Selective Coloring

kompressor wrote in post #13073803
Just like most people, I went through the phase of thinking selective color was really cool. Now it all seems so cliche, but when clients request it, I'm not too proud (or well-off) to refuse to do it. Gotta pay the bills. One thing I have found that helps the effect is to be more gradual about it. Most people's examples of selective color will have a completely destaurated image punctuated by a gash of color that seems like it was over-saturated due to the contrast with the monochrome. Dial it down a bit. Make the color very subtle so that at first, your viewer isn't even positive that the element is indeed in color.

That's just my two cents. Wish I had an image to show you what I'm talking about, but I'm at work, wasting my employer's money.

+1 on this thought. I like selective color when you have to do a double-take to see it. More of the pastel look, almost like the hand coloring of B&W photos in the "old days" when I was a kid...

Ken_Rockwell wrote in post #13128280
I think selective coloring kills most of these photos.

People seem to either love it or hate it - same as HDR. I think its really cool when it's used to highlight and draw attention to a specific item (like that yellow corvette). Other pictures where you really can't understand why the color has been preserved are the ones I don't like.

Airedale1 wrote in post #13073411
Two of mine from long ago.

The Painter

Painting Flowers

I really like these two, especially the first one. In this case, the selective colour is part of the story that the image tells which is much more clever. The first one is like an old B&W snap of an artist painting but with colour paint. I like the feeling the picture portrays. I do wonder why he or she painted the front surface of the easel though.

The only two I have ever done.

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This is my first, and probably last try at selective coloring...it's just not my style, but there are some great shots on here showing how well it can be done!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/ekim89/61187172​56/

I like it still but I find it most effective in ad type shots like the first post and rather depressing shots like the graves with flowers and memorials like the American flag with...anything. Obviously it can be overdone but occasionally it's nice. I have a few I like but I'm at work right now.

I am wonder this topic is for only people and why on here people post people and other like car and etc on here....?

Just want to notice this...

I know this fourm sharing is for people...

macroimage wrote in post #13160518
I really like these two, especially the first one. In this case, the selective colour is part of the story that the image tells which is much more clever. The first one is like an old B&W snap of an artist painting but with colour paint. I like the feeling the picture portrays. I do wonder why he or she painted the front surface of the easel though.

If you mean the clamps above and below the canvas, it is common to dab a little on there to confirm that the brush is going to put down the right color. Having the palette flat and the canvas at an angle means that the light can be hitting it at a different angle and in different amounts.

kendisred wrote in post #13144233
The Spooky Look

Can't tell if serious....

scary.

krb wrote in post #13162637
If you mean the clamps above and below the canvas, it is common to dab a little on there to confirm that the brush is going to put down the right color. Having the palette flat and the canvas at an angle means that the light can be hitting it at a different angle and in different amounts.

Thank you for explaining this. I didn't know that. Clearly the photographer had an attention to detail in processing the picture that comes from an understanding of the art.

This is my one and only selective color image.

seems to work best for motorsports... the corvette and sport bikes were very good. I think it has to be a good picture on it's own (like their simple backgrounds and well done panning). Selective color is fine but not as a way to make a mediochre picture a great picture. That said... no matter how good the picture, I don't think full color with people in B/W ever works....