{"id":129120,"date":"2019-02-18T09:50:18","date_gmt":"2019-02-18T17:50:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=129120"},"modified":"2019-02-18T10:00:51","modified_gmt":"2019-02-18T18:00:51","slug":"how-to-shoot-extreme-contrast-and-saturation-color-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/18\/how-to-shoot-extreme-contrast-and-saturation-color-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Shoot Extreme Contrast and Saturation Color Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I’ve been passionate about high-contrast “crushed blacks” monochrome as an aesthetic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, I realized and had a thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if I tried to innovate a new aesthetic– a super high-contrast and super-high color saturation — essentially the monochrome 1600 look, except this time, focusing on color?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

ERIC KIM CHROMA 1600 Lightroom Preset<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I was playing around with my Eric Kim Monochrome 1600 Preset with some RICOH GR II RAW photos I’ve shot in Mexico City, and accidentally clicked ‘color’. I was actually super impressed with the result!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mexico
Mexico City, 2019<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I then made a new ‘Eric Kim CHROMA 1600 Preset<\/a>‘ for Lightroom, and I am very very happy with the results and the look:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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RICOH GR II RAW FILE into COLOR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you know, I’ve been a huge proponent for the RICOH GR II for monochrome<\/a>. I’ve shot lots of good photos with the RICOH GR II in Tokyo<\/a>, and street photography all around the world<\/a>. I never knew that you could play with the RAW files with the RICOH GR II to produce quite epic color photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example note the difference between the RAW file and the processed photo with my new Eric Kim CHROMA 1600 preset<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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RAW RICOH GR II file<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Eric Kim CHROMA 1600 Preset<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is insane how much detail you can pull from the RAW file of the RICOH GR II!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why high contrast\/saturation color photography?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Mexico
Mexico City, 2019<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why I love a high-contrast\/high-saturation color aesthetic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. More interesting to look at: Color is another visual stimulus we can add to our images.<\/li>
  2. When I look at my own color photos, they put a huge smile on my face! I’m not sure why.<\/li>
  3. Shooting color is a fun challenge: More variables to play with in color photography (compared to monochrome). Additional challenge in photography is more fun, enjoyable, and interesting!<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Tips to shoot better high-contrast\/high-saturation color photographs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    You don’t need to shoot with a RICOH GR II — honestly, any camera will suffice. But some basic concepts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Shoot colorful scenes both WITH flash, and both WITHOUT flash<\/a>. Benefit of RICOH GR II is the integrated pop-up flash. The benefit of a flash is that it adds more saturation and contrast to a color photograph<\/strong>.<\/li>
    2. When you see colorful scenes (in bright sunlight), adjust the exposure-compensation of your camera to -1, -2, or sometimes even -3.<\/li>
    3. Photograph colorful scenes with lots of different textures<\/a>. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Above all, just have fun with it! :)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      ERIC<\/p>\n\n\n