Over 0r Under Exposed?

Over 0r Under Exposed? · 08:38 AM

The wife wants me to make this photo large and frame it for our livingroom wall, should I Darken or lighten it?

Click to Enlarge

Thanks
Jack

mitchkramez · 07-24-2008, 09:52 AM

darken the shadows for sure... maybe a little of the hilights too

vlo · 07-24-2008, 09:58 AM

I would darken the maybe half a stop.

vlo

Venturi · 07-24-2008, 10:11 AM

Depending on where you're going to get the print made you might want to first get a 4x6 or 5x7 printed to see what their processing does. I would agree with the others that a half stop, or possibly just a tad bit of contrast, would be good - but before you darken it much I'd get a test print.

LED · 07-24-2008, 10:41 AM

Darken for sure. But the photo is all burned and I don't think you'll be satified with the result.

Fl_Gulfer · 07-24-2008, 12:56 PM

Where can I post a copy of the original so you guys can d/l and show me what you mean. I have Lightroom 1.3 to do some work on the photo, is all.

gawan · 07-24-2008, 01:09 PM

I too think this is clearly over exposed. You could try to use the Recovery tool first in LR, and the add Contrast, along with adjusting the exposure or adding Blacks... just my 0.5 cents

Miserere · 07-25-2008, 01:56 PM

I don't think it's overexposed as a whole, it's just the red channel that's overexposed. I find this happens a lot when photographing red/pink/magenta flowers in direct sunlight. As I shoot RAW, I simply desaturate the red and/or magenta channels until the petals stop giving me a headache. If you shot this in JPEG, you should still be able to fix it using the channel mixer to lower the red channel.

I think the background is nice 'n' bright and commend you for a good exposure. I am so tired of seeing people post underexposed flowers; they're like a plague on Flickr.

In case anyone's listening: FLOWERS ARE MEANT TO BE BRIGHT! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!?

But hey, I'm a lone voice in the wilderness, so if you're deciding this by democracy you can just ignore me.

Nico · 07-25-2008, 02:13 PM

Sometimes it depends on how bright your room is.

JMR · 07-25-2008, 02:52 PM

As Miserere said, it is not under or over exposed. Rather, it appears the photo was taken in mixed or direct sunlight, producing areas of white light on foliage. Very common. Try shooting in overcast lighting. Bright overcast is best for flowers and foliage for soft diffuse lighting and light shadows.

JMR

sharko · 07-25-2008, 02:56 PM

I always try and shoot flowers and greenery in general at -0.5 exposure compensation. Green looks darker and better to me that way.

Fl_Gulfer · 07-25-2008, 04:05 PM

I darkened it a little and printed it on a glossy full size sheet of photo paper and framed it and it looks great that size. I'd like to enlarge it 16 X 24 in. I was just wondering where to have it done now?

Miserere · 07-26-2008, 10:35 AM

For large prints (18x24 is the largest I've done), I've used WinkFlash. Good quality at affordable prices. Great customer support, too.

gawan · 07-26-2008, 10:40 AM

Originally posted by Miserere

I don't think it's overexposed as a whole, it's just the red channel that's overexposed. I find this happens a lot when photographing red/pink/magenta flowers in direct sunlight. As I shoot RAW, I simply desaturate the red and/or magenta channels until the petals stop giving me a headache. If you shot this in JPEG, you should still be able to fix it using the channel mixer to lower the red channel.

Thank you for this tip Miserere, very interesting!

Fl_Gulfer
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07-24-2008, 09:52 AM	#2
mitchkramez Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SD Posts: 61	darken the shadows for sure... maybe a little of the hilights too

07-24-2008, 09:58 AM	#3
vlo Inactive Account Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oulu, Finland Posts: 18	I would darken the maybe half a stop. vlo

07-24-2008, 10:11 AM	#4
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	Depending on where you're going to get the print made you might want to first get a 4x6 or 5x7 printed to see what their processing does. I would agree with the others that a half stop, or possibly just a tad bit of contrast, would be good - but before you darken it much I'd get a test print.

07-24-2008, 10:41 AM	#5
LED Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 192	Darken for sure. But the photo is all burned and I don't think you'll be satified with the result.

07-24-2008, 12:56 PM	#6
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054 Original Poster	Where can I post a copy of the original so you guys can d/l and show me what you mean. I have Lightroom 1.3 to do some work on the photo, is all.

07-24-2008, 01:09 PM	#7
gawan Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Helsinki Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,400	I too think this is clearly over exposed. You could try to use the Recovery tool first in LR, and the add Contrast, along with adjusting the exposure or adding Blacks... just my 0.5 cents

07-25-2008, 01:56 PM	#8
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	I don't think it's overexposed as a whole, it's just the red channel that's overexposed. I find this happens a lot when photographing red/pink/magenta flowers in direct sunlight. As I shoot RAW, I simply desaturate the red and/or magenta channels until the petals stop giving me a headache. If you shot this in JPEG, you should still be able to fix it using the channel mixer to lower the red channel. I think the background is nice 'n' bright and commend you for a good exposure. I am so tired of seeing people post underexposed flowers; they're like a plague on Flickr. In case anyone's listening: FLOWERS ARE MEANT TO BE BRIGHT! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!? But hey, I'm a lone voice in the wilderness, so if you're deciding this by democracy you can just ignore me.

07-25-2008, 02:13 PM	#9
Nico Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Irvine, So. Cal Posts: 127	Sometimes it depends on how bright your room is.

07-25-2008, 02:52 PM	#10
JMR Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,332	As Miserere said, it is not under or over exposed. Rather, it appears the photo was taken in mixed or direct sunlight, producing areas of white light on foliage. Very common. Try shooting in overcast lighting. Bright overcast is best for flowers and foliage for soft diffuse lighting and light shadows. JMR

07-25-2008, 02:56 PM	#11
sharko Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: City of Angels Photos: Gallery Posts: 278	I always try and shoot flowers and greenery in general at -0.5 exposure compensation. Green looks darker and better to me that way.

07-25-2008, 04:05 PM	#12
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054 Original Poster	I darkened it a little and printed it on a glossy full size sheet of photo paper and framed it and it looks great that size. I'd like to enlarge it 16 X 24 in. I was just wondering where to have it done now?

07-26-2008, 10:35 AM	#13
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	For large prints (18x24 is the largest I've done), I've used WinkFlash. Good quality at affordable prices. Great customer support, too.

07-26-2008, 10:40 AM	#14
gawan Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Helsinki Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,400	Originally posted by Miserere I don't think it's overexposed as a whole, it's just the red channel that's overexposed. I find this happens a lot when photographing red/pink/magenta flowers in direct sunlight. As I shoot RAW, I simply desaturate the red and/or magenta channels until the petals stop giving me a headache. If you shot this in JPEG, you should still be able to fix it using the channel mixer to lower the red channel. Thank you for this tip Miserere, very interesting!