In a message dated 11/19/02 1:49:41 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Why is it that images shot on conventional video ( including digital video) have this "domestic" look, this Home video look as compared to film cinematography, and much worse yet, compared to digital photography, in which images look so much like film?? Is it the chip, the processing of the data in the electronics or what?? Digitised 35 or 16mm film does not look like video, it looks like film. >>
Dear Jorge Same with stills. Film has a built in fault. In theory Sensitometric Curves should be straight lines, with film they are not. Shadows and highlights are lower in contrast than the mid tones. The human eye focusses on only one part of a scene at any one time and adjusts for only that one spot as far as colour, focus and reference to emotional ideas of reality. Film, by only getting the midtones decently contrasty goes a small way towards what the eye sees "emotionally". i.e. It is selective of the midtones and de-emphasises the shadows and highlights. Digital capture has a straight line Curve. Contrast in shadows, midtones and highlights is the same. There is great shadow detail in every digital camera review I've seen. Reviewers praise shadow detail as if it were some kind of Nirvana. I have seen many "perfect" digital images which would be improved by showing some creative decision on where the viewer was meant to look. Taking most of that detail out of the shadows is one way of bringing attention to the main part of the image. I also have a theory that photographers with experience of B&W printing who used dodging and burning effectively have a different approach to tonal control than those who have only ever shot colour on 35mm and sent it to a lab for processing. My use of Photoshop is almost all an extension of B&W printing. Holding back glare on roads, burning back detail in sunlit buildings, grading skies to darken at edges etc. I will also choose a contrast range to suit the subject not the theory of straight line Curves. Enough before breakfast, off to delete all those posts about blocked inkjets. Bob Croxford =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
