How can I get natural-looking, accurate color saturation in landscape photos?
Asked 3/14/2016
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2 answers
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My landscape photos often look less saturated than the scene felt in person. I can increase saturation in editing, but I want to avoid making the image look artificial. Is there anything I should do when shooting, or in post-processing, to get more accurate and natural color? HDR hasn’t solved it for me.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
1
I guess that every high level photographer showing their landscape photographs on the web is boosting the saturation and increasing the contrast. So, if you are comparing to their result, of course your photos will look unsaturated.
However, there are two things I would like to point out:
- If your image editing appliction allows, use Vibrance adjustments instead of Saturation. The result will be still saturated, but more natural picture. (This maybe obvious to you.)
- You can use color calibration chart like ColorChecker Passport to get as precise colors as possible. But I am using it and the colors are not saturated anyway, so I think this means the reality is not as saturated as it seems :) Maybe the eye and brain do some tricks, so we think the reaility is more saturated. And maybe we just forgot how un-saturated the place was when taking the photos...
This is my opinion based on experience of long time photographying (and earning a living as a photographer). If there is some more scientific answer to this question, I would like to hear it.
Originally by user46326. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user46326
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—both capture and post-processing matter, but some difference is normal. Many landscape images you see online are deliberately boosted in contrast and saturation, so your neutral files may look dull by comparison.
A few practical steps can help:
- Correct white balance first. If white balance is off, colors will look wrong no matter how much saturation you add.
- Use vibrance rather than global saturation when possible. Vibrance usually gives a more natural result because it boosts weaker colors more gently.
- Make sure your color management is consistent. Your camera, raw/conversion software, and editing app should use appropriate color profiles, and your monitor should be properly profiled/calibrated.
- If you need more precise color, use a color target such as a ColorChecker to build or verify a camera profile.
Also keep expectations realistic: there is no single profile that is perfect for every scene, and our eyes/brain often perceive real scenes as more vivid than a camera records them. So some careful editing is normal. The goal is usually believable color, not perfectly literal saturation.
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