing do-it-yourself kiosks, the tasks that the non-technological professional photographer does to enhance the quality of their photos is self-destructive. We can now duplicate effects that would take hours upon hours to do as a traditional professional photographer in a matter of seconds.
The problem with the simplification of software is the ignorance we gain by using it. We lose respect for these who spend hours upon hours perfecting their trade, because we can duplicate what they do in mere seconds compared to what takes them hours, sometimes days to do.
I guess that ignorance is bliss, right?
