Sun Flare = Selective Coloring??

[zona5101]

How long before the sun flare / overexposed look becomes the next selective color?

Will it ever become overdone?

[Bruce A]

Originally Posted by zona5101

How long before the sun flare / overexposed look becomes the next selective color?

Will it ever become overdone?

I can't answer that - but I think both have their place if used wisely. I don't believe in photography fads, I believe in whatever works for the artist.

[Rentham]

I don't think so. A good use of sun flare is particularly effective at evoking that summery or retro nostalgic feel. You have to look far and wide for any good use of selective color. I can't think of a single example off hand.

Sun flare, as a technique, is probably overused in some genres but I don't see it entering selective color or railroad track territory.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by Bruce A

I can't answer that - but I think both have their place if used wisely. I don't believe in photography fads, I believe in whatever works for the artist.

I can dig that...but it's seems clear from *most* responses to selective coloring that it is "over-done" or "run it's course" to the extent that it is no longer novel or effective. i.e not a recommended processing effect...

so i guess what I am eluding to is selective coloring is (was) a fad and then questioning will the sun flare look eventually follow in the same death spiral?

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by Rentham

. You have to look far and wide for any good use of selective color. I can't think of a single example off hand.

Stellar example of the difference and why the sun flare look may continue to thrive.

Railroad tracks?? Dang I just shot some images on railroad tracks. Dinosaurs died faster than my sense of style...

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by zona5101

Stellar example of the difference and why the sun flare look may continue to thrive.

Railroad tracks?? Dang I just shot some images on railroad tracks. Dinosaurs died faster than my sense of style...

As an extensive employer of sunflare whenever I can get it, it does prickle me when I read criticism of it sometimes... but as usual, Rentham gives a good account of it.

Another major point regarding its place and popularity is how often it's used in other visual media, particularly Movies and TV... people see it all the time and at a subliminal level it works... just watch commercials this evening, particularly car commercials and shots of cityscapes... its way more prevalent than you'd think.

By that token, ask yourself when the last time you saw selective colour used cinematically? The one and only example I can think of is in Schindler's list...

[NathanFranke]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

By that token, ask yourself when the last time you saw selective colour used cinematically? The one and only example I can think of is in Schindler's list...

Part of Sin City--least the part that showed on daytime TBS. Sun flare has its place. It's used pointlessly a lot of the time, but when it works, it works well.

Also, what's wrong with railroad tracks?

[Murtasma]

I think everything is overdone. It's so easy to share and find images using the Internet now. Couple this with the simplicity of todays digital cameras and photo manipulation suites and your bound to exhaust just about every niche of expression.

Back in the day you actually had to know what you where doing to create something. Thanks to technology you can just point and click move a few sliders and do things that would have taken hours and hours to do before on film.

Thankfully technology has yet to create a paintbrush that can paint by it's self.

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by NathanFranke

Also, what's wrong with railroad tracks?

In and of themselves? Nothing.

But they've become an eminently predictable part of many shoots, especially with seniors and novice models. Who knows why. Maybe it is simply imitation of what people see, or maybe it is Leading Lines for Dummies. Same deal with shooting bands on brick walls, maternity shots with the hands creating the heart on the belly, etc.

Photography is a highly derivative art, but there is a big difference between deriving inspiration for your own interpretation and simply rehashing what works for the lowest common denominator.

To Niresangwa's point, if you look at high level photography you're probably not seeing much of the above mentioned cliches. Or you're seeing some kind of twist on them that makes them relevant in some way. This is all just my opinion, and I don't think shots that contain railroads or brick walls are immediately invalidated. But I do feel there are usually better, more creative, ways to accomplish those things.

Edit: I should say that I have, at some point, been guilty of just about every cliche I'm discussing here. I'm sure I'll be guilty of a few more before my time is up. But I always see it as a failure on my part to bridge the creative gap (as Chase Jarvis calls it) between what's in my head and what I actually produce.

[SwissJon]

Like everything else, It can be over done. The over use of any technique causes it to become ordinary and boring.. Hell, in the 80's it was practically illegal to the an evening or night shot without using a starlight filter.

Maybe this decade will become known for sun flare, who knows.. But the truth is, fads come and go.. You're the one that decides whether or not their use becomes too much, or whether you mix your styles, just like anything else..

Personally, I don't use sun flare.. I find it gets in the way, and it's something I actively avoid.. Maybe I should shane and get with the program? ,)