Impressive Dynamic Colors (Superficial/Artificial) vs Washed Out Faded Colors (Originality/Natural)

If go back to photography development, you'll see a change from naturality to harsher visions. Cartier-Bresson and Salgado are two good examples, the former used a camera to portray people and situations in a very naturalistic approach. Salgado uses contrast and grain for impact, very successfully.

Edwar Weston and Ansel Adams were almost contemporaneous, but also different: Weston went for a more natualistic vision, AA processed images much more.

I think what matters is final result, don't get stuck to formulas, develop your own vision. Don't fall into the traditionalist/realist trap of saying PP is forbidden, it makes no sense, AA used a lot of processing, only in a wet environment.

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Renato. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/ OnExposure member http://www.onexposure.net/ Good shooting and good luck (after Ed Murrow)