Making a better shot - is it cheating?

Left: polarizer used and hot air balloon added.  Right: no polarizer, no hot air balloon.

The difference between the two above images is stark, yet they were taken only seconds apart.  I took these this morning, and the thing was, there were no hot air balloons in sight.  I photographed one yesterday and decided to incorporate it into the photo because that section of the image was weak and could use a little help.

The image on the right was taken without a polarizer and so it appears as it did to the naked eye.  A polarizer can make a massive impact on an image, not only darkening skies but also removing the cool shades that polarized light brings.  The image on the left was taken with a polarizer.

The question that comes to mind is, "Is it cheating to change what the eye sees when doing photos?"

I think the answer depends on what your claim is.  We "cheat" all the time, using flash, altering contrast, cropping, and even playing with foregrounds and backgrounds by altering focal lengths and position.  The idea is to make the best photo you can, and I have, on occasion, assisted a picture by adding something that was never there.  I would never claim to have taken the picture that way.  I am always tweaking an image in Photoshop.  With the advent of AI, there is even more power to alter images.  You can remove people, add people, and create change that wasn't even possible a few years ago.

But is it cheating?

Well, I used AI to quickly select the balloon and basket.  I could have done it manually, as I have in the past, but it was thousands of times faster.  If I did it manually, would it be better from an ethical standpoint?  Or does the use of AI bear no condemnation on a shot?

The use of a polarizer also affects the outcome of the image.  I would consider polarizers a basic component of anyone's kit, plus a flash for fill.  The question remains though, "Is it cheating?"  

Overall, I have to say that we as photographers do what we can to create an attractive image.  Focus stacking falls into the same category, as this could never be done using just film alone.  I think the end result is what counts, as long as you are not breaking some rule, principle, or tenet.

I shall continue to create my images as I see fit, but if I do something sneaky, I will let you know.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com