Performance-enhancing software

I’d never entered a photography competition till the World in Motion round of APOY. My photo was ranked about 320 out of about 360. I was a bit disappointed but can’t complain, as a panel of my peers judged me in a democratic way. However, what was very noticeable about the photos submitted was the extensive use of Photoshop. I have nothing against Photoshop; it’s an amazing tool. But it did suggest a sporting analogy of performanceenhancing drugs that have cast a long shadow over cycling in particular. There is nothing illegal about Photoshop, but I wonder if there is a case to be made for separate competition categories: photos using Photoshop and photos left as they are taken? Richard Brown

As you say, Photoshop is not illegal or even unethical (unless you’re a news or documentary photographer) so I believe your analogy with drugs in sport is a false one. Photography has always been a two-stage process even with film: the in- camera bit and darkroom bit (unless you shot transparency film). The work that went into an Ansel Adams print was incredible. Perhaps there is scope for a ‘straight out of the camera’ photo competition – the modern version of entering slides, though even that wouldn’t be an entirely level playing field as some cameras are better at processing JPEGs than others. I’d be interested to hear other readers’ thoughts – Nigel Atherton, Editor