Why do so many dislike selective coloring?

[blackrose89]

I've never used it. Have no feeling one way or the other. Just curious why other people do. If there are some cases where it does work, please share the image

 

[shootermcgavin]

I think selective coloring happens in the beginning of learning photos and post. You will probably over do it at first and eventually will realize it and that is like a step you have conquered in photography. In 10,000 photos I'm lucky if I have one that selective coloring works with. I've seen photos I do like it in, but very few.

 

[tirediron]

I think it's main use is in advertising imagery; to draw the viewer's attention to the brand of soft-drink, chocolate-bar, shoes, etc. I think that most people new to post-processing try and find out that it's really quite easy, and are struck by how simple it was to make such a radical change to a photograph.

 

[CCericola]

I think it is because people pick the wrong thing to colorize and it detracts from what the photographer meant to be the focal point. Kim Anderson is the only artist that I have seen do it successfully. But like Thomas Kinkaid, he became a target of ridicule (the Halmark card photographer) when it became uber profitable. kimanderson.com

 

[bazooka]

I notice that it is usually newcomers that apply it to poor photographs to make them more pleasing. If it truly benefits the photo, then by all means go for it. I often find that selectively desaturating a certain color in an image helps simplify it. I consider this to be of the same family as selective coloring. I think it needs to be purpose-driven. But no matter what reason it's done for, using it can send your image spiraling into cliche-land. So you must be careful if you want your image to not immediately be thrown into the "noob" basket when it is viewed.

 

[Big Mike]

I agree with Christina.

The reason that many [Photographers] dislike it when they see selective coloring, is because it's so very often done poorly. Not necessarily the technical aspects of of doing it, but the choice of what to color/not color is a poor choice.

It's pretty obvious that leaving a small part of a photo in color, while desaturating the rest of the image, will cause the viewer's eye to be drawn to the part that is in color. It will likely cause that part to be the strongest focal point in the image. But should it be?

The example I see quite a bit, is when there is a shot of a baby with a bow or flower on their head. The shot is converted to B&W but the flower or bow is left if color. So what are they trying to say with that photo? That the bow is more important than the child? That's probably not the case, unless they are trying to sell bows.
The focal point of a portrait should be the person/people in the photo. And you usually want to draw the viewer's attention to the face & eyes the person. If you draw their attention away from the face, it usually becomes a less effective portrait.
Plus, I just think there is something morbid about leaving something in color along side a colorless baby.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

I don't dislike it but have only used it once in my life - Clearwater Beach with a kit lens (I couldn't do much else with the pic, the two guys blended into the background).

 

[ann]

Usually because it is overdone.

 

[Dom6663]

The only problem I have with it is that every teenage girl on facebook does it. I swear every teenage girl that aims a point and shoot camera at their face, makes a duck face, and then desaturated everything but their eyes, thinks they are an artist!

Come on girls if you want us guys to really look at your eyes don't include a down the shirt view in the photo!

I don't like facbook.

I just find selective coloring to be tacky, and in many cases like a poor shortcut. If I want my subject to stand out from the rest of the photo ill do it with lighting, dof, and all those fancy creative settings

 

[o hey tyler]

I don't dislike it but have only used it once in my life - Clearwater Beach with a kit lens (I couldn't do much else with the pic, the two guys blended into the background).

Those two bright, solidly colored spandex gimp suit wearers blended in with the background? WOW.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

yeah, busy flourescent style beach colors in the background

 

[Edsport]

Selective coloring when done right can be awesome. My opinion why so many dislike it is because they read that someone else didn't like it lol...

 

[blackrose89]

Selective coloring when done right can be awesome. My opinion why so many dislike it is because they read that someone else didn't like it lol...

You're probably right! Seems to me a lot of photographers aren't very open have a close minded way of thinking.

 

[enzodm]

Selective coloring when done right can be awesome. My opinion why so many dislike it is because they read that someone else didn't like it lol...

You're probably right! Seems to me a lot of photographers aren't very open have a close minded way of thinking.

it is exactly the same opinion as the others. "when done right" is the key. Most pictures you see in this forum are simply badly done.

 

[Big Mike]

Selective coloring when done right can be awesome. My opinion why so many dislike it is because they read that someone else didn't like it lol...

You're probably right! Seems to me a lot of photographers aren't very open have a close minded way of thinking.

it is exactly the same opinion as the others. "when done right" is the key. Most pictures you see in this forum are simply badly done.

*correction*
Most pictures you see on the internet are simply badly done.