Back To Basics

Remember how it used to be when there wasn't any photo editing software and what came out of your (film) camera was pretty much it?  I miss that sometimes, just sticking with my photo straight-out-of-the-camera (also known as SOOC).  Last weekend I did a family photo shoot at the beach and as I finished up the shoot, I quickly took three or four shots of the sunset just as we were leaving. The colors were so stunning, I couldn't pass it up.  When I got home and uploaded my pictures, I decided the picture above would not be edited in anyway.  I liked it just the way it was with all the glorious colors so I left it alone.  It was a back-to-the-basics photo and that was just fine with me.

How about you? Do you ever feel the need to just leave well enough alone? Today, share your SOOC shots with us.  We'd love to see them.

Comments

[Karin van D.]

I leave my photographs alone alot. I love the challenge to get the perfect light, the perfect glow and colour, just as is with my camera. So I tweak as little as possible afterwards. Maybe I'm weird :-D

Love the sunset, beautiful!

[Gizem]

I do not like to edit any of the sunset or sunrise photos..so here are some of mine :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gizoti/4972290864/in/set-72157624911249924/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gizoti/4972290864/in/set-72157624911249924/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gizoti/4972287312/in/set-72157624911249924/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gizoti/4971675045/in/set-72157624911249924/

[Nono Fara]

Hi there.. You know, even tho its sooc it's super amazing to my eyes ;)

[Jennifée]

Oh, I agree - that is why I shoot film as well as digital.

Sometimes nature displays colours that digital processing can't improve on at all:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/4547592675/

[Marcie]

Icey cold and SOOC:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1435

[Kat]

The sunset you captured is gorgeous, I want to be there!

I have to admit, I do some tweaking on most of my shots. Sometimes it's just a little cropping or straightening, but I can't call them SOOC. But this one from last fall, is absolutely SOOC, and from my point-and-shoot no less!!
http://www.kateyeview.com/2010/10/potential-of-day.html

[68beats ( meggie )]

Amazing work. Back to the basics is always a good thing.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/68beats/5369549656/

[Irene]

awesome prompt and fantastic shot.

[Kim]

http://www.unscriptedmomentsphotography.com/unscripted/2011/01/18/im-possible-im-perfections/
This topic has been in the forefront of my mind for a while. The link above is a blog post I did last week about the same thing. While I love Photoshop and digital images, it's getting to the point I don't know what's real and what's not so I've been shooting polaroids this year to get back to basics.

My flickr ID is .{Kim unscripted}. for more Polaroid SOOC shots too. :)

[Kristin]

I edit my photos very much, because with a photo program I can make the photo mostly better. However, I thought that it did only a few months ago the editor.
When we started our blog, we have set the first pictures of raw, and the result is not bad. (but could be better).

http://liundbelle.blogspot.com/2010/07/zurich-eine-weltstadt.html#links
http://liundbelle.blogspot.com/2010/09/reiseerinnerungen-sudtirol-1teil.html#links
http://liundbelle.blogspot.com/2010/09/reiseerinnerungen-sudtirol-2-teil.html#links

[Froddard]

Some of my favourite all-time shots were with film, although having worked in a lab my whole life - they were hardly 'straight out of camera' back then either. We used to put in a lot of hard work to make good prints from those pesky negs... We always added a little red and yellow to sunsets to make the colours really pop.
I haven't put any through my old Canon A-1 for awhile...but my 85mm 1.8 lens has been calling out to me recently.

Here's some of my favourite old film shots -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97309340@N00/142122740/in/set-72057594128104382/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97309340@N00/142122806/in/set-72057594128104382/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97309340@N00/142123155/in/set-72057594128104382/

[Molly]

I came to the digital world kicking and screaming. I loved the surprise of getting my images. Every time was like a birthday. I don't do portrait photography (mostly architectural and sports) and I try to tweek at little as possible.

[CDScott]

Beautiful sunset...I struggle with my use of editing software as I have fallen to its seduction. I do love a good SOOC image!

[CDScott]

Sorry, here's my link to go with my comment above...

http://cdscottphoto.blogspot.com/2011/01/images-au-naturale.html

[Anke]

I don't use editing for my photos except resizing and adding my Copyright before I upload them on my blog and share with the world. I don't really like editing that much and try to create a photo I like with my camera instead by changing the settings, views. It's fullfilling me more when I don't have the feeling I need to edit it.

Smiles, Anke ;)

[Sarah]

Just about all of my photos are SOOC because I am kind of overwhelmed with the whole processing thing at this point and taking pictures is a very new obsession for me. I will someday learn though.

There have been so many amazing sky shots I've seen lately. Is it something going on or am I just more observant now that I'm doing a 365?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sassysmoore/5365142373/

Have a beautiful week....
Sarah

[Misty]

I pulled off on the side of the road suddenly to catch this one. Luckily no one was behind me. :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontforgetthehorse/5350155874/

[gonzomama]

i played with this one in photoshop for about one minute and decided it was best left untouched

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59735955@N00/5381366230/

[Emily M.]

Carrots at the Ballard Market (taken with a lensbaby): http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyfrances5/4888701727/in/set-72157624715900532/

yes, i do feel sometimes that i need to learn to leave things alone. especially now, as i am just starting to use photoshop. it's funny that i need to learn to leave things alone and how to edit well, all at the same time!

[Rohit Acharya]

I am on the wall on this topic. I try my best to get the best of my camera. This image is SOOC. It is of a Russian Church in Geneva.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhohit/5335672592/in/set-72157625753837104/

[Winn]

I'm definitely working towards my photos being good enough to be left alone... that's my ultimate goal in learning, and until then I'm editing. :)

[Jill]

I am totally feeling this way lately as well. As if taking a "good" photo isn't pressure enough, now there is the added pressure of Photoshop and Actions and Layers and, and, and... I never edit any of the photos taken with my iPhone so in a way it forces me to take better shots to begin with. Here is a ridiculously gorgeous Texas sunset. We've had some real doozies lately. Enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24357846@N03/5382541385/

[Lisa]

Oooh such a hard topic! Hehe. My perspective is that I love post processing my photos in photoshop, because it helps me to more deeply express my vision. I see it as art at that point--it's my way of showing what I saw in my mind's eye when I clicked the shutter. HOWEVER I do think it is a fun challenge to do some sooc shots every now and then--I think they make you try harder! As you can see by the date on this photo, it's been a while since I did something sooc! However it's usually in the realm of sunsets/sunrises. There's just something so sacred about them. It almost seem disrespectful to try to enhance that beauty because it's already beyond words!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29380197@N03/4317513757/in/set-72157623193061089/

[Kim Klassen]

HI Chris...
I played along...and wow this was not easy for me... I HEART photoshop...haha...
thanks for the challenge... happy tuesday.

http://www.kimklassencafe.com/thecafe/shutter-sisters-back-to-basics.html

[Cynthia]

Beautifully shot sunset! I love it as is, too. I find it hard leaving my photos unedited these days, especially one taken in less than ideal lighting conditions, but I do like the idea of posting them before I make edits. These are some of my SOOC shots from last night

http://apictureintime.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/shoot-and-edit-good-night/

[Bettina]

I am still a rookie at all this! I bought PSE9 two weeks ago, installed it but have not used it yet. I really want to learn how to take the picture i want before i get in to post processing. yes i have used the MS photo editor, to crop, straighten, and adjust the exposure, contract etc... but really the prize is a SOOC shot!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/5305853142/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/5305843284/

Now lets see how I feel after taking my PSE class!!! :) Happy Day all!

[Carla]

SOOC. A new term for me! I seem to do a lot of iphone photos and those are some of my favorite SOOC's. Very spontaneous.

[Gina]

One of my absolute favorite shots is SOOC of my son. It was my first time using my 50mm lens, and I was amazed at how well it captured the natural light flowing in the window and how it made his eyes sparkle. No editing needed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29903445@N03/4781955466/in/set-72157624467283302/

[Kimberly]

SOOC

http://www.flickr.com/photos/junebugphotography/5387036882/

[Jess]

The picture up above is very pretty. I chose an old picture to share that I got while practicing with the B&W parameters in my camera.

http://jessicavescera.blogspot.com/2011/01/straight-out-of-camera.html

[spread your wings]

no need to mess with mother nature, right? beauty all on its own if you can just capture it like you did.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5347324124/in/set-72157625816486578/

i very rarely do anything to my photos.

[rawqueen]

What a great idea, back to basics. I love it. And the photo you shared is perfect. Without editing. Congrats!
Here is my unedited image. http://somethingblu.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/monday-night-dinner-parties-life-uneditedfrom-the-rock/

[Lillian]

I've kind of been forced to do this lately - my laptop is broken and I can't play in Lightroom:) I like it a lot actually. I don't do a ton of post processing, but it's making me realize that I do more than I think and making me want to just do SOOC a lot more to save time and energy. Some recent and some from a few months ago with film:
http://domesticsimplicity.com/2011/01/21/this-moment-15/
http://domesticsimplicity.com/2010/10/06/film/

[TammyR]

I took this one with my blackberry phone last week. I loved it!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34277611@N06/5377267295/

[damiec]

I usually make some improvements - last week I decided this one was fine as is - and might even get cartoony if I micked with it. It's always a nice feeling to be satisfied with something straight out of the camera.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/5376606619/

[Michael Van der Tol]

Like many of your readers I love photography. Sometimes I edit and sometimes I don't. Which ever avenue I take I try to create some kind of emotional connection with the image. When I can do that - then my work is done.

"In Search of the Unicorn" http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelvandertol/5382163231/lightbox/

[WorthIt!]

Most of my images are SOOC for two reasons - first, I strive to capture an image that requires no tweaking and second, I'm overwhelmed by all the editing options out there.

Here's one of my favorite images from last sumer - I love the color against the stone.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/5387694463/

[Stephanie]

I love that satisfying feeling of looking at the photo SOOC and thinking there's absolutely nothing you could change to like it better. Here's one of mine:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgracephoto/4471372602/

[mosey]

When it comes to sunrise and sunsets, nothing else is necessary, is it? Your photo is peaceful and perfect.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/a-la-mosey/5379481920/

[Kristy]

Ohhh I love the softness and beautiful colors in your image! It's lovely SOCC!

I was also taken with the evening this weekend- here is an SOCC from Friday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crunchyfootsteps/5375564844/?reuploaded=1

[robyn]

What a fantastic challenge. Like other comments above, I struggle constantly with the pull of wanting to capture fantastic images SOOC yet being amazed at how PSE can alter them for the better.

Here are two images I had posted earlier in the year...still not sure which I like better:
SOOC: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abideinhim/5082484810/in/photostream/
PSE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abideinhim/5082484812/in/photostream/

[Lara]

I was just talking about this with my husband. He asked me if I ever just "leave it"...I was sad to say that I rarely do...which is hilarious because when I shot film it was "as is" all the way! I think I might try it this week...see what I come up with.
Thanks, as always, for the inspiration.

[Marty Mason]

A picture taken from a friend's deck....I immediately filed it in my "No Editing Required" folder! Love the black speck....a bird! The perfect time to post it when I saw the SS challenge today.....http://reflectionsunfurling.blogspot.com/2011/01/no-editing-required.html

[wen]

I don't edit or color corrrect or do much of anything. The most I do is crop slightly or do red-eye reduction if it's really needed--e.g. a hand flew in the frame last minute or my friends look like their eyes are truly made of rubies.

I like the challenge of framing/composing/lighting as I shoot. Every once in a great while, I will lighten up something that's a bit underexposed, but that's maybe 1:750 pictures.

Some of my stuff is here: www.flickr.com/wenandtara

[prairiegirl]

hee hee ... well, the secret is out ... i now know what SOOC means ... *reddish glow on cheeks* ... {thanks, mrs. klassen ~ i am constantly learning something new from you!} ...

i suppose after living with two professional photographers over my adult life, and having very good photo journalist friends; it has taken me a bit of time to warm up to the processing in photoshop and image manipulation that is increasingly popular. i find there are two forms of art value in photography ~ the 'straight out of the camera' image that is captured with the skill and artistry from the sweet marriage between photographer and camera ... and ... the intriguing artistry created between the skill of photographer, camera and digital enhancement together with other art mediums. i think it is fantastic to have these various art mediums that allow creativity to flow further and further!

having said all of that ~ i am smitten with artography and photo manipulation and find many images that lend so well to these applications ... but then! then, there are some that i almost feel morally wrong in touching ... pure and perfect as they are ... at least to my eye ... : ) ... as is your fabulous beach sunset ~ the colours stunning on their own ~ lovely!

just today, i included a snowscape image in my post that is SOOC (before i knew, so i slipped a little link back here for explanation) ... the light and the shadows and the blues weren't to be messed with ...
http://prairiegirlstudio.blogspot.com/2011/01/argh.html

thanks so much ~ i really appreciate the community atmosphere you have created here ...
xo
prairiegirl

[Kent Weakley]

What a great post. Yes, I know personally, it's nice to slow down and take the time to get the shot I want in the camera. While the computer is great, it's also very satisfying to capture it and leave it.

[Lennie]

I am a fan of editing, even sometimes just a little, but this is one SOOC that I'm very, very pleased with:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alphabetsoupstudio/4701190547/in/set-72157605945672479/

[Stephanie]

Most of my shots are SOOC, since I've only recently discovered photoshop. I had a similar bit of photo luck with a sunset shot while in Yosemite: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephaniecourt/5388826897/

[Felicia Rock]

I think that I prefer to try and get a good shot that I don't have to edit....that being said, I am glad the editor is there!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30230808@N03/5388716623/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30230808@N03/5389324130/

[Jade Pierce]

I LOVE this. I get so nostalgic sometimes for the sunset shots I used to shoot with my disposable cameras back in the day. My sooc shot is on my blog. check it out:

http://jadepiercephotography.com/2011/01/25/straight-out-of-camera-sooc/