Assistance grading a shot

[Andy_Johnson]

I've been really studying and learning how to read all scopes/wavesforms/etc. and more in Color Finale (and previously just the built-in FCPX color adjustments). This is the opening shot in a new video edit and ironically it's the only one where I cannot achieve anything that looks even remotely acceptable to me. I believe it's due to harsh lighting, and lack of color as a result of that. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone might want to have a fun try at this screen grab (I can post the native 11sec .mov if needed also). I know, sorry it's not a RED grab, that will be happening soon. This was shot on the GH4 at 1080, 60fps at Cine-D (I believe).

I have no problem swapping this out for another clip either. I get that nature doesn't always provide ideal shooting conditions.

Link to full res frame: http://i.imgur.com/4KzfqY5.png

 

[Derek Morrison]

Perhaps a little over stylized, but an attempt. Graded in Resolve as I don't have Color Finale.

 

[Mike P.]

I will say this; the GH4 really rips in daylight! ...and only 1080? Also, I don't think it's that there's not enough colour info, I just think the scene's palette is essentially just two colours (brown sand and turquoise water).

EDIT: With that in mind, I just went with it (and it essentially went typical blue/orange crush.)

 

[Andy_Johnson]

Wow thank you Derek and Mike! I appreciate both of these.

Mike your palette is actually just what I was looking for. And yes, it was only 1080 because I was shooting a ton of slow-mo that day (if the GH4 had 60p at 4k I would jump for joy). Can I ask what general steps you used?

Thanks again.

 

[Mike P.]

Wow thank you Derek and Mike! I appreciate both of these.

Mike your palette is actually just what I was looking for. And yes, it was only 1080 because I was shooting a ton of slow-mo that day (if the GH4 had 60p at 4k I would jump for joy). Can I ask what general steps you used?

Thanks again.

Haha, I meant, "rips" in a good way (like surfing)! The image is rad *and it's only* 1080p at that!

As for steps; Everything was done globally via CameraRaw. I re-white-balanced using the highlight of the sitting guy's grey shirt (the white hat of the guy next time him might've been better). Added 50% vibrance to pump up the colours. Adjusted black and white points to get contrast where I liked it (on my display/a random MBP retina). Then adjusted the blue channel level -- bumping up the lows (to get bluish shadows) and taking down the highs (to get yellowish highs -- pseudo-sunbleached).

Actually, Dr.Dom did a similar thing (albeit much better) in this thread... granted he was shooting dragon, it was sunset, and (ahem) the skin tones are far more prevalent in his shots...

 

[Nick Fury]

I will say this; the GH4 really rips in daylight! ...and only 1080? Also, I don't think it's that there's not enough colour info, I just think the scenes palette is essentially just two colours (brown sand and turquoise water).

EDIT: With that in mind, I just went with it (and it essentially went typical blue/orange crush.)

Your description is true to the wedge's usual hues...

Thank you very much

Fury

 

[Scott Crawley]

 

[Marc Wielage]

I figured the surfer falling was the point of the shot, so I made an effort to bring that out as much as possible.

 

[Les Hillis]

Here are some more stylized examples made just by adjusting brightness, red, green, blue, contrast, gamma and saturation.

Original -



If I was an actual colorist using more capable software, I might have been able to do something about the magenta tint in the water, and avoided blowing the highlights so much.

 

[Sabovic Adis]

Q:
What's wrong with original picture?

 

[Andy_Johnson]

Q:
What's wrong with original picture?

Technically, there's nothing wrong with it. It is, however, very flat. The settings in the camera are all set so that there is minimal contrast, color, sharpening, etc. These things I prefer to add in post.

 

[Sabovic Adis]

Technically, there's nothing wrong with it. It is, however, very flat. The settings in the camera are all set so that there is minimal contrast, color, sharpening, etc. These things I prefer to add in post.

Difficult to edit 4:2:0 8 bit, right? :biggrin:

 

[Andy_Johnson]

Difficult to edit 4:2:0 8 bit, right? :biggrin:

Yes :smile5:. My RED can't get here soon enough!

Thanks for everyone's inspirational input - they all helped a ton when tweaking things! It is much appreciated. Here's the final result I ended up with:
http://i.imgur.com/aOLqTFu.png

 

[Mihnea Bi]

Or if you are tired of teal orange, something more natural could be the answer

 

[Mihnea Bi]

...or more "filmic" (i have no ideea what means this term)

 

[David Battistella]

You could always create a little more depth illusion with "problem shots"

David

 

[Aaron Lochert]

My take on it:

 

[Clark McCauley]

This would be mine!