Evaluating Images

The core experience in the Workshop is the correction of the images. In this page my evaluating and picking criteria.

In every discipline we can push ourselves to become better in areas we prefer, or like more. In color correction extending our own preferences, and working on lesser known kind of photography, has a huge learning value. It teaches us to solve specific sets of issues, widening our set of tools, our culture, and imagination. For each kind of photography you can also find a professional that I currently follow.

Four Main Classification Criteria

Easy Simple

In our first category, we place images that are easy to correct, common everyday photos. These have a serious underrated educational value. We learn to read an image, consistently, we develop discipline in our workflow. Not many images need to be radically changed, and we need to discipline ourselves in serving a purpose, not pleasing our ego (well, not always!).

Difficoult Complex

Counterpart to the easier images, the most challenging ones teach us a different lesson. If simple tools and a basic workflow was enough before, now we need a more advanced strategy. We need to carefully read the image, foresee what to do with it, and therefore choose the best tools. We also need to understand when to stop, to avoid over-processing. Difficult photos extend our tools and skills palettes, and develop our creativity in finding solutions to a issue.

Normal Daily

Difficulty is a key metric, but we need to do more, a qualitative distinction is required. What appears in an image, and how. Before listing photography niches we deal with below, we can add two more important categories. The first contains everyday, personal, pictures. We’ll find amateur, natural light, and even some professional photos, like photojournalist projects, here.

Professional Exclusive

Where I really think my Workshop will engage users and colorist is dealing with professional images. Our last category is carefully hand-picked and edited. Here you will find photos created for the professional market, areas where only high quality results will be allowed. Especially in fields where additional steps are needed, like fashion, food and portraits.

The Most Important Genres

Food Photography

Colors & Textures  Link: Modernist Cuisine

It could very well be my favourite, it combines food and an extremely high educational value. Great variety, images shot in kitchens, and thus with bad artificial lightning, flash (multiple color casts) metallic surfaces and the white of clothes. But also plated food macro photographies, sometimes with studio lights, where sharpening, contrast, colors and hues will be so much important.

Landscape Photography

Contrast Ed Exposure  Link: Max Rive Photography

Everything nature can offer, all shades of lightning, colors and details, including color correction of nocturnal photography, and starry nights. From the never ending greeneries, to blue skies and water. These images repeatedly teach us the fundamentals, how to deal with contrast, with exposure, colors and sharpening.

Portrait Photography

White Balancing & Details  Link: Guido Harari

Skin-tone is the most delicate color to correct and improve. So many shades in such a little interval, especially for this very reason to compare your corrected version with other colorists will be very valuable. Sharpening and creativity will play major roles in this images as well.

Underwater Photography

Color Casts & Exposure  Link: Marcello Di Francesco

Where portraits offers a great diversity in a small range of hues, underwater photography will let us work on extreme changes on a single shade of blue. These are the most extreme color casts I ever saw, and are usually paired with impossible lightning conditions.

Sports Photography

Reading & Composition  Link: Andrew D. Bernstein

Another case where photographic conditions are usually critical, fast paced motorbikes or cars, athletes and very saturated colors. Retouching sports photos teach us to produce compelling results that needs to belong in a commercial market. We deal with metallic surfaces, noise, and colors that usually belongs to brands.

Architecture Photography

Shapes & Textures  Link: Iwaan Baan

Composition is critical in this field, but is photographer’s responsibility. But everything else is on the colorist, a crucial white balancing, bright luminosity, and smart decisions on colors will make or break the color correction of architectural images. I’m considering at the moment to add renders and compositions to this category.

7640
Corrections sent
561
Assignment
4577
Days of activity
226:24:07
Hours of videos

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…in english, and italian!