Most of my friends and family know about my photographic work, so I get lots of questions about how to do things in Photoshop, what camera to buy, etc. In answering them, it became pretty clear that many folks don't really understand the basics of digital camera design and specs, particularly things like the difference between "Megapixels" and actual sensor size.

I've come across a couple interesting things recently. First, I read a post by a photo seller talking about how he/she doesn't believe in "manipulating" the images that come out of the camera. The idea is that downstream editing somehow detracts from their creative value. Then at a gallery opening (my work), a woman asked if I "manipulated" my images before printing. I explained that I did lots of things to focus composition, adjust color and tone, and otherwise "finish" the image in a way that I felt was right according to the image and what I was hoping to say or convey with it.