Originally Posted by
Gabriela Plesea
Dear Jon,
I took some time thinking about what you said above, because it interests me. Been wondering about "visually pleasing" versus "what the photographer saw". Or thinks he saw...This is a dilemma we all have, or had to deal with. I always try to bear in mind that the images my cameras produce depend - to a great extent - on me, the operator behind them. Take any given number of photographers, all present at the same scene and shooting with the same gear: each and one of their RAW images will look slightly different, all because of techs. I am not talking about POV or HA here. I really think a well exposed image is a good start. In terms of colour, reality is somewhat difficult - if not impossible - to establish, as we all see things differently. This is where our audience comes in and screams for more "pop" or " midtone contrast" or simply complains about colour casts:)
Regarding options available in LR under "camera calibration": I use "flat" for my D5 images and "neutral" for my D4. Both take away contrast and colour to a great degree. Steve once said to me that once I do that, the image becomes "flat as a pancake" - such a good description! I admit I sometimes struggle with white balance but I never give up. The real challenge is to bring back the colours, and to enhance them to a degree that pleases my audience. How far I go, is entirely up to me...
I am sitting here at my desk tonight, miles away from my beloved Kalahari and trying to process an image of a lion taken a month ago. Not quite sure how far I must push things, my memory of colour is rather weak. I remember following my subject relentlessly to imprison its movements but eventually got lost on the way, the mood was one of intolerable suspense and I forgot to check the histogram. What is important to me, is that my images grab you. Had I taken those frames for myself I would not bother to share, your feedback is important and I keep trying this and that until everyone is satisfied. I too have no perfect recollection of what there was? But with every RP I feel I am getting closer to reality - which is sometimes a mix of complementary colours and other times a mix of vivid, primary, contrasting ones. I like to see with your eyes, rather than mine - does that make sense to you?
Warmest regards,