Photo Editing Levels

At our Sep 2025 meeting, we discussed the issue of how to manage the rapidly growing capabilities of computer-generated edits in photographic competitions.

Digital photography inevitably involves electronic manipulation of captured light. Images shot in JPG format are displayed with subtle adjustments of color and contrast that vary between brands of camera. Images shot in RAW format need at least some editing to make them look like they appeared to the unaided eye. Additional editing is often added for artistic effect.

Now it is possible to generate images without using a camera at all, or to create a new sky or background that didn't exist in the original image, or to change colors completely, or rearrange objects in the photo, and more.

If we want to regulate how much editing is permissible in a photographic competition, we first need to define the various levels of editing that are possible.

The image in this gallery is a one effort to define the various degrees of editing that are currently possible (submitted by Patrick McDonald). Please read it and submit your opinions and any suggested edits as a comment below.

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