Is this over processing?

[randy]

The day after I bought a graduated neutal density filter Elements magazine arrived with a story of how to achieve the same effect in post-processing. Would this constitute "manipualtion?"

Someone suggested that post-processing should only be to make the photo look like the eye saw. I like that philosophy. My eyes are still smater than my camera, even if the rest of my brain is lagging behind the technology!

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by randy

The day after I bought a graduated neutal density filter Elements magazine arrived with a story of how to achieve the same effect in post-processing. Would this constitute "manipualtion?"

You can achieve the same effect to a degree. But nothing is going to save blown out objects due to overexposure that an ND filter would have avoided. And no, I don't think it's overprocessing if you're trying to make the scene look as true-to-life as possible.

Someone suggested that post-processing should only be to make the photo look like the eye saw. I like that philosophy.

I'd like to take credit for that sentiment, but I'm sure others here have expressed that as well.