Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

View Poll Results: Your color photos - "real" or "ideal"?
Keepin' it real 3640.91%
Ideally, ideal 4551.14%
Wait, what? 77.95%
Voters: 88. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
09-01-2009, 07:37 AM   #1
Veteran Member




Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NJ, USA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,270
How do you like your color photographs?

Generally speaking, do you prefer your color photos to have a realistic appearance, or a more "idealized" - generally boosted colors & contrast - one?

I know that often the subject matter and purpose of the photo can somewhat dictate the processing, but which do you prefer, more often than not?

09-01-2009, 07:48 AM   #2
Inactive Account




Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Boise, Idaho
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,413
I like images with a bit of snap. If that means boosting them then so be it.
09-01-2009, 08:26 AM   #3
Ash
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Ash's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Toowoomba, Queensland
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 23,920
Sometimes real ain't got the 'pop' you want, so PP to the rescue.
Yep, contrast, clarity, dodging and burning, even selective colouring - all used often.
Then again, shooting in RAW means you're inevitably applying some sort of PP adjustments.
Even shooting in JPEG assumes a certain level of in-camera 'PP'...
09-01-2009, 08:31 AM   #4
Veteran Member
Tom S.'s Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: S.E. Michigan
Photos: Albums
Posts: 4,317
I voted keeping it real, but there are times when a bit of tweaking is required. You might want to consider adding "a bit of both" to the poll.

09-02-2009, 06:24 AM   #5
Veteran Member




Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NJ, USA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,270
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Tom S. Quote
I voted keeping it real, but there are times when a bit of tweaking is required. You might want to consider adding "a bit of both" to the poll.
Heh, the idea of the poll is to force people to choose - no middle ground here!

I realize, of course, that different circumstance can require differrent processing... I'll share some thoughts on that when I have a bit more time.
09-13-2009, 01:52 AM   #6
PEG Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Kerrowdown's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 57,760
I always want my images to have the wow factor and most folk/customers/editors around here want the colours to pop, one commented “look at the colours, you must have a good camera”.

So you heard it here first, good colours = good camera.

So yes boosted, added contrast whatever, I voted for "wait, what" category, was that the right one as there is only me and one other.

Last edited by Kerrowdown; 09-13-2009 at 02:05 AM.
09-13-2009, 09:54 AM   #7
Veteran Member
arbutusq's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Vancouver BC canada
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 380
There is no such thing as real or natural when it comes to photography. Even what the sensor 'sees' is an interpretation. Having ranted about that I think there is a middle ground. I like the colors to be as natural as possible while still maintaining the vibrancy and impact that drew me to the scene.

09-13-2009, 07:58 PM   #8
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Canada_Rockies's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,385
I don't like "over punched" colours, but on the other hand, I love Velvia 50. There is, as arbutusq said, a middle ground between flat and overdone. Chacun son gout.
09-14-2009, 02:15 PM   #9
Senior Member




Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Connecticut, USA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 167
I would definately say ideally ideal, but often I don't like how the 'punching' is utilized. Photos can look plastic and dead-- like technicolor on hormones. Every time there's a new tool to use, it tends to get over-used and used poorly. Color boosting and HDR cannot replace good composition, focus or lighting.

However, when applied well, PP manipulation can make an otherwise strong photo outstanding.
09-16-2009, 09:18 AM   #10
Veteran Member
esman7's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 322
I prefer the PP look - sometimes a dull picture can be adjusted for the scene by using an overlay or playing with curves just to highlight the photographer's intent.

Not to overwork the photos but sometimes a dull picture can come to life with a makeover.
09-16-2009, 09:26 AM   #11
Dom
Guest




All of the above. I like my photos to be right but my agencies/clients like the to be a bit overdone.
09-16-2009, 05:18 PM   #12
Senior Member




Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Posts: 165
"Heh, the idea of the poll is to force people to choose - no middle ground here! "
Bur the idea of creative photography is to create! I do whatever the image and my objective for it requires.
09-16-2009, 05:28 PM   #13
New Member
Crowsby's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 23
It depends, sort of like "what kind of seasoning do you like on your food". But in general, I like them as vibrant and colorful as I can get away with, without making look post-processed.
09-17-2009, 11:10 PM   #14
Forum Member




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Germany
Posts: 61
I like real, and to me, real means how I remembered seeing it and not how an unaltered digital capture renders it. So I use multiple RAW processes at different exposure levels combined with Exposure Blending in Photomatix and tweaked in Topaz. That said, I don't care much for the over-punched Velvet Elvis look. A little voice in my head says, "If you like Velvia so much, why don't you just go back to shooting film?"
09-30-2009, 08:20 AM   #15
New Member




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Brampton, Ontario
Posts: 3
Unless there is a historical reason for taking a photo and keeping it as real as possible, I believe in making mine as entertaining as possible using what ever means I have... Aperture with Noise Ninja and PSCS with Focus Magic...
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
color, photography, photoshop
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
100 Year old color photographs Bob Tuttle Photographic Technique 6 08-25-2010 08:11 PM
[Canada] Color Eneloop AA battery for your color KX :D vizjerei Pentax Price Watch 0 08-23-2010 06:51 AM
Winners: Weekly Challenge #73 - Color on Color atupdate Weekly Photo Challenges 11 10-13-2008 08:09 AM
Color Laser Printers for Photographs?? stewart_photo Photographic Technique 10 02-14-2008 07:41 PM
Photographs from trip to Ardennes (Belgium) and Cologne (Germany) (13 photographs) barendvl Post Your Photos! 2 07-30-2007 03:15 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:14 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top