D200 Too Much Green

Bill Randall said:

Since Mode I is recommended for portrait shots, as one might
expect, the resulting picture tends to smooth color contrast. In
addition I found the pictures to be on the dark side.

Click to expand...

Sorry for asking a possibly obvious question: How do you judge the pictures? Is your screen properly calibrated, and likewise, if you print, are you using a properly setup (colour managed) printer?

I'm pretty sure you're OK with this, but I just wanted to check... since I don't normally find the pictures on the dark side -- although bright sunlight and high contrasts causes the camera to expose for the highlights (to avoid burning them out), and thereby risking a slightly too dark overall picture.

Hope you don't mind me asking,

-- Per.

Per Baekgaard said:

Sorry for asking a possibly obvious question: How do you judge the
pictures? Is your screen properly calibrated, and likewise, if you
print, are you using a properly setup (colour managed) printer?

I'm pretty sure you're OK with this, but I just wanted to check...
since I don't normally find the pictures on the dark side --
although bright sunlight and high contrasts causes the camera to
expose for the highlights (to avoid burning them out), and thereby
risking a slightly too dark overall picture.

Click to expand...

You have asked a very valid question. Monitor and printer calibration are amoung my shortcomings. I have tested my printer and the settings appears to be very close to what they should be.

I print the pictures 8 x 10 on matte paper. I then return to the scene and compare the prints with the pictures taken. It is important that this be done on a clear day with little delay between the time the pictures are taken and returning to check the prints.

In testing "Mode I" there was about a 15 minute delay.

Once I decide which picture(s) I like I submit them for the ultimate test:

I ask my wife to tell me which pictures she likes best and which pictures appear to be most realistic (sometimes they are not the same pictures).

If we agree then the test is complete. If we do not agree I tell my wife she is wrong again - but testing continues. In this case we agreed.

I should probably point out that all my shots in all these tests consisted of from 80% to 100% green items in each photo - a large portion of this is grass.

I appriciate your comments.

You might try staying in mode I and increasing the saturation. IMHO, comparing color to the original scene is not going to lead you to good prints, for a variety of reasons too complex to get into here.
--
Ruby

Ruby Rod said:

You might try staying in mode I and increasing the saturation.
IMHO, comparing color to the original scene is not going to lead
you to good prints, for a variety of reasons too complex to get
into here.

Click to expand...

I am aware of some of the problems of comparing the scene to the photo.

When I do this comparison I ask three questions: (1) Does the picture represent what I see, (2) Is it pleasing to the eye, and (3) Are the menu settings going to be "universal". Trade offs.

This week I will have the opportunity to try my settings, and others, in a different environment. They work for me in Georgia but what about Florida?

I appreciate your comments and will keep them in mind during the week.

Hey, at least we know the answer to #3! If you want to avoid post processing, take advantage of the multiple shooting banks. Figure out what group of settings work for a given situation, then give the banks sensible labels so you can remember what they're used for (I have CRS syndrome- Can't Remember S---) OTOH, if you're willing to do some basic post processing, you should choose slightly milder settings, then increase sharpness, saturation, etc., after the fact. Raw is too much trouble for me, but I do adjust my jpegs to good effect and with little time or trouble. The only image quality setting I typically have to change is white balance, and that's pretty obvious depending on the light source. Good luck & happy shooting!
--
Ruby