Mark Metternich Offline Upload & Sell: On
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JimFox wrote:
Hey Mark,
So if it looks okay on a non-calibrated non-Safari, Chrome or Firefox viewing environment, does that mean the shot is not good? It sounds a bit odd when you, and there are a few others have to say that on every shot they post. I guess at least you aren't posting links to Wide Gamut versions. I think there must be something wrong if every shot has to come with a disclaimer. Does it really stop people from giving suggestions? If I am not in the desired viewing environment, should I not even bother commenting with a suggestion, since clearly any issues would be with my viewing end, and not on the posting end...
Mark, your work is usually very good, so I don't see the need for disclaimers being posted by you. Knowing you, I know you like open dialogue with people, so perhaps that disclaimer isn't really needed? If someone suggests that the colors are not right or are too saturated, you are still going to tell them that they look good on your calibrated Safari system...
Okay, off the soap box...
Jim...Show more →
I am glad you asked because I enjoy helping educate people about color management!
Because part of my profession is color management consulting and education, I like the disclaimer. And color management may be, in part, my own soap box. I even have an instructional video tutorial coming out on color management in July.
The disclaimer is mainly two things. Slightly educational for those who don't know much/or anything about color management (as an encouragement to look into, and more importantly maybe embrace the matter). And, two: the honest point that if one really wants to see the image and its nuances as close to intended as possible, it gives them that information, describing that standard space. In other words, it lets people know the truth that if they are not calibrated and not on a color managed browser, they will not be able to see the image nearly as close to as intended as they might want.
The described setup in the disclaimer has been the growing standard for photo professionals /serious hobbyists for quite some time now. People, who take their color management seriously. Some forums embrace it more than others. Because monitors are all over the map (in very widely varying, very wrong ways) calibrating them just makes sense. When one of my heroes, Photoshop / color management guru Bruce Fraser talked about the issue he said "...so we need to shoot for the middle of a very wide barn door." I agree. I think people who are serious about the accuracy of their work should also consider taking responsibility to get their setups as correct as possible. Then of course we put the images out into the world and who knows how people will be viewing them! The full array from the more serious photo professional/hobbyist to someone browsing around on an old beat up laptop or CRT display.
So in essence the disclaimer says, if you want to see this as close to intended, then this is how you do that.
As far as critique/feedback goes... No, in no way am I saying "don't critique me" or "I don't want to be critiqued." Nothing could be farther from the truth! I have always loved critique/feedback and have always very much appreciated and benefited from learning from it. In fact I welcome it!
Interestingly, I had dinner with Aaron Feinberg the other night and we realized we had met through Fred Miranda years ago. I used to have another user name, but I have been here maybe nearing 10 years. He has also been on here maybe about that long. When we were taking about it he said "I learned everything I know off of Fred Miranda!" I laughed and said "me too!!!." So, yes, we come here with a teachable spirit, to learn. Critique/feedback is a very big part of that.
But yes there is this aspect too. There is a person on this forum who has been giving me very critical (I mean that in the positive sense) careful, very nuanced feedback. The person takes their own work seriously and is a great photographer IMO. Not too long back they were saying something about my image and I could not see it at all. As hard as I could look the issue was not there. Finally, I messaged them asking what kind of system they were on? Lo and behold, a non calibrated laptop!!! (probably through Internet Explorer too!) I think maybe most photo oriented people know a carefully calibrated desktop monitor, and a non calibrated (or even calibrated) lap top are worlds apart. Well, that becomes a disconnect. That person is not even able to see the image as intended or accurately. Well, I don't mind them giving me critique, but I like them to know what may be necessary to be on the same page. So in a word, I am encouraging a standard.
So off my soapbox now, and back to the image at hand.
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