> Photography is an art form and that means you get to do whatever you want. Edit freely [...]

This has made me lose faith and interest in (most of) photography. While I can't speak for the past, modern photography often feels dishonest to me. Many photographers heavily retouch their images, yet allow viewers to believe that the final result reflects reality.

It would be more honest if photographers acknowledged that their published work is a creative interpretation rather than a direct representation of reality. But of course, admitting this would diminish the "wow" factor.