Why In Camera Grading?

[Lawsuit_Boy]

another good point, Ryan. I'd said it before, and i think a few others as well, that it all really depends on what you're doing (job wise) and who and what you're doing it for. It also depends on where you're going with it.

 

[oneinfiniteloop]

As far as creating "your" image, the image you get hired to create, do it in-camera and on-set. Like someone mentioned, light, gels & matte box filters are our craft. Computers are for editors and post guys. If you shoot, SHOOT. If you cut then that's a different skill set and most times a different guy (or at least a different day). But when you’re touching a camera you are a photographer.

Very good point Steve. I think these things are forgotton sometimes by the up and coming generation. I myself have been trying to follow this.

If you have skills on set, combine them with skills in post to get the best possible image.

Take all your skills and put them to use where need be, and you'll get the best result possible. Refine your skills, get better results.

 

[Policar]

Take all your skills and put them to use where need be, and you'll get the best result possible. Refine your skills, get better results.

Here's where I disagree. If you want a contrasty image during a day exterior and you shoot reversal stock, you'll get a contrasty image, but you'll also get fired since you can't do a thing to it in post. If you shoot with a low contrast stock then print contrasty (or go via DI) you'll get much more flexibility to create just the look you want, even if out of camera you have junk. As I said, good DPs supervise the lab work. It's all about collaboration and using ALL the resources you have in pre-production, production, and in post.

 

[oneinfiniteloop]

That's essentially what I was aiming at, Policar. Obviously shooting reversal may not be needed for the rest of your film, so that is one skill that is best reserved for DI or photochemical processing. Choosing your battles is another way of using the right skills at the right time, it's just not a technical skill per se.

 

[Policar]

Fair enough. I guess what counts is the end result.

 

[j]

I think there are 2 aspects to consider, contrast range and color grading. Obviously you should shoot to keep everything in the contrast range, but color the image toward what your final look will be. There is only so much range in 4:1:1.