Vibrant color

[mnchevygirl]

Is it really possible to get vibrant color sooc? It seems when I'm shooting outside in AV mode my photos are a little over exposed.. Should I maybe invest in some filters?

[OsmosisStudios]

Underexpose a bit. In Av you can use the exposure compensation: dial in 1/3 or 2/3 of a stop of underexposure and try that out.

Other than that, you can fiddle with the colour controls for your camera. Most allow you to boost saturation.

[wulf]

Most cameras will let you boost the colours in camera. They also let you reduce the intensity. It is worth checking where that setting is to make it work for you (and ensure it isn't working against you).

On my D40, I keep it in neutral. I frequently enrich the colours if I decide to post-process an image but I feel that it keeps my options more open not to push the colours in camera.

Have you got a sample image to illustrate something that you think should have been more vibrant.

Wulf

[mnchevygirl]

Here's an example.. It was very sunny that day.


Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/2.5
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/2.5
Metering Mode: Center-weighted average
Exposure Mode: Auto
White Balance: Manual
Scene Capture Type: Standard

[wulf]

That definitely looks underexposed to me. I'd try a slower shutter speed - 500s is very fast. You could probably get there by adjusting the exposure setting although it might be easier just to go the whole hog and use manual mode.

Mind you, it also looks like you were in the shadows - more even light but less vibrancy.

Wulf

[mnchevygirl]

Thanks wulf.. I've been toying with manual mode the past couple of days. The shutter speed and when to change it and to what still confuses me.

[dcclark]

It's great to play with manual mode, but you may want to play around in semi-auto modes (Aperture or Shutter priority, for example) to see what your camera chooses for the Shutter or Aperture (respectively). That will give you a better sense of what to choose.

Also, if you're having several problems at a time (learning manual exposure, having color troubles, lighting), you may want to pull back and learn one thing at a time.

[kencaleno]

Your image is overexposed (too light) I have applied a multiply layer, then added a screen layer, and adjusted opacity to suit. Calibrate your camera, (adjust Exposure Compensation to how your camera's meter reads light ) then your colors will be right.Regards, ken

[Gonzo13]

I shoot with an XTi and I try and change the picture style and white balance to what ever it is that I am shooting. For this shot I would have used Portrait and daylight. I'm assuming that the sun was the only lighting that there was for the photo though. If you shot it in raw you can change though in DPP and post again.

~Gonzo13

[wulf]

Manual mode 101: If the pictures are too bright, stop down the aperture, reduce the ISO or increase the shutter speed (vice versa if they are too dark). If the parameter you pick gives unwanted side effects (eg. you can't hold the camera still enough if you make the shutter speed any slower) pick one of the other parameters. If you can't get a decent exposure without hitting limits then you need to think about the overall lighting situation (eg. add flash or wait until a cloud passes in front of the sun).

Gosh! That was compressed but that is the heart of using a DSLR in manual mode.

Wulf