picture editing NYT etc?

[Florian1234]

Whenever there appear color photographs on the NYTimes they are mostly edited in a special way: They appear a bit oversharp and the colors are quite bright. How is that done? (I assume most of their PJs use the top notch Canon 5d Mk II? )

 

[amateriat]

What you're seeing is probably what happens in post, which is well out of the photographer's hands. Getting pictures to look at least "okay" on newsprint starts at the Picture Editor's desk, and continues from there.

I've met a few Times shooters, and while Canon dSLRs tend to dominate, they're actually using a bit of everything these days, including (hey there!) film.

Edit: If, by contrast, you're referring to the Times website (I'm looking at that pic of US troops in Afghanistan right now), that's still not too far off from the print version. A more interesting question is how the Web images differ in post-process from those in print (if at all).


- Barrett

 

[Florian1234]

Hey Barrett,
thanks for the reply. I was referring to the web images, e.g. on their lens blog, or as this one here: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/08/world/200808_GEORGIA_SLIDESHOW_index.html or here http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/15/world/europe/20080815-georgia3/index.html

What kind of post processing is done there? Personally I "know" the so called National Geographic filter. Is this similar?

The question how far web/file and print differ is also interesting, thanks for pointing on it.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

It looks to me like they are applying local contrast adjustments, a la the "Clarity" slider in Lightroom.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

They look fine to me, but I'm using a monitor calibrated for newspaper printing.

"Tight and bright" is the catch phrase in the news game these days. 🙂

 

[MinorTones]

It just looks like someone used the shadow/highlight adjustment in CS3.

 

[Florian1234]

Please forgive me my not-knowing, but I'm kind of a beginner when it comes to post-editing. Or is that done in the camera? If so, how? (I know, sorry, evil dslr topic). :angel:

 

[amateriat]

Florian: For the most part, I'd say the photos are just technically good to start with (and, more important, riveting...the photographer's narrative certainly added to this). Any postproduction work done was probably no different than what's long been done to make photographs publication-ready, pre- or post-Web.


- Barrett

 

[Mcary]

(I assume most of their PJs use the top notch Canon 5d Mk II? )

I think you'll find that most PJ shooting with Canon DSLR(s) use 1 series bodies IE 1DmrkII//III or 1DSmrkII due to the better construction, weather sealing, high FPS rate and larger buffers.

 

[swoop]

(I assume most of their PJs use the top notch Canon 5d Mk II? )

I don't know how the Times edits their photos. But I imagine it's done by the picture desk because they all have a similar style despite coming from different photographers.

As for equipment. This question was Answered by the Times photo editor earlier this year.

"My questions are: What is The New York Times's favorite lens set? What is The Times's favorite camera?

Answer: Most of our photographers are equipped with 35mm digital Canon 5Ds, 5D Mark IIs, or Canon 1D Mark IIIs, or Mark IINs, with a variety of lenses from 14mm to 600mm. One photographer uses Nikon D3 Digital SLR cameras and Bill Cunningham, who shoots film only uses, a Nikon FM2. We also have Leica M8 Digital cameras and Leica M6 film cameras, Hasselblads, and Mamiya RZ67's — medium format cameras, all with a variety of lenses. In other words, the workhorse camera brand of the photographers is Canon, but they will use whatever camera and lens they feel will get the best result."

 

[kbg32]

Please forgive me my not-knowing, but I'm kind of a beginner when it comes to post-editing. Or is that done in the camera? If so, how? (I know, sorry, evil dslr topic). :angel:

Are you using a "calibrated" monitor???

My monitor is always calibrated for color to be consistent, especially when one uploads to the web, print, or to stock agencies. This way the color is consistent across the board. No surprises.

I would surmise that very little is done to these images, maybe some level adjustment, if they are to be posted or printed quickly. These photographers are uploading camera processed jpegs for quick consumption.