I don't think that picture is going to work

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Posted by Brian Macker on April 04, 2003 at 00:41:04:

In Reply to: Brian Macker's Flames revisited (PIC) posted by KITKAT on April 02, 2003 at 22:22:45:

Kit,

It certainly is a better shade but too pinkish. It is also somehow too glossy, too florescent, too candy like. It looks too translucent like the snake is made of colored sugar. The color of the snake is deeper and darker. The color of the blanket is not right in either picture. It's green but not with so much yellow.

I also think the jar idea is screwing things up. You will notice that it is a square jar and that it is focusing the light into bright spots. I think that messes up the cameras color balancing also.

I have also noticed that the same pictures look different depending on the resolution they are shown at and what magnification. The low resolution pictures look redder and high magnification looks oranger.

I am at a loss on how to make sure I get the pictures right while I am taking them. I usually have to pic through them afterward. The camera itself has a tiny display. But I just remembered that you can zoom in so maybe I can check as I take them that way. One thing I do know. If you don't capture the lighting, aperature, speed, correctly during the shot it is next to impossible to correct colors afterwards. Especially with under or over exposed pictures.

I have found that automatic works best for capturing colors in full sunlight but it is no good for a wiggling snake. My snakes are only lazing around when in their tanks under a lightbulb. When I move them outside they like to wiggle.

Maybe in a couple weekends it will be warm enough for me to try again. The snakes do change shades as they age. Some get redder and some yellower. I have found that males tend to yellow as they age much more and faster than females. At least my males.

I want to straighen this out so I can be consistent about showing pictures in my classifieds. I want to give a good picture of every snake before I sell it. I managed to get some accurate pictures of my MelXFlame babies last year but that was luck more than skill. I thought it had more to do with skill at the time but my recent failures have brought me back to reality. I can't remember what settings I was using at the time. It was probably on automatic in full sun and I think I left the babies outside for a while to calm down.. But otherwise I don't know.

:Two photos here... one is Brian's, the other is color corrected by PhotoImpact 5.0

:What do you think, Brian?

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