Truth in Photography

[hbrochs]

To all the Photographers out there. How would you take a photograph to show the viewer what kind of lighting you are using? Would a piece of white acrylic next to the coral do the trick?
A color wheel next to the subject?

One situation is when you're looking at a coral online, and it can be SO difficult to figure out what it really looks like.

The other situation is where I'm reading on Reefcentral, and trying to figure out who's technique is really getting those rich deep colors.

For example, I took this top down shot last night but it was evening. Pretty sure the t5s were off by then. Also probably heavier on blue led. The coral is doing well, but I know it's not a natural daylight situation.

I'm curious to hear thoughts of the photography buffs out there. Bonus points if you show a photograph that lets the viewer understand the lighting intuitively.

Howard

 

[hbrochs]

Forgot to mention I shot this with my iPhone, pumps off, through an amber lens.

 

[d2mini]

I shoot my photos with a DSLR in raw format and then adjust the white balance in Adobe Lightroom until it looks as close as possible to what I see with my own eyes with my lighting.

Shooting with an iPhone is tough.
You could still import your photos into Lightroom and try to make some adjustments to color, but working with a jpg is a bit harder than working with the raw file.
There is much less information and the photo is much lower res due to the small sensor in the phone.

If you put a gray card in the shot somewhere you can tweak the wb in post using the eyedropper tool.
http://www.amazon.com/DGK-Color-Tools-Reference-Correction/dp/B001KNP3MQ/

 

[dkeller_nc]

Yep. Inserting a gray card in the frame is really the only way you can do it. One issue, though, is that the gray card will only help you adjust the color balance and brightness/contrast. Color saturation is a whole other question. A while back, digital camera makers figured out that more saturated colors appealed to amateur photographers, so the native mode on a lot of cellphones and inexpensive point 'n shoot cameras are way too saturated from the start.

 

[hbrochs]

Thanks Dennis

Thanks Dennis

I shoot my photos with a DSLR in raw format and then adjust the white balance in Adobe Lightroom until it looks as close as possible to what I see with my own eyes with my lighting.

Shooting with an iPhone is tough.
You could still import your photos into Lightroom and try to make some adjustments to color, but working with a jpg is a bit harder than working with the raw file.
There is much less information and the photo is much lower res due to the small sensor in the phone.

If you put a gray card in the shot somewhere you can tweak the wb in post using the eyedropper tool.
http://www.amazon.com/DGK-Color-Tools-Reference-Correction/dp/B001KNP3MQ/

I'm gonna try the grey card, but not sure what an eyedropper tool is?

By the way, that is a GREAT photo with just the sort of real life colors I'm talking about!!

 

[snorvich]

I'm gonna try the grey card, but not sure what an eyedropper tool is?

Photoshop

 

[d2mini]

Yeah, in photoshop or lightroom you can grab the eyedropper tool and click on the image and it will automatically adjust the WB. But you have to click in a neutral gray in order for it to work correctly.

 

[sde1500]

Looking to get a new camera because iPHone seriously doesn't cut it. you guys have any experience in GIMP? I've heard it has some pretty good tools, just need to install the right add-ons for RAW file editing.

 

[champion6sigma]

I'm gonna try the eyedropper thanks