How can I get more naturally saturated landscape photos without using HDR?
Asked 1/30/2013
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I saw a gallery of very vibrant landscape photos labeled "unaltered" and wondered how the photographer achieved such strong color without obvious HDR processing. If the images were shot on film or printed traditionally, what factors most affect saturation? Are there capture-time techniques or filters that landscape photographers commonly use to boost color in a natural-looking way?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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There's really no such thing as an "unaltered" photograph.
Unless you're going to pin a piece of undeveloped film to the wall. Certain film stock is designed to give exaggerated colours and there are film processing techniques (e.g. cross processing) to do the same.
A digital camera cannot detect colour directly, only intensity. Sensors have a mosaic of different coloured filters placed over the pixels to allow colour information to be inferred. Therefore "alteration" by demosaicing is absolutely necessary in order to generate a colour image. Colour saturation is simply a parameter of this process so the photographer is free to set as they please. And then go on to claim the image is "unaltered" as it hasn't been through Photoshop...
There are things you can do at capture time to increase the saturation, for example using a polarizing or graduated ND filter, being careful not to overexpose, avoiding lens flare, choosing your subject carefully, shooting when atmospheric conditions are at their best. But just don't be lead to believe that "unaltered" actually means anything.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
13y ago
0
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Strong, natural-looking saturation can come from capture and printing choices, not just HDR or Photoshop.
For film, the biggest factor is often the film stock: some films are known for much more vivid color than others. Processing choices can also change color significantly, and the print medium/paper can further affect how saturated the final print appears.
For landscapes, photographers also commonly use filters at capture. A graduated neutral density filter can hold back a bright sky, giving a more balanced exposure and richer-looking color overall. Other filters can also enhance color depending on the scene.
With digital cameras, saturation, contrast, and vividness can often be increased in-camera, so a photographer may still describe the result as "unaltered" if they mean it wasn’t edited afterward in software.
So the main ways to get this look are: choosing a more saturated film or picture style, using suitable filters, controlling exposure carefully, and making print choices that preserve or enhance color.
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