Color Correction - how far do you go...?

[Croasdail]

Ok all, normally I am not a big fan of fixing stage lighting color cast, as it represents the reality of what was going on. That said, the latest event I shot, the lighting folks really went nuts flooding the stage with red, turning dark complected performers luminous red. So much so, their faces look totally burned out. The safest fix seems to have been to desaturate the reds... but the overall color shift definitely is not longer accurate.

So my question to you, how far will you all go to "correct" skin tones from the impact of stage lighting?

[johnms88]

Usually I am able to save reds pretty decently with just the temp/hue sliders. I usually don't go beyond that too much. If it comes down to it being a great pic if it weren't for the blown reds, i just B&W it.

[René Damkot]

how far will you all go to "correct" skin tones from the impact of stage lighting?

I'lll take "pleasing" over "accurate" any day of the week ;)

[S-S]

heres a shoot of exactly that nature which i did recently... many of the shots were strongly cast and i basically adjusted them all to daylight and then restored a little of the tint for the very strong ones. the clients were very pleased and no one mentioned that all the pretty stage lighting was basically wiped out

linky (http://www.availablelight.co.nz/blog/2008/08/13/seussical-11-aug-08/)

[SlowBlink]

I think you have extra latitude when correcting a bad light mans work. :)

[Croasdail]

heres a shoot of exactly that nature which i did recently... many of the shots were strongly cast and i basically adjusted them all to daylight and then restored a little of the tint for the very strong ones. the clients were very pleased and no one mentioned that all the pretty stage lighting was basically wiped out

linky (http://www.availablelight.co.nz/blog/2008/08/13/seussical-11-aug-08/)

Good points....

[londonblue007]

In Boston we've got lots of venues that think red stage light is the next best thing since sliced bread. While I don't agree, I also don't have a say in the matter.

I try and do a custom white balance before the show on something white on the stage in the lights. Even if it is after the band is on stage, I'll still do it. If anything it helps get whites looking white. And makes the skin look like skin and not a person who's taken a dip in red food coloring
I like to use the set list on the floor to do the white balance.
I'll post some before and after's of this technique when I get home.