Why are photographers not prioritising realism, authenticity and raws, ESPECIALLY in this era of ai and already heavily manipulated images. We don’t need more distortions. We need more REALISM??

Whyyyyyy are we still ruining images adding subjective edits(distortions) “personal style” and gatekeeping the real images despite said edits being completely subjective, inconsistent, and removing authenticity and value from the actual image…. It’s so ridiculous. as a professional photographer you know even the slightest of adjustments can completely throw off the energy of a shot. This is especially the case when shooting actual people i didn’t realise how bad it was, until I recently witnessed a photographer completely destroy the most breathtaking images transforming models into literal AI alien looking people, UNINTENTIONALLY!! just citing his no raw policy only edits, he used the most grotesque colour tones and shading on their skin for no artistic purpose nothing just because he’s playing with yellows and green skin tones?? …. grey washed killed all life in the photo and added some beauty diy makeup……..? he was so focussed on the edits he made that he seemed genuinely blind to the image his eyes are now adjusted around edits which are literally worthless and ruined the image.

Art is subjective And it’s clearly a sensitive topic from other posts i just saw, as it’s tied to the autonomy of the photographer and their photos. But this example is completely objective if it wasn’t for privacy I wish I could post it. The photographer even got mad when concerns were raised citing that those are his edits it’s his this or that. But it gets to a point where a reality check is needed the photos are the value hence the urge to hold onto them, despite most photographers now actually deleting after which I think is detaching them even more from the quality of the work. edits are very easy to add almost everyone even the most inexperienced has access to photo editing tools little children even. They are not lucrative or special unless they are to correct something clearly needing correction or where the photo washes out the real scene. But the possessiveness over images of other people and need to force them to accept your edits that are completely changeable or incompatible from working with different people with different needs. It’s not logical. It’s like someone wanting to buy a pair of ur shoes and u say they can only have it if you draw something on them first. Which explains the negative reactions these drawings receive. And the difficulty in judgement of how necessary or good edits even are being completely subjective and illusionary. It feels like a control tactic and in a way belittling the subjects of the photo into a forced acceptance of ur scribbles over a valuable image you took of them. Edits edits edits. I am a hypocrite because I love edits but I am a true artist people fall in love with my work of them because they recognise themselves and it feels familiar because it’s REAL. Not hiding them under duress and using a vintage brown dusty blur one day then some neon sci fi highlights the next day and giving them all blue eyes. It’s crazy what ppl are doing.

You should have a version of fake originals that ur sending out if they don’t like ur edits. As I think anyone forcing an edit that is clearly triggering a negative response (unfamiliarity) is unethical and acting out of insecurity/ ego, by not protecting realism. Ive rarely seen clients post weird edits on top of my work, but often have photographers who have sent me work with unacceptable levels of distortion.