Light & Water affect Colors

Hello Video-(say your first name out loud),

My company is publishing a series on the effect water has on light. It's in a blog listed here with wetpixel. These are personal findings from two sides of the fence, underwater camera and post production, plus discussions with camera and graphics pros with serious expertise in color. I hope you take a peak and more importantly fine it of use, or for some thought provoking debate. I teach Advanced Editing and Compositing on the college level, so most of this is relative course material. If you find holes in my theory or have deeper insight; share it for clarity! I would appreciate comments from this wetpixel community. Please contribute in the interest of education.

The series first post is up, continued elements will be added throughout the month of November so drop in, take a look around in RGB.

Regards,

Edited by Moderator

Hi Paul

Thanks for starting the topic of color correction again. It is a multi-level discussion based on end product needs. Broadcast has different needs from DVD and internet productions so to lump it all in is a mistake.

I do hope you make the extra effort to contribute your thoughts in Wetpixel forums. It's easier for readers to answer in one window versus having to jump to another website, read your article then come back for comments.

Also which college has underwater color correction in its curriculum?

Ahoy Drew,

Going backwards through your note; I teach at CSN (College of Southern Nevada) in Las Vegas. Just about as far from a sea side community as they get! The video curriculum is comprehensive, but does not cover underwater in the formal sense. As an instructor I find the issues we face underwater are excellent as a 'worst case'. So when students do hit on color temps in real world... These students use my underwater mistakes to learn the fine details of color correction.

I'll post in WetPixel. Those who want to seek out may have to jump to read comments within our blog as I have 'trackbacks' from several web forums. If the WetPixel comments are enough for a reader - that's fine too. This is an intense, subjective topic with lots of opinions from the pro and hobby perspectives. Mainly my students shouldn't have to jump to Wet Pixel to read or comment. I'm sure you understand.

As for end product needs in your note: Proper preplanning is ALWAYS the first step and most important factor. It is NEVER a mistake to address, especially underwater variables, especially if the end product is known in advance. Lack of preplanning is why there are so many questions in this forum!!! These factors must be considered at every step of the process. At some point projects MAY go in different directions: DVDs tend to compress dark, broadcast has specific safe color standards, web is always crappy; where ever it goes down-stream from my timeline; there lies another set of issue to address. I've done it all, but that's not my topic. That's application related; how to use the tools. My topic is about water's effect on the spectrum of color and how getting correct digital information because that affects the outcome. How to get the best image is universal to every project. Why shoot 4:4:4 color in HD on summer vacation when DV will do for DVD? Why learn color when slapping a filter on is good enough?

I hope I can shed some light? Stir some discussion. But mostly I post and read WetPixel because those who TEACH (like me) need to be humble and never stop learning from those who DO (like many of you)!

Regards,

Just noticed the early exit poll; so far readers prefer use of a filter 4:1 over color correction.

Paul - I'm posting four images of minnows (Anchovies) shot with a URPro CC Filter at 75-80' depth, MWB with Expodisc, .JPEG images from 4:2:0 HDV. I think you'll agree that they have great color, and it sure looks good on an HDTV or projected large with an HD Projector. I find it far better to shoot with CC Filter and MWB, than to color correct unbalanced drab footage in post. I rarely use color correction except for light touch up, and then only if needed. Please share some of your similar footage both before and after color correction. I have experimented with shooting without a CC Filter, and the results are very poor and no amount of post color correction will make them acceptable. I have far better examples than these for colors, but these are in my current project and I wanted a comparison to the minnows on your site.

Dan

Hi Dan, Very nice frames. Here's a few without filter, with camera adjustment, no correction. Thanks for the info and insight. I'd say your minnows can take my minnows! Last two images: Here's looking up through a color filter, and once corrected. Often the results were super-colorized and unnatural, however I'm going to seriously look at your URPro. Do you suggest a vendor?

Paul

Paul, it looks like you already have a color correction filter and just need to MWB (manual white balance) for changing conditions. Do you have MWB control on your housing? If you need help, there are many good threads on Wetpixel you can search for answers on white balancing and much more. If you get a proper MWB, you should not have to do further color correction in post. As far as URPro CC Filter, you may already have one, check with your housing manufacturer. They can be purchased direct from URPro, or at just about any underwater camera/video shop.

Dan

Hi Dan,

The image posted was from when we DID try a filter, then opted to tweek the camera. We have settings saved for different conditions and depth, but this may not be the best - most practical way. Believe me when I say that I'm looking for the best answers, and I just love your frame grabs so I'm listening with both ears. AND I'll dig through the threads too.

When I got that filtered batch to post they looked artificial. Maybe that was my perception; that mostly underwater looks a bit blue and green. The filter made the scene appear that it wasn't underwater at all. I was dragging reds down as if I was dragging the greens. Not as bad as greens actually, but red seemed so out of sorts. With the camera adjusted we got those minnows (anchovies) and that's without any post color at all, also shot in less than optimal water; 45 feet visible. Not great by any stretch.

I really appreciate your input and suggestions, and your helping me find the best way.

New frames attached: How far was this clip tweaked from source? Still needs one more secondary color pass. Again, this is as bad as I've ever seen. I'll use it in class as a good example of a bad example! I'll use your Anchovies as a good example, they can skip classes during color but only if they get a filter... LOL

Paul