Contrast Question

[KandJinIN]

Is it strange that I find myself more often than not dropping my contrast in DPP on almost every shot? I don't think I have ever actually bumped up my contrast during processing.

I guess I am wondering why that is? I get that asking this will be exceptionally subjective, but what type of photos do you find yourself bumping the contrast on and what type do you find yourself dropping the contrast?

On a more technical level, it seems like the more contrast the more depth, but the more contrast the more my highlights are blown out.. is that an accurate understanding of contrast?

[H20boy]

I tend to bump UP all of my photos with some contrast, but that is only after bringing up the levels, or better yet, exposing to the right (ETTR) from the start. Shoot your images with the histogram leaning toward the right instead of straight up middle, and see what differences you notice when you PP.

[mgardner]

I'll start by asking someone to correct me if I'm wrong. A contrast adjustment is simply a stretching of the histogram. Some images won't need the adjustment, others will benefit if there's room in the histogram to stretch before clipping. If your highlights are bumped up against the right side you will get blown highlights by increasing contrast.

I think shots with less dynamic range are the ones that can benefit from a contrast adjustment.

[number six]

Is it strange that I find myself more often than not dropping my contrast in DPP on almost every shot? I don't think I have ever actually bumped up my contrast during processing.

What picture style are you using? What contrast setting in-camera?

-js

[chopperdave]

maybe you like flat images? =)

[usukshooter]

Are you shooting in RAW or JPG? Most RAW's will be flat and need a boost in contrast. But if you're shooting in JPG, there is already a contrast being applied by the camera - maybe it is just too high for your liking so lower the setting (read your manual if you don't know how).

If you're increasing the contrast and finding your highlights are always blown out, maybe you are simply overexposing? Or maybe you just need to do some dodging and burning. Some example photos might help.

Edit to add: Also make sure your screen is calibrated!

[H20boy]

JPG creation in camera almost always blows out highlights for some reason. If you can learn to shoot in RAW, you'll see more than just these benefits in regards to highlights and contrast amounts.

[number six]

JPG creation in camera almost always blows out highlights for some reason. If you can learn to shoot in RAW, you'll see more than just these benefits in regards to highlights and contrast amounts.

If that's the case you must have some strange settings in your camera. Or it needs calibration.

I shoot lots of jpegs and get blown highlights only in the scenes where the reason is obvious - typically most of the frame moderate to low light with a patch of sky somewhere, that kind of thing.

-js