I <3 selective coloring!

Yeah, it can make for an interesting learning project!

I've used it to practice with the Lightroom local adjustment brushes -- on this shot I lowered the saturation in all the color channels and then used a brush with Saturation for the Reds cranked up and then another with Saturation for the Greens cranked up and then just did some brushing over a couple areas and came up with this -- not a great image but it was fun:

I love selective colour, yes I'm a newbie and maybe I'll 'grow out of it' but it reminds me of a post by Scott Kelby on HDR.

Non-photographer's love the effect. I think its scorn has to do with the fact that it is much more of a photoshop skill than a photography skill though when taking photos, knowing which ones will work as HDR or Black and White or Selective Colour is a skill.

I can understand why it is seen as lazy, like HDR you can turn an average photo into something that really pops. If you're an art critique you can slag it off however if you're a businessman I'd think twice before dismissing something clients love.

imgnxpsr wrote in post #11590415
I think its scorn has to do with the fact that it is much more of a photoshop skill than a photography skill

No. I think much of it's scorn has to do that a lot of crappy images get selective coloring applied in an attempt to polish a turd
Selective coloring won't turn a boring image interesting. It will turn a boring image into a boring, selectively colored image.

imgnxpsr wrote in post #11590415
though when taking photos, knowing which ones will work as HDR or Black and White or Selective Colour is a skill.

Agree 100% there.

It's also a skill to know what objects should be selectively colored:

tim wrote in post #11419148
It's often used inappropriately, drawing attention to an irrelevant object rather than toward the main subject or focal point of a photo. For example drawing the eye toward flowers, rather than toward the bride and groom in the image.

Nothing wrong with it if it can accomplish a creative purpose or please a client. Just resorting to a gimmick to try and "jazz" people, well, most photogs will give a shrug...

I used it as a crutch when startng out, but don't need selective coloring to focus the viewer's attention where I want it anymore. Interestingly, none of my clients have asked for it lately either.

LisaJH wrote in post #11419244
I've never seen selective color look good. Its like that phase we all go through when we're just starting out that we later look back on in embarrassment and wonder wth we were thinking. lol The fact that the general public still seems drawn to it is quite unfortunate.

So true! Every new guy with a camera who knows three commands in PS will do it - and be proud of it too.

Notice how often you hear these phrases:

This project will be a tough nut to crack. That said, it isn’t rocket science. Going forward, we’ll work 24/7, and at the end of the day we will succeed.

People who talk and write this way figure, "Why not use these expressions?"

The answer is: Because they are trite and overused expressions. They issue from minds too lazy to frame an original thought.

Selective color is a visual cliche. It is trite and overused. That's why so many people advise against using it.

Peano wrote in post #11591547
Notice how often you hear these phrases:

This project will be a tough nut to crack. That said, it isn’t rocket science. Going forward, we’ll work 24/7, and at the end of the day we will succeed.

People who talk and write this way figure, "Why not use these expressions?"

The answer is: Because they are trite and overused expressions. They issue from minds too lazy to frame an original thought.

Selective color is a visual cliche. It is trite and overused. That's why so many people advise against using it.

This cracks me up! If a client came to you and asked for it...is this what you would say to them?

If the customer likes it, who cares!

ShotByTom wrote in post #11592657
If a client came to you and asked for it...is this what you would say to them?

Sure. I would and I have said it to clients. I always offer my suggestions on what would make their pictures better. There's nothing disrespectful in pointing out (what they usually don't realize) that a technique has been done to death. Selective color is one. Cross processing (yellow highlights, blue shadows) is another. There are more original and creative ways to make a picture special. But it's up to the client. If he prefers selective color or cross processing, I'm happy to do it.