Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/11/09

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Subject: [Leica] Capture One with M8
From: drodgers at casefarms.com (David Rodgers)
Date: Thu Nov 9 08:53:44 2006

Tina wrote:

>>To me it looks right.<<

That is the most critical thing and it should be all that matters. But
this discussion of color has me thinking about the importance of color.

There are so many variables out there, and everyone has a different set.
Color is very subjective. Half the time I can't even agree with myself.


We have more control over color than we ever had before. We can change
WB on the fly. We can adjust curves and hues with a slider. But
sometimes I think we go overboard in terms of assigning importance. 

I think back to not long ago when we'd look at a proof, add 10M and
subtract 5Y filtration, make a final print and be done with it. Things
might not have been perfect, but we lived with it and we were content. 

I was looking at an Osterloh book last night. There was a Noct shot in
candlelight. The was a glowing caption, too. The caption made no mention
that the person in the photo looked jaundiced. But that was the standard
of the day. We were all accustomed to the color balance of daylight film
in warm light. 

It doesn't hurt to aspire for perfect color in every situation. But how
critical is color, really (unless we're shooting jewelry, food, or a
bride)?  

The expectation is that 2,500 ASA under dock lights (that put off
who-knows-what spectrum of light) had better be right on! Seems to me we
expect a lot from digital cameras in regard to color. 

I look at movies today versus Technicolor movies of 30 years ago. I'll
bet  color accuracy was far better back then. But nobody complains.
Maybe everyone like me just assumes when colors look odd it's done for
effect. 

I think color is, and will always be complicated. 

daveR