Gecko color enhancement on some sites

[fallen_angel]

Our pics are not enhanced to make the geckos look brighter, our geckos colors in pictures are as close as I can get them to the way they look in person. We have a few that are extremely bright orange (hatchlings), and some adults that have extremely bright colors as well.

My monitor in particular is pretty dark (at least compared to my fiance's computer, which is literally right next to mine like we're in some kind of computer lab lol).

Whatever. I know of a breeder that actually has professional photography of their geckos for website pics. The bottom line is... that most geckos look f-a-a-a-r better in person under natural light that their photos depict. True, each computer/monitor has it's own color, but personally I'd rather have someone buy one of my gecko0s based on it's web-pic and be blown away at how beautiful it is in reality than 'enhance' my photos to make a sale and have my coustomer be disappointed.

Just my 2 cents.

Exactly. I don't care what anyone says, it's nearly impossible to actually capture the true color of any gecko.. you think that some look bright in the pictures? Imagine actually seeing them in person, since the camera can't capture their true beauty.

The reason I find this a little annoying is that most of us breeders spend A LOT of time stressing over pictures...trying to get the best representation of each individual gecko. My brightest geckos really stress me out because while I love taking pictures of them and showing them off, it's always in the back of my mind that someone is going to think..."that's not real"...or "they turned up the contrast"...when we didn't. The gecko is just that bright. :main_robin: So, what do we do...? Dim the pics? Or, just not show off the crazy looking stuff??

Am I the only breeder that feels this way?

I get stressed out over pics too. Sometimes our snows look very bright-white, and I am afraid of people thinking they are enhanced and don't really look that way.. I truly do try my best to depict each gecko the way it looks in person, and some of them really are VERY bright. Sometimes, I will even add more contrast to a picture, just so people don't think I'm "brightening" my geckos. Now that I think about it, I shouldn't really have to do that, or feel the need to do that. People are just so judgmental sometimes, it drives me insane.

 

[Kristi23]

Taking pics stresses me out, too, and I normally love taking them. I keep changing pics on my site because I'm afraid someone won't like the pictures. I try my best to match the colors of the geckos. I should probably look at them on some other monitors to check the color, but I think that might make me stress more.:main_rolleyes:

 

[Riyo]

From a technical aspect, computer monitors' color ranges are different from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even from model to model (Some of you that use two or more monitors that are different brands or models may notice this)- that is why the picture quality, clarity, and color ranges so much from machine to machine. It is extremely difficult to get colors to come out 'right' digitally for most of us and devices will never be able to reproduce what people see . It's extremely frustrating! I can understand that as an artist with a website... haha. On top of that you have to also consider the way the photograph was taken. Lighting can dramatically change the way the same animal looks and even make it look like a different animal in some instances.

I don't think the majority of breeders doctor the photos. I'm sure there's some people out there that do, but it's a small percentage. But I know there are plenty of breeders out there that just have stunning animals!!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I don't think the majority of breeders doctor the photos. I'm sure there's some people out there that do, but it's a small percentage. But I know there are plenty of breeders out there that just have stunning animals!!

I agree!

 

[Nigel4less]

I`m not a photographer by any stretch of imagination... but its nice to have someone purchase animals from me and be pleasantly surprised

 

[ElapidSVT]

i'd bet proper light metering would really help. that's where the experienced photographer has the advantage. the camera's built-in meter tries to make scenes an average reflectance.. 18% gray (or the color equivalent) to be specific. that's why white subjects or white on white images are difficult; the camera 'wants' them to be gray. conversely, black on black is similarly difficult to properly meter. setting your camera manually is the only way to properly photograph some combinations of animals/backgrounds. with digital cameras the automatic white balance can also throw off the color, as can mixed lighting sources... sunlight can look blue.. room lighting can look orange or, icky greenish under some fluorescents.

high quality photos certainly help sell animals.

 

[fallen_angel]

I'm like Kristi, I can never get the lighting right when I actually take the pics, so I adjust my pics with photoshop. Not to enhance them to make them look like something they're not, but to make them look as close to the real thing as possible. It's much easier for me to get pics this way, then to try to mess with lighting that I really know nothing about LOL. What I mean is, I'm more knowledgeable with photoshop, then I will EVER be with photography.

I also tend to be overly critical of myself and my work.

 

[eric]

The reason I find this a little annoying is that most of us breeders spend A LOT of time stressing over pictures...trying to get the best representation of each individual gecko. My brightest geckos really stress me out because while I love taking pictures of them and showing them off, it's always in the back of my mind that someone is going to think..."that's not real"...or "they turned up the contrast"...when we didn't. The gecko is just that bright. :main_robin: So, what do we do...? Dim the pics? Or, just not show off the crazy looking stuff??

Am I the only breeder that feels this way?

:main_thumbsup:

 

[yellermelon]

Im horrible with the camera. I bougt one of the high dollar ones..it helps a little but still doesnt fix the "doofus factor" with me and a camera in my hand lol. I do find it irritating that somone would think a breeder would alter there gecko pictures. I for one can look at a picture and tell if its washed out or to dim by the back ground color (normally) I juudge from that and have not been let down yet.
I do know a few breeders that have worked very very hard to get that deep orange borderline red into their collections and telling them a picture was altered for more color would come across as a smack in the face if you ask me.
While we are on the subject natural sunlight isnt always best as the photos below are better represented in the shade and the sunlight picture washed them out badly
Oh theres that deep orange..but its next to the golden yellow

 

[Krow]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This is a site that might have some messed with photos, I'm not sure but take a look for youself. The tangs jus seem SOOO orange/red:main_huh:[/FONT]
http://www.geckosetc.com/htm/available_HT.htm
http://www.geckosetc.com/htm/available_tremper.htm
http://www.geckosetc.com/htm/available_Enigma.htm#BellEnigma
http://www.geckosetc.com/htm/available_Enigma.htm

 

[eric]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This is a site that might have some messed with photos, I'm not sure but take a look for youself. The tangs jus seem SOOO orange/red:main_huh:[/FONT]

NO! :main_no: Those pics are NOT messed with! You need to apologize for accusing Steve of misrepresenting his animals!

 

[yellermelon]

Steves stuff is all good! No messed with photos there.

 

[Nigel4less]

Steve is way too reputable to alter his photos

 

[LizMarie]

There are some pictures that I look at and wonder WOW that is so orange it's damn near red and that does seem unreal but guess what.. Many breeders have spent years meticulously putting breeding groups together to produce the most amazing animals you have ever seen. I feel that it is unfair to accuse any breeder of altering his or her pictures without seeing the animals in person with your own eyes. You should think about the possibility of someone actually being honest before posting on here and trying to tarnish someones reputation.

 

[Krow]

NO! :main_no: Those pics are NOT messed with! You need to apologize for accusing Steve of misrepresenting his animals!

Excuse me but I didn't "accuse" anybody, I said "MIGHT have been messed with.

 

[Nigel4less]

There are some pictures that I look at and wonder WOW that is so orange it's damn near red and that does seem unreal but guess what.. Many breeders have spent years meticulously putting breeding groups together to produce the most amazing animals you have ever seen. I feel that it is unfair to accuse any breeder of altering his or her pictures without seeing the animals in person with your own eyes. You should think about the possibility of someone actually being honest before posting on here and trying to tarnish someones reputation.

:main_yes:

 

[Krow]

There are some pictures that I look at and wonder WOW that is so orange it's damn near red and that does seem unreal but guess what.. Many breeders have spent years meticulously putting breeding groups together to produce the most amazing animals you have ever seen. I feel that it is unfair to accuse any breeder of altering his or her pictures without seeing the animals in person with your own eyes. You should think about the possibility of someone actually being honest before posting on here and trying to tarnish someones reputation.

I agree, but again I didn't "accuse" him of anything, I only said "MIGHT have been..." I do know that there are some geckos out there that are those colors, they're just not commonly found. And I also know how hard it is to get a picture that shows the just right true color of the gecko.

 

[Krow]

There are some pictures that I look at and wonder WOW that is so orange it's damn near red and that does seem unreal but guess what.. Many breeders have spent years meticulously putting breeding groups together to produce the most amazing animals you have ever seen. I feel that it is unfair to accuse any breeder of altering his or her pictures without seeing the animals in person with your own eyes. You should think about the possibility of someone actually being honest before posting on here and trying to tarnish someones reputation.

I was not & am not trying to "tarnish" Steves reputation, I was simply wondering if any of you thought SOME of his photos MIGHT be a little enhanced. I DID NOT ACCUSE HIM OF ANYTHING!!!:angry:!!

 

[snared99]

This thread is completely ludicris, and i can not beleive it is still going. Here is the bottom line folks if you think the pics are messed with DONT BUY. But 9/10 times you would have missed out on a great gecko. There are alot of reputable breeders here whom work hard to produce those colors.

 

[snared99]

HERE ya go $100 to the first bidder>>>LOL(this is not real for those whom may be guessing)