question about photoing bright red flowers

[wintherstudios]

I've been trying to photos some wonderful red flowers we have here, but so far i have given up. It seems that the red color totally burns out on the display, and you cant even see any details at all. So what is the trick? you adjust the hue or RGB on the camera (don't even know if it is on the camera).

I use a nikon CoolPix 995, and any help would be very greatly appreciated:)

thanx guys!

[King Terrier]

Hi Winther-
Reds bleed! (It's an even worse problem in video.) You might try turning the saturation down, onthe camera) when you're sooting predominently red subjects. (Someone else can be Nikon 995 specific.) Here's a composite of 3 shots, one with camera set to Satuation minus, one Saturation zero and one with camera set to Saturation plus. Also, if the reds are still 'blown-out', reduce the exposure until you have some detail.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/05-Jun-2003/11822-RedsA.jpg

[DuncanBerenice]

you could maybe try bracketing (various exposures) I do that a lot with the digital photos that I take (around 6 at a time - probably over doing it), just as well there's no developing costs :D

Duncan

[SunnyJon]

Hey KT you are awesome! That's a great pic example! I'm rating this thread because of your answer & a great question!:clap: :clap:

[jsr88]

VERY good question! And K.T. VERY good answer. I've rated the thread...and HOPE I can remember what to do when I need it!
:D

[vklum]

This is good information! Reds have always been a bugaboo for me. I'm adding my rating to the thread, too.

[AriadneArts]

Yep, reds can be soooooo difficult. I find that my cameras also handle reds differently. I'm rating this thread as well. Thanks for posing the question, Winth.

[Bobby D]

Great question! Great example! Great information. I'm adding my rating to the thread, also.

[geckonia]

Nice example, KT. WS, I don't know if the 995 has sat adj... I know the 4500 does though.

When I shoot red flowers I use -.7 exposure compensation. On the 995 you hold the +- button and turn the dial to -.7. This will compensate for the fact that the deep red is darker than 18% grey.

Yellow is often difficult for the same, yet opposite, reason. It's lighter than 18% grey so you need to dial up .3~.7 to compensate or your yellows will be too dark.

Here's an example. I took this today (foggy sky) in Maria's garden. (-.7)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/data/38/3996red_lilies-med.jpg

[King Terrier]

Nice shot, geck! Those complementaries really vibrate!:clap:

[wintherstudios]

ok after getting all the help from you guys i decided to give it an go, first time ever ive photo'd anything this red or pink!

Oh yeah i discovered the zoom function also - i have WAYYYYYY more zoom then i thought!!!!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Jun-2003/22923-redpassion1.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Jun-2003/22923-redpassion2.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Jun-2003/22923-redpassion3.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/08-Jun-2003/22923-PinkPassion.jpg

there ya go :)

[wintherstudios]

wonderful shot geck! I am gonna try again, i was too afraid to make the red to dark so i only went to -1 or -0,7 .

awesome shot anyway i love lilies!

[King Terrier]

Nice shots, Winther!

[mkap.garde]

i tried to take red flower also and had same problem. i have fuji 3800 i dont think i can change the saturation and what does bracket mean.

[King Terrier]

mkap:
"Bracketing" refers to shooting a series of pics which vary in exposure. One with the "correct" exposure (as indicated by a meter or the auto exposure feature on the camera), one at half the exposure and one at twice the exposure. In traditional photography, this refers to exposure (f-stop, or shutter speed. In digital, we can also "bracket" such things as contrast, sharpness, saturation, focus, etc. The idea is to give you options when you get back to the studio!

Also, some cameras have auto exposure:cool: bracketing or AEB. You set the "steps" for exposure, and the camera takes three photos at these different exposures.:D

Here are three shots, with the exposure 'bracketed'.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Jul-2003/11822-lghthse2.jpghttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Jul-2003/11822-lghthse1.jpghttp://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/06-Jul-2003/11822-LghtHse3.jpg
1/640th sec. 1/500th sec. 1/320 sec.


Hope this helps. Give it a shot.:p

[mkap.garde]

ah!yes ok thats what you mean oh! i didnt know there was a name for doing that. thank you for telling me.

[man from ironbark]

just does not happen with film.
yet another reason not to buy a digital camera

[geckonia]

yet another reason not to buy a digital camera

LOL..... :rolleyes:

Yet another reason to use exposure compensation! (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115515) ;)

[Paulo Correia]

If your camera can show an histogram you can chose the red channel to see if the reds are blown out, if they are you can underexpose until it "fits" on the histogram.

I

[Canis Lupess]

I've had this problem too when photographing red flowers on my cacti. I had one plant who's flowers were a mix of brighter red and deeper red and they came out more of an orange colour :mad:

Anyway, I can't bracket, use exposure compensation or reduce saturation with my camera so I'm at a loss as to how to get around this.
I want to get a digital SLR at some point.....when I can afford it. :(

[Arglebargle]

I shoot concerts under red spot lights and have the same problem, sometimes I consider getting a blue filter (or cyan if the make them) to reduce the amount of red light that hits the sensor.

[ValorieCox]

test...