A piece of cake...

[Fred Kingston_RIP]

I'd like to see an image in between the 2... I think the original is over-exposed... the chocolate looked a bit tan-ish and not that deep rich brown... and the berries looked dried up, and didn't have that fresh deep red look... the second image goes too far... and loses some highlights... I like the chrome of the fork in the second image more than the first... the first looks like polished aluminum...

 

[nikonpup]

eenie meenie miney mo some from 1 and some from 2 #1background i like, cake looks dry. #2
the background is to dark a distraction for me, cake looks moist and yummy, berries a little dark.
A taste tell will tell, send me a piece overnite express.

 

[Dave_W]

I agree with others on the original image. It looks fairly well balanced. I wonder if STM's monitor is off because his redux is very dark. The only thing I would do is play with the contrast a little bit and maybe add a drop or two more saturation. Consider using PS's DoF function and blur out some of the surrounding area. Food photography seems to be big on narrow DoF's...why? I've no idea but it sure is the going trend.

 

[sam49]

I agree the original image is the best it's not overexposed to me. The edited version is way too dark on my monitor

 

[PapaST]

They both look good enough to eat.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

I'd like to see an image in between the 2... I think the original is over-exposed... the chocolate looked a bit tan-ish and not that deep rich brown... and the berries looked dried up, and didn't have that fresh deep red look... the second image goes too far... and loses some highlights... I like the chrome of the fork in the second image more than the first... the first looks like polished aluminum...

Agreed. The body of the cake in the original shot definitely has "flash" written all over it. I'm thinking this was shot without benefit of bouncing the flash or using a diffuser. I'd bet either would resolve the issue. The second image has been over-processed and blows out some the highlights.

My suggestion: Bounce the flash or use a diffuser.

 

[John Young]

Thanks everyone... so it seems some prefer the original some prefer the edited version (or versions of it)

I did use flash but the flash was bounced, I would not normally use flash but this shot was totally unplanned. The cake and everything in the shot was 'as is' it was as my wife served it to me I never messed with anything. Just grabbed my camera and took about 5 photos.

Great to see so much feedback on it

 

[STM]

I like the original best, doesn't look washed out to me and I agree, the edited version is way to dark.

Do you calibrate your monitor? I am guessing not. I do, and re-calibrate the monitors on both my desktop and laptop monthly. It can make a huge difference.

 

[Fred Kingston_RIP]

I was gonna ask about this... I also calibrate my monitor... I was gonna suggest stating whether you have/use a calibrated monitor as part of the critique criteria...as a point of reference... It's difficult to make accurate critiques without some semblance of standard... with regard to color renditions...

It's easy when we're all looking at a single print on a wall... because we all see the same thing... It's difficult looking at an image on a forum because we're all NOT looking at the same thing...

 

[Dave_W]

Do you calibrate your monitor? I am guessing not. I do, and re-calibrate the monitors on both my desktop and laptop monthly. It can make a huge difference.

That's funny because I was thinking your monitor must be way off since all these monitors here are calibrated and image #2 is very dark and missing a lot of detail. I wonder if your gamma is set too high?

 

[STM]

That's funny because I was thinking your monitor must be way off since all these monitors here are calibrated and image #2 is very dark and missing a lot of detail. I wonder if your gamma is set too high?

The hardware and software I use to calibrate my monitors zeros out the Gamma to standard each time I calibrate. For people who do not calibrate their monitors, you have no idea where the gamma is set. And our eyes will compensate for it to a certain extent without us even being aware of it.

 

[John Young]

I must admit stupidly this monitor is not calibrated but my other computer is so I will have to look at it on that later.

I have just done loads of prints and photo books using this computer and they are always spot on and exactly as seen and expected on screen

 

[wud]

Do you calibrate your monitor? I am guessing not. I do, and re-calibrate the monitors on both my desktop and laptop monthly. It can make a huge difference.

One or twice a long time ago, didn't see any difference. Normally pictures looks fine on this screen, well I dont know how we wil ever figure out, who got the right view.

 

[wud]

Just calibrated it again, no difference. I still think the edited picture are too dark. The red berries are also way to red.

​

 

[John Young]

Just calibrated it again, no difference. I still think the edited picture are too dark. The red berries are also way to red.

​

Well that's good to know for me as that's what it looks like on my monitor to....... so calibrated by poxy for me eh

 

[ktan7]

Good shot buddy.

 

[John Young]

Good shot buddy.

Thank you....