what is up with all the over exposure?

i have noticed recently when i see other photographers work there is so much over exposure. everything is super light & almost washed out? is this a trend? are you all finding that people ask for this type of 'look'? i'm assuming most accomplish this look when editing? can you tell i'm just lost on this? in alot of these images the subject's eyes are so adjusted they're almost glowing. i studied photojournalism in the old school film/darkroom world & it's just so hard for me to adapt to trying to shoot these kinds of photos. i need some contrast baby. i'm just curious at others thoughts on this & if you all are finding that people respond to these shots & what you have found is your best way to achieve them. through the lens or through photoshop?

 

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Arms on October 21, 2011 at 7:04am

i think maybe what you noticing is a more of a vintage style edit... everything is light and "airy", with a tint of yellow mixed in to give it a warmer feel? Vintage edits seem to be the what's "hot" thing to do for photographers - another site i belong too, there are over 13000 photographers on there and they have several vintage edits as featured photos, where as on LPC there are very few. I think it's just another look photogs can add to their bag of options and for others, that's their STYLE. 
You are a photojournalism type of gal - i can't imagine that you would want to produce something like that unless you are just wanting to know in case a client requests... and i would say - your clients that come to you know your style and that's the reason they come to you and not the other photog down the street.  

and yes i have made these types of images post production - but i am pretty sure you can do it in camera as well... i have had some oopsies forgot to change my settings and ended up overexposed but since i dont shoot in RAW format the details are completely lost so there isn't much changing i can do to that image. 
I often go back to those vintage styled edits and wished i would have added a little more contrast tho. i guess as i grow as a photographer and actually find MY style, i will try all post production styles until i get the one i can call ME! :o)  

Permalink Reply by Ryan Armbrust on October 21, 2011 at 7:45am
Most people obtain this style of shot by not properly exposing a naturally lit photo.
A little color adjustment in post gives the vintage look, but the washed out aspect is most certainly from piss-poor exposure during shooting and lack of lighting.
Permalink Reply by Kara Rucker on October 21, 2011 at 8:42am

i agree amanda, it's not really my thing. but i am just seeing soooooo much of it. i see it in a lot of newer photographers so i wondered if it was some new cool thing everyone is wanting these days or if it was a way to cover up setting mishaps. but hey, we've all had plenty of mishaps & being able to fix them in one way or another is half the battle!

i LOVE the vintage look.(btw ryan-noticed some of your particularly awesome vintage-esq photos!) it's the really washed out, kind of super light, black & white images that mainly drive me crazy. especially when it affects the subject's eye color so much. i see all these children's photos & think, ok, so that is clearly photoshopped. photoshop is amazing, but it can be so overworked. to me it defeats the purpose of photoshop when someone can immediate tell it's been edited or that someone's face has been altered. BUT i finally had one client who asked if i could make her child's eyes bluer. i'm thinking, "why would you want to do that?? that's not what they look like!" again-back to my photojournalism background. i want it to be as real & true to the moment as possible. but there is clearly a market for this so to each his own & power to the people!

i'm shooting this weekend so just for shits & giggles, i'm going to see if i can achieve the lighting in a couple of shots through my camera. always fun to give myself a little challenge ;-)

 

thanks so much for your imput amanda & ryan!

Permalink Reply by John Adkins on October 21, 2011 at 10:22pm
I'm glad someone else was thinking this.  I can appreciate the fact that some folks have different tastes where artistic decision is concerned, but to me, a lot of the stuff I see just seems blown out.  I do like the vintage, cross-processed look, but not plain old over exposure.
Permalink Reply by Amanda Arms on October 22, 2011 at 8:24am

i think new photographers have an over editing problem. lol i know i DO :o) it's like a kid getting a new toy and playing with it until and arm falls off - until they figure it out for themselves they are doing to much they will just keep doing it and doing it. For me... i know im new, i know i tend to over edit and i a working on that. i know that there are photogs that have been doing this for years and years that know WAY more than me and i want to learn, but for me the only way to learn is to shoot, edit, look back, toss it and learn from it. 

and why in the WORLD would someone request their childs eyes to be blurred?? WTH!? did you ask what she was trying to achieve by this? 

Permalink Reply by Ryan Armbrust on October 22, 2011 at 8:40am
Be careful! That same mom might ask you to make the kids eyes blue and the rest of the photo black and white. If you do this, I will never talk to you! 
Permalink Reply by Kara Rucker on October 22, 2011 at 8:56am
lol. i HATE that!!!!!!!!!! talk about a pet peeve. but i am not judging others who do it...i'm certain that's another one of those things that people ask for. but i'd have to draw the line there.

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