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Poster Post
25/07/2009 5:58:53 p.m.

kathleen

Posts 221 		Hi.
Could I have any comments from members please on which looks the best of the two photos included.
I up-loaded an image of the full moon rising and it was accepted by MCB (thank you MCB), but the curves have altered, now instead of the full moon rising in the dusky evening skies over the mountains with the sunset colours of a reddy brown on the mountain and a creamy yellow colour moon, it is now a bright blue sky with daylight colour and white moon.

Do you think the bright daylight look is more appealing maybe for a stock image?
OR the original?

Because it's title says last sunset colours, I really need to take that out of it's description if the altered one stays. Not sure what has happened, first time I have seen an image that does not look like what it did on my screen.

Appreciate any comments.
Full moon rising.jpg
25/07/2009 7:00:30 p.m.

Canon_S.I.

Posts 283 		Hi Kathleen,nice moon shot,i know how hard it is to get these shots without blur from the planets movement,but definetly the original image is my choice of the two.
26/07/2009 10:27:36 a.m.

Pixelated

Posts 107 		Hi Kathleen,
I love the original image. The warm tones of sky and moon are quite natural for a dusky evening and very attractive. The second image of a bluer and colder looking sky just looks wrong. My opinion.

Lovely shot!

- Thysje
26/07/2009 1:31:46 p.m.

Mel

Posts 166 		Hi Folks

Hope you are all having a good weekend. It sunny in Auck's today which makes a pleasant change.

I've had a chat with the image reviewer who was busy processing pics yesterday, including the lovely moon image above, and with this particular image he slightly adjusted the levels to further increase the impact of the image. We are happy with this image, and think it looks great, however Kathleen we are happy to change back to the original if you would prefer, as we feel both images are fantastic.

Cheers,
Mel
26/07/2009 6:10:09 p.m.

kathleen

Posts 221 		Thanks Canon SI and Thysje for your time to comment.

Hi Mel.
Ah, thought the curves had changed, I can get that same result in photoshop with the curves, but it can leave a slight darker line between the mountain and sky where the dusky sky butts up to the mountain when it changes to a blue sky, though I cannot pick it up on the image altered in the small view.

Just incase it does not return back to the original correctly, I'll up-load the original again and just get you to replace it please. If it gets changed back from the altered one it can loose quality and also slight colour change.
Thank you for clearing up this slight dilemma, first time I have not seen the same on my screen as what was up-loaded.

Thanks everyone
27/07/2009 9:01:34 a.m.

Pixelated

Posts 107 		If I might be so bold as to make a comment from a graphic designer's point of view? I do personally prefer the original if I were looking for a moon shot at dusk. Looking at the mountains you can see the last light from the sun creating a warm glow which does not go with that light blue sky. If I (or the client) wanted one with a blue sky I would either choose another, or I'd prefer to do the changes myself and have control over how much, how intense etc.

There is one thing to bear in mind, enhancing images is fine, but the finished jpg uploaded to MCB should be just that, finished. Altering a jpg file and then re-saving it again as a jpg, even at its highest setting, does degrade the image. The jpg compression process throws away pixels, creates artifacts and often softens the image a little, which is accentuated the more times you save a jpg. The graphic designer wants to do as little as possible to a jpg file. I'd be disappointed if I knew that the jpg I purchased has been altered and re-saved a second time as a jpg (after normal post processing and conversion from the original), especially if not by the photographer, however well meaning. Should I then have to make some minor tweaks to the jpg to prepare it for the printing presses (ie conversion to cmyk and its associated adjustments etc), I would be editing a finished jpg a third time and that is not a good thing.

If I wanted a file destined for the web, the fact that it can be reduced in size and resolution makes this not quite so critical, but I'd like to think that any images purchased from MCB are of great quality.
27/07/2009 10:03:30 a.m.

Mel

Posts 166 		Hi Pixelated

I'm pleased you have raised the point about quality as you are spot on! Each time an image is re-saved the quality is potentially reduced. This is obviously not ideal for the end user, and therefore re-saving images is not common practice here at MCB HQ.

In regards to mychillybin images, our reviewers inspect each and every image prior to it being accepted into the library. Images that do not meet our criteria are declined (with an explanation provided to the photographer).

The reviewers take the reviewing process seriously and work on the basis (and have the expectation), that the photographer provides a high quality image that does not require editing. If pics are not up to scratch they are not accepted.
In saying that, we have such fantastic photographers on board, whom consistently provide high quality images that the number of declined images is very low.

Have a great week, pleased to see the sun is out again : )
Cheers
Mel
27/07/2009 10:09:15 a.m.

sizzlingbadger

Posts 42 		I don't believe it is ethical for the staff to be modifying photographers images. If they want the image changed they should reject it with comments.
27/07/2009 10:39:05 a.m.

fatsprat

Posts 135 		Kathleen, I like the original also. But ultimately I think it's up to you how you want it, it's your image. I don't believe it should be the moderators job to make adjustments without authority from the author. I agree with sizzlingbadger that it would be better to reject it but ask the author to make specific changes and resubmit.

Moderate not modify, unless you have permission.
Karen
27/07/2009 10:57:50 a.m.

Mel

Posts 166 		Hi Folks

Yes, we absolutely agree that its mcb's role to moderate, rather than modify. When images are not accepted an explanation is always provided. This particular image was the exception, not the rule and you will see that the original has replaced the modified image Thank you for re-loading Kathleen.

The image reviewers (and mcb) are fortunate to have skilled photographers on board and therefore few images are declined due to technical reasons.

Keep up the great work, and we'll keep our hands off your images

On another note, a snazzy new feature will soon be added to the site, which will help you to direct more customers to your portfolio. Details to follow in the next newsletter, coming out soon!

Cheers
Mel
27/07/2009 11:02:14 a.m.

Pixelated

Posts 107
Mel wrote:



On another note, a snazzy new feature will soon be added to the site, which will help you to direct more customers to your portfolio. Details to follow in the next newsletter, coming out soon!

Cheers
Mel


Looking forward to this! Big Grin
27/07/2009 10:17:09 p.m.

kathleen

Posts 221 		Thanks everyone, all sorted. My favourite of the shot is on, great.
Thanks Mel.
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