This being my first online class, I was curious to see how well it would work out. The online format has been especially helpful due to the inclusion of Voice Thread instructional videos. Seeing the techniques in action made them much easier to understand. This format has also been helpful because so much of the class is technology based (i.e. blogging, Photoshop, emailing images, etc.). I do believe some face-to-face time is important to help iron out any misunderstandings of requirements or just to have personal help on a technique one is struggling with.
That said...the technique I have found most helpful is the color corrections. I am still trying to get the hang of it, but my images have gotten better for the most part. I have to color correct all of my images to some degree because I mainly take pictures of dogs in the older section of the shelter. Those lovely yellow walls...every image has a yellow cast over it. It reminds me of the layer of pollen that blankets everything in sight in the spring. Here is an example of one of my images that hasn't had any editing except resizing:
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London before makeover, yellow overcast and
much duller fur |
Here is the edited version:
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London after makeover, much brighter with
richer color in her fur |
In the edited image, the color of London's fur is richer and less dull. I'm sure the other techniques contribute to that as well, but the color corrections make a huge difference. If you look back at my post about the benefits of metadata, you'll see how yellow Milt is. This was before we learned about how to color correct. I've since edited his images, so they look better now.
After reviewing the list of adoptions, transfers, etc., I put together an updated list of my critters. Here are some of mine that have found a home or have transferred out; one of them was reclaimed. Hope you enjoy them. Happy shooting!
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| Dallas-adopted |
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Precious Angel-adopted
(This is the one from a previous post that
got adopted and returned the next day) |
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| Little Bo Peep-adopted |
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| Sunny-adopted |
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| Lucky-adopted |
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| Harley-adopted |
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| Alli-Transfer |
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| Morah-Reclaim |
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| Bear-adopted |
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| Snop-adopted |
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| Petunia-adopted |
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| Parker-adopted |
Karen,
ReplyDeleteIt's me again, on my soapbox about the importance of color...You a wonderful color theory advocate in this discussion. I am so glad you are focusing on the helpfulness of the color correction tools of which there are several although we're using only certain ones in this class. Even where it's not obvious to a website visitor, a misleading color of an animal might be a problem for an adoptor who may come in responding to a website photo.
Also, you explain well the issues of light reflecting onto the animal's skin which needs to be taken into account. It's yellow in the dog room but bluish sometimes in the cat room. Also, we get that vivid cyan reflected from the gloves when we have to hold the energetic or timid kitties to get a good photo.
@ Georgia...I can see how those vivid blue gloves could pose a problem as well as those lovely yellow gowns. Wonder if we could get them in a middle gray...? :) Color is so important, but I have to say, it intimidated me for some time. It is a step out of my comfort zone (always a good thing) to get away from black and white and delve into the world of color again. I was always second guessing myself in Color Theory, but am learning to trust my gut. I know that I know more than I think I do.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that color can have a great impact on these photos. Even people that have no art background intuitively know that something is "not right" about images the majority of the time even if they don't possess the vocabulary to explain it. As artists, it is our job to make these images the best they can be.
Thank you again for all your wonderful comments!
Yes, good points. One more thing about color correcting in Photoshop is to pay attention to the highlights and shadows. Remember we can correct for color casts in each area—and that is in addition to selecting a particular area. When color correcting, we can use the highlights and shadows (not just midtones). When we do this we are looking for color casts in the white areas (highlights), and then color casts in darker areas (shadows). It is easier to see the color cast in the white areas. I find this is a good place to start.
ReplyDelete@ Professor Johnstone...Yes, the white fur seems to show color cast more than any other. The more I started playing with color corrections, the more I realized that adjusting the midtones weren't enough. I agree that the whites are a good place to start. Like it is with everything else, it's practice, practice, practice that makes you better.
ReplyDelete