red flowers

thanks for the attempt. i had to work to get the file under the 150kb limit, so it is understandable that you couldn't obtain the same results you normally could get the with 25MB RAW file. With that said, you were still able to get some decent detail on the petals. Thanks. I will fuss with it. But essentially what I understand from this discussion that the settings were in general acceptible...just some tweaks are needed. and post processing skills....

Thanks a lot for all your help and advice.

There are still some details to borrow from the green channel. In Photoshop, I would:

1. Open the file
2. Check details in all the red, green and blue channels. I pick the green channel for this particular picture.
3. Create a "Channel Mixer" adjustment layer
4. Check the "Monochrome" box
5. Set Red to 0%, Green to 100%, Blue to 0%
6. Change the "Channel Mixer" adjustment layer to "Pin Light" mode
7. Adjust the opacity of the adjustment layer to my taste
8. Further editing if needed

Sounds like a lot of works, but the process takes less than 1 minute.

Thanks JMA. I will try that once I get photoshop, though i must admit, I wasn't planning on putting that at the top of my priority list. Is there a parallel process in DPP or possibly in GIMP? Thanks and sorry for the newbie question

Personally, I never use DPP & GIMP.

As far as I understand, DPP is a RAW converter. You can make globe adjustments but not editing images in detail. While GIMP is a decent photo editor, but lacks support in adjustment layers.

Hopefully, other knowledgeable members can give more insights in this area.

Can you post up the raw original somewhere? Then perhaps people can see what it might be possible to do, and let you know the approach they took. You can send the raw file to yourself, using www.yousendit.com, and then post a download link for the file, here in the forum.

Besides getting the exposure right, the simplest "parallel process" is to start looking at the light before you shoot. Cloudy days are good for this because sometimes you want the clouds to provide a softer light...
http://img.photobucket​.com …y-Or_011.jpg?t=126520915​9

...and sometimes you want the sunlight...
http://img.photobucket​.com …sy_020-2.jpg?t=1265209437

photosguy - you are totally right. i DO need to think more about the picture.

When you say correct exposure, what part of my exposure was incorrect?

I loved the pictures that you linked (they are gorgeous), but they are not red flowers....and hence I was wondering how to take a problematic color like red and make it better (although pure white flowers are also "fun"). I want to understand WHY my photo came out with such poor detail so I can correct it in the future.

Post #10: https://photography-on-the.net …hp?p=9517994&po​stcount=10
"use your histogram in RGB mode and watch out for clipping red."
clipped highlights link In this case, it helps to have a RGB Histogram & use it.

Red, orange, yellow = same problem.

JMA wrote in post #9531117
Personally, I never use DPP & GIMP.

As far as I understand, DPP is a RAW converter. You can make globe adjustments but not editing images in detail. While GIMP is a decent photo editor, but lacks support in adjustment layers.

Hopefully, other knowledgeable members can give more insights in this area.

DPP is a bit more than a RAW converter and really does provide some good rudimentary adjustments. It's free with the camera and is a good starting point. It's easy to learn, not many controls in the RAW tab. You gotta learn to walk before running.

thanks again and I will try to figure out how to have the RGB histogram on screen so as to pay attention to it...
Maybe this next weekend there will be decent weather so I can try again.
Again, thanks for all your help!!!

and windpig....you're right about the walk before running...but right now I feel like i am crawling!
Thanks for the understanding and the advice