Your Sliders Move Both Ways

This is an unaltered version of the scene. You might like it just the way it is. Then again, you might prefer one of the versions below.

I don't know why, but there's a tendency among some photographers (I won't name names) to overdo their image processing. More often than not, the options they choose show a bias towards more: more saturation, more sharpening, more clarity (microcontrast), more shadow detail... You get the idea.

If this particular shoe fits better than you'd like, just remember that your sliders move both ways. There are some subjects and images actually that look better if you decrease the saturation, sharpening, and so on. Take portraits and people pictures, for example: Not everyone needs or wants to look like a freeze-dried Bedouin. You don't have to reduce the clarity and contrast to the point where everything looks as if it's been shot with a soft-focus filter, but taking the edge off can make the difference between a flattering photo and one that elicits gasps of horror.

This is about as far as I'd be willing to increase the saturation. Some photographers would just be getting started.

The same applies to saturation. Not all colors need to "pop." In fact, if you move the saturation slider too far to the right you actually reduce tonal subtleties. Images take on that overheated, overcooked look we know all too well. Subjects worn by time and use, as well as subjects that consist of pastel shades, often benefit from your moving your slider in the direction of less rather than more.

In this version I reduced the saturation to the same degree I increased the saturation in the version above. In many ways it's more true to how the scene looked to my naked eye than the unaltered version.

While you're easing up on the saturation, you might also try dropping the contrast a bit too. Although high contrast is an effective tool for emphasizing bold, geometric compositions, reduced contrast is a way to emphasize softer, gentler, more contemplative moods.

The benefit of digital imaging, especially if you shoot Raw, is that if you don't like the result you can always revert back to the original or go the opposite direction. If you're habitually moving those sliders in the same direction though, why not trying switching things up, if only for the sake of variety? You just might like what you see.

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Comments

[Poul-Werner Dam]

I actually agree with you! Often too much of everything. I think maybe it's because of using an uncalibrated system ...?
In the examples above I prefer the first and the third - the second is actually a little too much for my taste :-)
Poul-Werner

[Mark Kinsman]

Great post Gordon. All too often we fall into patterns of processing that are familiar. Many times, these adjustments are camera specific, compensating for the AA filter's affect on the RAW image. But I think the best approach is to stop and contemplate the image and what adjustments might best compliment the image content. I've often found the best results are achieved when I discard my usual post processing changes and try something new.

[Tim McGowan]

My vote, for what it's worth: UnAltered Version.