Color Adjustments

One thing I have a love hate relationship in regards to photography is edits. I know alot of shooters do PP to lighten photos or really focus on adding additional light but I really like darker more saturated images. While this may turn out to be my "thing", is there any rules you all try to follow when determining how bright a PP image should be?

How an image should appear is really a matter of your vision for the image - HOWEVER, making sure that your vision translates across output from different devices (displays, printer-paper combinations, etc.) is not a matter of taste, but the subject of Color Management. If you do not practice some modicum of color management, what looks "correct" to you on your device, may not appear the same to another viewer, print shop, photo developer, etc.

There are countless threads here on color management. Forum Member René has a link in his signature line to his blog about the subject - here is the "Sticky" thread to start with:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=707058

kirk

Thanks Kirk, good thread Im not having any issues with consistency, I just want to make sure that I produce an image that is comparable to what is typically considered correct. I just read so many threads where everyone bashes the color, and I know what I like is different from most consumers. So in gerneral what is the typical look consumers prefer?

Color Management and all those devices, software, etc is greatly overacted.
Some printers have very good internal and PS control.
But in the words of the Isley Brothers ...

It's your thing
Do what you wanna do
I can't tell you
Who to sock it to
It's your thing
Do what you wanna do now
I can't tell you
Who to sock it to
If you want me to love you, maybe I will
I need you woman, it ain't no big deal
You need love now, just as bad as I do
Make's me no difference now, who you give your thing to
It's your thing (It's your thing)
Do what you wanna do
I can't tell you
Who to sock it to
It's your thing (It's your thing)
Do what you wanna do now
I can't tell you
Who to sock it to
It's your thing (It's your thing)
Do what you wanna do
I can't tell you
Who to sock it to
I'm not trying to run your life,
I know you wanna do what's right,
Ah, give your love girl, do whatever you choose,
How can you lose, with the stuff you use?
It's your thing (It's your thing)
Do what you wanna do
I can't tell you
Who to sock it to
It's your thing (It's your thing)
Do what you wanna do
Don't let me tell you
Who to sock it to
Let me hear you say it's my thing (It's your thing),
I do what I wanna do......

Post an image that has caused a love-hate situation and I'll see if I can come up with something to tell you.

kirk

Here is one with PP. I wanted it saturated because i took it in an acquarium but I wanted to give it like a deep sea feel. Sure I have no idea if this is a deep sea scene but you tell me

More contrast then I'd use: Now blacks are blocked and whites clipped.
Saturation is something different from contrast is something different from exposure