Question???? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/04/2006 11:20:30 AM · #1

Why does DPC llike such over-saturated photos? It is difficult to do as then my colours all seem messed up??

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

09/04/2006 11:31:13 AM · #2

Don't worry about what DPC likes. Process your colors as YOU like them, after all your photos are YOUR art.

Ken

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/04/2006 11:47:31 AM · #3

I think it's because the super-saturated pictures are bit unlike reality. I suspect that eventually it may swing back to "normal" saturation or maybe something different.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/04/2006 11:49:58 AM · #4

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

I think it's because the super-saturated pictures are bit unlike reality.

Interesting that "we" like that, but hate "digital art."

fotomann_forever

09/04/2006 11:53:09 AM · #5

Originally posted by Dragonphenx:

Why does DPC llike such over-saturated photos? It is difficult to do as then my colours all seem messed up??

Not all od DPC cares for them. FWIW, I rarely vote super-saturated photos highly. It just happens that I'm in the minority here.

Give me a good compostion or a photo that tells an interesting story, if you want my 10.

Rae-Ann

Fujifilm FinePix S9000

09/04/2006 11:56:31 AM · #6

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by Dragonphenx:
Why does DPC llike such over-saturated photos? It is difficult to do as then my colours all seem messed up??

Not all od DPC cares for them. FWIW, I rarely vote super-saturated photos highly. It just happens that I'm in the minority here.

Give me a good compostion or a photo that tells an interesting story, if you want my 10.

What he said!!
We have some awesome photojournalist types here, and I always vote those shots high..I think capturing a moment is as important as technique sometimes

09/04/2006 12:03:23 PM · #7

This is subjective ground. Anybody care to quantify it by posting an example of something you consider to be "super saturated?"

From today's front page:

I believe this photo was likely saturation boosted in PP, but I regard it as entirely appropriate and not over done at all. Others?

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

09/04/2006 12:04:36 PM · #8

Thanks shutterpug....and everyone else...I try to only rely on my raw images maybe tweaked for a bit of colour flaw or to edit out an annoying building or two....:P

And I LIKE this photo...the colours are bright but so are the birds...it isnt overdone whatsoever....but it is a delicate balance...
but for example...I was told to crank this photos colours all the way to the right and then I would have a photo for the challenges...

Message edited by author 2006-09-04 12:07:35.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

09/04/2006 12:07:21 PM · #9

Originally posted by strangeghost:

This is subjective ground. Anybody care to quantify it by posting an example of something you consider to be "super saturated?"

From today's front page:

I believe this photo was likely saturation boosted in PP, but I regard it as entirely appropriate and not over done at all. Others?

I agree. What we see and what we get from the camera before PP are usually not the same thing. To me PP is used to bring out in the image what we saw with our eyes. Parrot feathers are very saturated in real life (IMO).

09/04/2006 12:12:11 PM · #10

Originally posted by Dragonphenx:

but for example...I was told to crank this photos colours all the way to the right and then I would have a photo for the challenges...

I could be wrong, but I think the person who said that was being a bit tongue in cheek, with a barb aimed at the (occasionally) overdone emphasis on post processing at DPC. I think your sunset photo has a yellow caste that makes it a bit unattractive. It may well be that that's just the way the light looked in the sky at that time. It's also possible that some skilled work at PS could reduce the yellows and bring some of the natural sky colors (and whites) back and make it a more attractive image.

09/04/2006 12:14:14 PM · #11

I will try to correct the yellowness...but I do not use PS...I find it user unfriendly in a big way and frustrating....But thanks for the suggestion....I think it may be my monitor but I get alot of yellows and greens being off in my finished photos...

09/04/2006 12:18:45 PM · #12

Originally posted by Dragonphenx:

But before you try to "correct" it, ask yourself, what did it look like to you when you raised the camera to shoot it? Was it very golden? Does the final product satisfy you that you're seeing in the photo what you remember seeing with your eyes?

I have a hunch that most of us photographers, when we sit down with Photoshop (or whatever, dragonphenx), that we're attempting to bring back to our photo what we saw when we decided to shoot. If your photo captures your memory, you're OK.

09/04/2006 12:23:08 PM · #13

It was redder and alot more orange...

09/04/2006 12:27:16 PM · #14

A few more to consider:

Maybe just a bit too much for my tastes, but an undeniably attractive image.

A stunning shot, but do you think the blues were boosted? Check qart's comment, "Graduated filter and a little darkening of the background and a bit of desat." Desat?? You bet.

Great use of boosted saturation to enhance what I'm sure are natural hues present in nature, but I'm sure not nearly so prominent.

A bit too much for my tastes. Makes the scene look other-worldly. That is probably fine for many, but I think sunsets are spectacular enough not to need this much boosting.

Ursula's shot is one of my very favorites, and I'd love to know how much of this was lighting and how much was post-processed. Stunning and magnificent.

This one feels overdone to me. Almost neon.

Ditto comments on above sunset. A little over the top.

09/04/2006 12:45:40 PM · #15

here is one taken at the same time....no editing whatsoever...totally RAW image....these are the original colours of the other one...

09/04/2006 12:57:00 PM · #16

Dawn, here's your image and my re-edit side-by-side:

My main adjustment was a tweak in Photoshop's curves to "correct" the colors (mainly selecting a black and white point in the image). Notice how it brought blues and whites back immediately.

What was the white balance set on in your Rebel? For a sunset, make sure it's set to sun.

Message edited by author 2006-09-04 12:57:42.

09/04/2006 01:01:08 PM · #17

wow....and not to be in anyway unkind...but yours in my oppinion looks ickie....not what I saw at all..too blue and pink...the sky was greyish and the clouds were red and orange....but I can check on the white settings for you....:)

09/04/2006 01:01:36 PM · #18

09/04/2006 01:02:30 PM · #19

Originally posted by Dragonphenx:

No offense taken. Like I said in an earlier post, I wasn't there to see it, so I'm having to go by what my mind's eye "sees" when I think about a sunset.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/04/2006 01:08:51 PM · #20

I'm glad none taken...In Seattle we get alot of very oddly coloured sunsets and they are a challenge to photograph....this one turned out just like I saw it....but again...only clouds...

At least it did on paper...

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

09/04/2006 01:26:45 PM · #21

These are pretty much the colors which were there ...

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/04/2006 03:05:55 PM · #22

Ok guys what about this take????

faidoi

Pentax K10D

09/04/2006 04:07:18 PM · #23

I think a lot of folks here like super saturated iamges because they look good on non-calibrated monitors but when you have a calibrated monitor it looks even better.

David.C

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

09/04/2006 05:18:49 PM · #24

Do you remember the last time you woke up feeling great -- not just good, but like it was going to be the best day of your life?

Walk outside on a day like that and the sky never seems so brightly blue, the clouds big, fluffy and white, the leaves and grass so green ... In short, everything looks very bright and saturated -- the ideal environment for the ideal day.

Our attention and sense of awareness play a bit role in how we see the world. If the environment is barely noticed it seems less bright and somewhat de-saturated; but for those times when our awareness is keen and our sense of belonging is high the environment approaches the ideal.

A photographer 'in the zone' will have a hightened sense of awareness, and see the environment 'more so' than it might normally appear. Is it so unthinkable to attempt to bring a bit of that extra punch out in post-processing?

While some accomplish it with more skill and flair (and perhaps a bit of daring), I think the attempt is to bring that final image closer to the ideal for the scene.

David