I have done b&W photo developing in the past, and I can tell you that the digital dark room is pretty much equivalent to prepping the film & burning the image on photo paper.

All my shots go through the digital dark room... some require less touching up than others.

 

well hopefully when you are taking pictures you dont need to touch them up after, but thats not always the case. It seems like when I shoot with lighting very few of my shots need to be touched up if any.

 

the nature of a DSLR is so that the image does require post, even if its sharpening which all images would greatly benefit. And if you have ever shot for print, post is a must.

 

^Bingo !

 

Anything with my name on it has gone through post!

It seems to me that some see PP as some sort of weakness or cheating. I can tell you that the vast majority of pros utilize some form of PP and wouldn't submit images "straight out of the camera". I say It's the digital age guys and PP is just another tool, get over it and on with it!!

 

Is there days when it is "Over Processed". I mean sometimes you get in there and loose sight on what you are in there for. I like the look of raw. I mean when you know it looks the same as it did when you captured the moment.

 

Over processing is indeed something to be avoided. But don't make the mistake of thinking it can't happen in the film world.

I think for the most part, we all have a composition in mind when taking photos... and sometimes post processing isn't needed.

 

i dont understand why some people think of PP as a crutch or a handicap. Pros PP images, film or digital. You now how many hours i used to spend in the dark room, dodging and burning images, using ND filters, changing the type of developer and developing time just to get the images the way i want them? Its a part of photography. OVER PROCESSING is something entirely different.

 

Good points.

Is there any good reads on Photoshop CS?

Of course I am pretty new to the scene. I am really good on learning things on my own. I just need a little help to be pushed in the right direction. Any tips?

 

PSlover.com is good
youtube has alot of tutorials