1. The human eye has a much wider dynamic range than a camera. It allows the eye to see details in both very bright and very dark areas simultaneously. Cameras have a more limited dynamic range compared to the human eye. 
2. Editing allows me to create my artistic vision.
3. Photography as an art requires post processing. Example: Ansel Adams edited his images.

A friend shared her thoughts with me. She said that learning that I edit and enhance my photographs was the last straw. She will no longer look at my monotonous photographs.

Here are some examples. I think you can tell which ones are my edited versions.