Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: "Gonzo Color"

  1. #1

    "Gonzo Color"

    I recently attended a workshop where we were asked to bring along a portfolio of our recent work. Some of my color prints were rather harshly critisized (albit mainly by the b&w folk) for being "too saturated" especially with the greens. Most of these images were taken with Carl Ziess lenses (I've been migrating from medium format to LF) with Fuji Velvia 50 and 100 film (which I know is reputed to emphasize the greens---green box you know). Most of the images were not really pumped up as far as the saturation was concerned in Photoshop. I've been told that the Ziess lenses tend to have more brilliant and more saturated colors than the commonly used LF lenses like, say the Schneiders. Does the color rendition significantly vary among various lenses brands?

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    586

    Re: "Gonzo Color"

    Well, I've used Rollei's Zeiss Planar for the 6008i as well as LF lenses from Fujinon and Rodenstock and I can't tell any difference with respect to colour rendition. As per black and white photographers criticizing your saturated photographs, well, never be disheartened by the old geezers. More than likely you wouldn't like what they produce either.

  3. #3
    Moderator Ralph Barker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Rio Rancho, NM
    Posts
    5,034

    Re: "Gonzo Color"

    From my experience, I'd say the so-called short answer is, "No".

    But, the longer answer is "Maybe". That is, the difference in color rendition between brands, where the lenses are of the same vintage, will be very subtle. Differences between uncoated, single-coated, and multi-coated may be more apparent, but often due to flare that wasn't noticed or considered (and thus not properly shaded) when the exposure was made.

    Specialty lenses (Verito, Veritar, Heliar, etc.) that produce a special look fall into a separate category, I think.

  4. #4
    Whatever David A. Goldfarb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    Honolulu, Hawai'i
    Posts
    4,658

    Re: "Gonzo Color"

    There can be subtle differences, but they are small compared to film choice, and Velvia is just a highly saturated film (or group of films).

  5. #5
    Kirk Gittings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico
    Posts
    9,864

    Re: "Gonzo Color"

    No, but the color rendition significantly varies between printing methods and workflows.
    Thanks,
    Kirk

    at age 73:
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep"

  6. #6
    naturephoto1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Breinigsville, PA
    Posts
    570

    Re: "Gonzo Color"

    Quote Originally Posted by Kirk Gittings View Post
    No, but the color rendition significantly varies between printing methods and workflows.
    And how the color is adjusted (hopefully as close as possible to the original) by whomever is doing the digital work.

    Rich
    Richard A. Nelridge

    http://www.nelridge.com

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    633

    Re: "Gonzo Color"

    Hi Don, no it's definitely not your lens. I suspect that it's a Photoshop issue. When correcting a scan, it is easy to accidentally increase the saturation of all of the colors. Curves adjustments that aren't intended to affect the color should all be put in "Luminosity" mode; otherwise they may inadvertently pop your colors. Then when you want to do something to the color, put that layer in "color" mode so it doesn't affect the brightness/darkness of the image. Does that make sense?

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    159

    Re: "Gonzo Color"

    Another thing to consider is your display. When I finally acquired a GMB Eye-1 Display, life got a little easier.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    122

    Re: "Gonzo Color"

    If you use Velvia and your prints look anything like your transparencies then you really only need to worry if the B&W folk DON'T take you to the woodshed

  10. #10
    Resident Heretic Bruce Watson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    USA, North Carolina
    Posts
    3,362

    Re: "Gonzo Color"

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Kellogg View Post
    Some of my color prints were rather harshly critisized (albit mainly by the b&w folk) for being "too saturated" especially with the greens. ... Does the color rendition significantly vary among various lenses brands?
    It's not the lenses.

    In my work with color (all negatives, mostly 160PortaVC) I've found that I normally have to desaturate my images some just to get the colors inside the gamut of my printer/ink/substrate. If you do a gamut check in Photoshop (you have to set up softproofing [View...Proof Setup...Custom] to do this) you can pretty rapidly see the out-of-gamut colors in your file.

    If I don't do this I sometimes get what I call "clown colors" which, while interesting, do tend to cross that boundry between plausable and implausable.

    Two other things. First, almost any color film has a larger gamut than just about any print system. In general, the more saturated films just exceed what the various printing methods can handle by more than less saturated films.

    Second, most colors in nature aren't very saturated. But research has shown that humans tend to like more saturated colors in their prints. This is at least partly responsible for the saturation level in modern films, and for the range of saturations available.

    I don't have any idea if any of this is helpful to you. It's just something to think about.

    Bruce Watson

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •