Wedding Photos: Are they too bright? dark?

02/07/2005 03:46:35 PM · #1

I just got home from the wedding. Here are a few photos, totally unedited (other than being resized for large web files).

Can you tell me if my labels match the photo for each of you (who beleive you have a pretty good monitor calibration)?

I labelled the photos based on MY monitor.

I thought the lighting was either: perfect, tad dark, tad light, bright, very bright, etc. Do you agree with my labeling? If so, I can begin the editing process tonight. I don't want my monitor to cause me to brighten something in PS that's already perfect... know what I mean?

//www.mirdonamy.com/heather/wedding.html

Thanks a million.

GoldBerry

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

02/07/2005 03:53:54 PM · #2

The last one you have labelled "very bright" but it doesn't look bright to me..normal if anything. I wouldnt' stress too much, if you're really worried about the light you could always have the images callibrated at a real print lab. Or just do a few sample prints.

Edit: the tops ones do look dark/flat to me.

Message edited by author 2005-02-07 15:54:18.

Jinjit

02/07/2005 03:57:38 PM · #3

Nice photos!

According to my monitor (which I suspect is about to die sometimes soon or at least get rid of it's light tube...) the photos exactly fit your labels.

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

02/07/2005 03:57:57 PM · #4

Some do need slight adjustments according to my monitor, but there is nothing seriously wrong with any of them.

As Goldberry suggested, it would be worth having them calibrated at a print lab so you can get a consistent exposure for all.

Nice shots, by the way.

Steve

scottwilson

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8

02/07/2005 04:13:08 PM · #5

Looking at the histograms none to too bright. In fact the one labled very bright does not have any pixels brighter then about 244, which means you could use level to brighten it a bit more and not blow out the highlights.

You might want to a number of test prints at 4 x 6 before spending the money on larger prints. 4 x 6 prints at Costco and other places are like $0.19 each, pretty cheap to cheak out how the prints will look

02/07/2005 05:32:44 PM · #6

Thank you all so much for taking the time to look at my photos!!!

I am unsure of what it means to calibrate the photos. Do I just bring a cd of photos to the lab and ask them to calibrate them? What does that entail? Will they just be photoshopping them?

My friend didn't want me to do any printing. She just wants me to PS the photos and put them on CD for her so she can upload them to shutterfly and print the ones she wants.

I just don't want to send her a CD with 'final prints' if I accidently photoshop them to be too bright or dark, then she prints them and they come out very different than we see on our monitors. she doesn't want me to spend money on printing. So, if calibration is cheap, i'll do it. If it involves a print of all the photos (I have 100+photos), then I just need to tweak based on your suggestions in this thread.

I know the histograms don't show the photo blown out in the 'very bright' one, but to me, it looks very bright, scottwilson. Does it not look too bright to you?

:) Again, thank you all!!!!

just-married

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/07/2005 05:52:12 PM · #7

I agree with 100% of your analysis on them. I think as you pointed out that the one labeled very bright has an appearance of overbrightening, even if your highlights aren't blown.

Great eye. Good Luck.

Another option, btw, would be to take print orders from her (even at cost if it's not a for profit thing) and order from a source you've calibrated your monitor to match. For example, I order from WHCC. Before ordering the first time, they let me submit 5 8x10s, so I can judge whether my monitor is calibrated to match their printers. Now I have confidence that what I see is what I'll get. Just floating you another idea. :)

TLL061

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/07/2005 06:33:53 PM · #8

all very nice , what lense did you use ?

bledford

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

02/07/2005 06:48:30 PM · #9

They all seem, to me, to need a slight boost in contrast. Perhaps a little curve adjustment to bring the darks down and the whites up a hair, with the curve falling slightly above the midpoint to bring up the overall brightness.

scottwilson

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8

02/07/2005 07:03:51 PM · #10

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

snip

I know the histograms don't show the photo blown out in the 'very bright' one, but to me, it looks very bright, scottwilson. Does it not look too bright to you?

:) Again, thank you all!!!!

It look bright but not what I would call too bright. But I would really want to see a print made before knowing for sure, likely as not the printing machine will adjust them all to its liking anyway.

02/07/2005 07:24:29 PM · #11

What is WHCC? Where are they? Can you order online? What are their prices? We were going to order through ofoto or shutterfly. I have received great prints from them in the past. :) I've never heard of a company offering to help you calibrate your monitors to their printers before. that's really great!!!