PHOTO: Church with bystanders: Editorial Confusion (lighting)

This guy got this response:


-Flat/dull colors
-Direct on-camera flash and/or flash fall-off (bright subject, dark background)
-Harsh lighting with blown-out highlights that lack details and/or distracting shadows
- Distracting lens flares
-Incorrect white balance


and is resubmittable, which seems to me to be in a bit of conflict with editorial "rules", as usual I'm probably missing something, what is it? I certainly don't mind editing it but. edit what? i know you guys know the answer...


Thanks


Bob

(Edited on 2013-02-19 12:32:58 by Joesboy)

(Edited on 2013-02-19 12:33:29 by Joesboy)

(Edited on 2013-02-19 13:31:40 by donald_gruener)

Global adjustments to contrast are permitted to optimize an image, as long as it doesn't somehow alter the reality. I'd suggest a levels adjustment: Bring the left hand slider over to the right a bit and the right hand slider over to the left. The white balance may need a small tweak back towards the blue side, it looks overly warmed by the camera's white balance setting. These tweaks don't alter the reality, rather they bring the image closer to what the eye actually would perceive in person.

As always you are so much help, I am just reluctant to alter editorial. It does look warm and honestly i can't remember how it looked while I was there, I always attribute the warmth to an equatorial setting in the morning with a marine layer burning off. Again, thanks..I'll make those changes and hope for the best.


ETA: Accepted - but you're not surprised are you

(Edited on 2013-02-19 19:48:51 by Joesboy)