Photo Editing-noticing a trend.

[Chewbecca]

Ok, so, WITHOUT naming ANY names (because that's NOT my goal here), I just wanted to let you all know a little observation I've noticed in some photos being posted on the forums. Take this as you will, as it's just from my experience, but I've noticed that some people are messing with their pictures, perhaps, slightly too much in post processing.

I've noticed a lot of pictures with too much contrast being added.
Or too much saturation.
Or a combination of both. And then the gecko darkened. Or something. But it's obvious too much post processing (photo editing) as taken place.

Now, honestly, I would not really care what anyone does to their pictures, or even what they take pics of.
Except for one little thing to do with gecko photos...: You're misrepresenting the color of the gecko when you post process/photo edit too much.

I know, I KNOW.
I understand that people do not always have the best cameras. or they are not working with very good light.
But a good camera does not make a good photographer.
Or a good picture.

I can tell the difference between an under-exposed photo, and an under-exposed photo that has been post processed too much.

OK, here is a photo example.
In this first photo, I have simply sharpened and MAYBE added +5-7 contrast to it.

Same gecko picture with, like, +40 on the contrast, way too much saturation added, and the gecko slightly darkened in curves.
THIS is the type of pics I've been seeing around here lately by some posters (not all):

See how ORANGE she is?? See the sides of her tail, how the purple/red/violet color "POPS"??
See how her eyes almost glow and so does her body? See how her colors almost look on fire???

Yeah.

I understand people are trying to sometimes compensate for under-exposure.
But believe me, I can tell when pictures are over-post processed. I can.

But some people cannot.
And I think it's misrepresenting animals to over-process photos to make colors pop or to make them appear more orange or colorful than what they do in person.

Now, I'm not trying to be a jerkface.
And I'm not saying that the over-processing is being done intentionally, but please try to use more light in your photos if you're having to over-compensate in post processing for lack of exposure.
Please do not misrepresent your animals.
Whether or not it's intentional.

please don't kill me for making this thread.

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

I'll pipe up, simply because I know this isn't directed at me. You see, I use a higher end "point-and-shoot", which is actually still quite a bit below the capabilities of a D-SLR. And I'll agree that the excessive post processing simply isn't necessary. You can get really good pictures with light adjustments and setup changes that will make you wonder why you over-adjusted contrast and saturation in the first place.

People will admire the gecko for it's beauty, without the excessive adjustments to the image. So PLEASE, keep it real with the representation of the animal.

 

[Northstar Herp]

Just to be clear and honset...

I posted a thread a few weeks ago in the show off your leos section with edited photos, but I said so. Then later in the week, I had my wife (photographer) do another shoot with better light and had her leave them alone.

 

[Enigmatic_Reptiles]

I use a Cannon DSLR and do not ever have the need to edit the gecko/s. If its an ugly/not so pretty gecko then so be it. They are not all always going to be "awesome" geckos. The only things I ever edit in my pictures would be lint or something on my black background in my photo tent. I think there is nothing wrong with fixing the background but the gecko should not be edited (without noting it was like Kevin did). If its in the show off section its not a big deal at all. Its when people are posting it in classifieds or somewhere with intent to sell and are altering the product to enhance the potential for increased profit.

 

[latshki]

just a tip for those who want their geckos to POP
have found that using natural light is great so early in the morning or the afternoon sun coming in your window will get those colors their true potential

 

[Kristi23]

I'm still learning photoshop and my camera, so now I'm nervous that you're talking about me. I try really hard to make the colors look like how they do in person. I don't touch saturation though.

 

[robin]

I'll pipe up, simply because I know this isn't directed at me. You see, I use a higher end "point-and-shoot", which is actually still quite a bit below the capabilities of a D-SLR. And I'll agree that the excessive post processing simply isn't necessary. You can get really good pictures with light adjustments and setup changes that will make you wonder why you over-adjusted contrast and saturation in the first place.

People will admire the gecko for it's beauty, without the excessive adjustments to the image. So PLEASE, keep it real with the representation of the animal.

dude its so not, your animals are very well represented!

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

If its in the show off section its not a big deal at all. Its when people are posting it in classifieds or somewhere with intent to sell and are altering the product to enhance the potential for increased profit.

I agree with everything you stated, except the piece quoted above. I think misrepresentation is wrong, regardless where it's done. Unknowing potential buyers are going to relate the misrepresented animal in the image with the breeder posting the image. If the image is in "Show off your geckos" or "Leopard Gecko Classifieds", really doesn't matter. If you post an image, regardless of where, I think there's always an underlying intent to represent yourself as a breeder to potential buyers. Therefor, it's important to make honest representations.

To be clear, we're talking about a bit more than a little lint.

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

dude its so not, your animals are very well represented!

LOL ... I know, Robin. I'm comfortable with the pictures I post.

 

[CapCitySteve]

Just be honest, if the photo quality isn't the best a good description acknowledging that helps. Unlitimately geckos just look better in person and good photography is a worth while skill.

 

[Chewbecca]

See, I didn't want to come off as a snobby jerkface in this thread.
I am totally NOT talking about sharpening a little, a little bit of contrast, correcting white balance (I have to do this because I do not shoot in RAW format because I hate the program I have to use to process RAW images on my computer), or cloning out unnecessary things in backgrounds (I have to do this all the time :main_laugh.

I'm talking about, ok, if I open a picture thread with geckos on it that are soooo contrasty and color saturated, that my eyes literally water and hurt from looking at them, THAT is over-processed.

When whites and orange BURN my eyes, THAT is over-processing.

I'm not talking about the quality of the photo straight out of a camera.
EVERYONE has to do some processing to their pictures. It's what is the final touch on great pictures.:main_yes:

If you look at the second picture of the gecko I posted in my first post-THAT is what I am talking about.
She looks burned!:main_laugh:

And that's not even as extreme of an example as I've seen posted here before.

 

[Keitone]

I'm talking about, ok, if I open a picture thread with geckos on it that are soooo contrasty and color saturated, that my eyes literally water and hurt from looking at them, THAT is over-processed.

When whites and orange BURN my eyes, THAT is over-processing.

You mean like this?

 

[OneFootedAce]

I posted be thread where I was playing around with an editor, and I know I may have over-edited, but I mentionned in my post that I was playing around with an editor and that the pics may have been over-edited.

 

[ariana]

id be happy just to figure out how to post a picture...
everyone tells me but i still cant do it........
id be happy if mine looked like a pile of manure if i could get them on here!

 

[robin]

You mean like this?

LOL!

 

[robin]

Just be honest, if the photo quality isn't the best a good description acknowledging that helps. Unlitimately geckos just look better in person and good photography is a worth while skill.

i completely agree!

 

[Shera]

Lol, ok, I'll admit it, the gecko in my avatar isn't quite how she really looks

I agree though, it's actually quite easy to make the colours deeper than real life without making them look obviously over edited too, but it's definitely wrong, especially if you are selling the gecko, but even if you are showing it off. Obviously if you mention that it's over edited, then it's no problem.

 

[Northstar Herp]

I just had this big discussion with my wife, where I read the OP to her and then we talked about it. All marriages have difficulties, and one of ours is that she is an anti-reptite photographer, and I'm a photo-ignorant carpenter.

It took us a while, but I now know slightly more about photography, and she understands why it's so heinous to edit reptile pics in certain ways.

I feel that I have grown as a person and am better for it, but she doesn't know a dern thing more about carpentry than when we started. How's that fair?

 

[thegeckoguy23]

ya i have seen this 2 and i don't like it

 

[Rhizo]

Sadly, this will never stop.