The Power of "I'm an Artist! I See It This Way!"

This phrase, at least for most who use it, doesn’t invite a discussion about art itself. Rather, it often serves as a shield, an indirect way to signal something else entirely. Often, it’s used as a sort of defense mechanism, rather than an invitation to delve into artistic expression.

The history of art has shown us that great artists, from Leonardo da Vinci to countless others, devoted meticulous attention to the quality of their materials. They would experiment for years - sometimes lifetimes - to create the perfect colors or textures, and each shared one vital quality: the ability and the drive to create exceptional work.

In contrast, the "I'm an artist!” sentiment found online seems to stem from an entirely different place. Many who say it tend to avoid—or even lack interest in—understanding the depth of photographic editing. Instead, they claim that their photos capture the world “just as it is.” Yet in photography, what “just as it is” means is complex, often arbitrary. With every shot, the result is colored by countless variables, from the type of camera used to the software algorithms that process the image. In other words, a photograph is never an unfiltered “truth.”

In true art, it’s about the vision the artist wants to share, the feeling they wish to convey, and the deliberate choices they make to realize it

What you see on the left, for example, is often not an untouched moment, but rather an image shaped by RAW-processing algorithms. Open that same RAW file in another editor, and it will look entirely different. On the right, we have the processed vision—how the photographer wanted the autumn landscape to feel. This is a product of thoughtful editing, a digital paintbrush used to bring the artist's perspective to life.

Just like classic artists with their tools and colors, photographers must master their editing software, striving to grow their skills and transform their vision into a visual language.

So, for anyone hesitating to delve into editing because of the “as-it-is” purists: Don’t be afraid to learn, ignore the naysayers, and embrace the tools at hand to better convey your vision in your photos.

Happy shooting!