Maybe it's because I'm part of the generation that delved into community websites (aol, myspace, migente, facebook etc), where it was common for people to cry out "that's not real! you photoshopped it", but I'm having a problem altering my images in photoshop and being okay with accepting them as photographs rather than manipulations. Does that make sense?

I've always been interested in photography and until a few months ago, all I really had to work with were point and shoot cameras with mostly preset functions. Currently I'm taking my first real photography class and we're learning about shooting and editing in raw and using cs3. While I'm amazed at how much one can do to alter an image and "correct it" I'm a little disappointed because I feel as though I've been lied to. For instance having always been a fan of what the natural world has to offer, I'm in awe when I look at some of the most "popular of all time" deviations on here under the landscape, waterscape and sky categories. I wish I myself could be there to experience such beautiful colors in person. Until I learned about curves and raw. Now I wonder if the places I'm longing to one day see really look like that.

My teacher's opinion was that the photograph isn't a lie but rather the photographers truth and perspective. And while I can accept that as she worded it very beautifully, I'm still a little disappointed. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

...and might I add that for some reason using filters and burning and dodging in the film darkroom doesn't bother me. I suppose because it's more organic?