Some Cherry Corals photo's

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

And If you have never seen the Candy Apples in person I wouldn't talk, the coloration is VERY similar to what is shown here. Levi

Levi, I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and will assume you didn't mean your comment to be as insulting as it appears.

In any event, I don't believe there's anything inherently wrong with colour correction and white balancing. It's used all the time in professional photography. There is, however, a fuzzy line where "correction" becomes "enhancement". Whether there's a issue with "enhancement" is a matter of degree. Cherry Corals is entitled to make their stock look as attractive as possible. But (photo-editing technicalities aside) at some point things may give the appearance being too good to be true. And to dumb schmucks like me who according to you, shouldn't be talking, several of the presented photos seem to have reached such a point.

If the photos are not enhanced, then fantastic. And good on Cherry Corals for showing an untouched original photo. But the concern is for potential consumers of their product (i.e. people who don't know what they are talking about like me) who may be dissapointed with the real thing after they've paid for them. There have been a lot of instances involving other vendors where great looking corals turn out to be not as great in person.

Even if Cherry Corals did not mean for these pictures to create marketing buzz, it sure hasn't hurt them judging by "ooh", "ahh" and "I wish I were in the US" comments on this thread. It's simply free publicity and good marketing on their part.

[cherrycorals]

I don't know how many different ways I need to say it, if you run lights like mine you will see what I see. Dissapointment will surely arise if you are running 10k. I am always happy to share with my clients my techniques and lighting scheme so they can enjoy what I enjoy.

That being said, I suppose now is the time for you guys to google CC and tell me of all the horror stories. There are none, so in effect I have been pulling the wool over successfully for 4 years now. Coincidence, I don't think so.

A little background for most of the photos posted, on another forum a friend and I are having a "photo fight". Just friendly competition really but we both have churned out some sick photos that I have shared here. Google Todd vs. Skyhigh photo fight and you will find it. Its all in good fun.

I take my biz seriously. I take killer photo's, I cut around every polyp when fragging. I never bisect a polyp if at all possible and keep my frags looking natural. Its sort of art to me, I understand that alot of shops don't have time for "art" but I do.

The only buzz is among you all and not among my potential clients so I am not sure why you guys keep bringing it up. Makes no sense.

[cherrycorals]

Just for some more fun and to keep the "buzz" going.

Here is the picture I posted earlier, totally accurate and what it looks like in real life(no acid or other drugs involved)


This one is enhanced and I suppose if you were on acid this is what you would see. I have never taken acid so I am only guessing

[Zoaelite]

Well thank you for the benefit of the doubt, It was in no way meant as an insult just trying to prove a point. Out of curiosity have you had the privilege of seeing this species in person?

Todd is representing them in a very truthful manor, they are a stunning strain of zoa in person and sometimes photos don't do them justice. Cameras are not designed to accurately take photos through water, this is where an editing program comes in to properly depict the coral. That being said I do 100% agree with you on the fuzzy line comment, In this situation I know the line has not been crossed.

Originally Posted by fkshiu

Levi, I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and will assume you didn't mean your comment to be as insulting as it appears.

In any event, I don't believe there's anything inherently wrong with colour correction and white balancing. It's used all the time in professional photography. There is, however, a fuzzy line where "correction" becomes "enhancement". Whether there's a issue with "enhancement" is a matter of degree. Cherry Corals is entitled to make their stock look as attractive as possible. But (photo-editing technicalities aside) at some point things may give the appearance being too good to be true. And to dumb schmucks like me who according to you, shouldn't be talking, several of the presented photos seem to have reached such a point.

If the photos are not enhanced, then fantastic. And good on Cherry Corals for showing an untouched original photo. But the concern is for potential consumers of their product (i.e. people who don't know what they are talking about like me) who may be dissapointed with the real thing after they've paid for them. There have been a lot of instances involving other vendors where great looking corals turn out to be not as great in person.

Even if Cherry Corals did not mean for these pictures to create marketing buzz, it sure hasn't hurt them judging by "ooh", "ahh" and "I wish I were in the US" comments on this thread. It's simply free publicity and good marketing on their part.

[Zoaelite]

And Todd out of curiosity what price do you sell the candy apples for?

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by fkshiu

If the photos are not enhanced, then fantastic. And good on Cherry Corals for showing an untouched original photo. But the concern is for potential consumers of their product (i.e. people who don't know what they are talking about like me) who may be dissapointed with the real thing after they've paid for them. There have been a lot of instances involving other vendors where great looking corals turn out to be not as great in person.

Even if Cherry Corals did not mean for these pictures to create marketing buzz, it sure hasn't hurt them judging by "ooh", "ahh" and "I wish I were in the US" comments on this thread. It's simply free publicity and good marketing on their part.

Why does it matter so much to you what has been done to the photos? He has already stated he only corrects them. This makes them much more accurate than if he were to post an untouched photo that you would approve of. He has also been backed up by two people who have nothing to gain by backing him and said his corals are gorgeous and these photos are accurate. Actually three people, one of which is a vendor.

Publicity for what? He doesn't/can't sell here. Why is he being treated any different from anyone else that wanted to post pictures from their tank?

Beautiful stuff by the way Cherry!!!

[rstar]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

Why does it matter so much to you what has been done to the photos? He has already stated he only corrects them. This makes them much more accurate than if he were to post an untouched photo that you would approve of. He has also been backed up by two people who have nothing to gain by backing him and said his corals are gorgeous and these photos are accurate. Actually three people, one of which is a vendor.

Publicity for what? He doesn't/can't sell here. Why is he being treated any different from anyone else that wanted to post pictures from their tank?

Beautiful stuff by the way Cherry!!!

Not to derail this thread, but i seriously missed your "devils advocate" sentimentality, welcome back to the forums GSP! You've always been the one to step up and challenge others opinions using cold hard logi!!

[cherrycorals]

I love cold hard logi!!

Unjacked

Jacked!

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by rstar

Not to derail this thread, but i seriously missed your "devils advocate" sentimentality, welcome back to the forums GSP! You've always been the one to step up and challenge others opinions using cold hard logi!!

Well this one just bothered me! Someone is posting pictures and gets attacked. Even if he were creating buzz who cares? Can people not resist and make their own choice? Ask the seller their own questions?

If not, your going to have a tough time in this world because marketing is all about creating a buzz and promoting your product as the best it possibly can be and sometimes more. Should we start to attack Apple for their brilliant marketing too?

Im not insinuating that Cherry is trying to promote his product to market that cannot buy it but Im saying even if he was, who cares?

[lastlight]

Straight from camera is quite often the least realistic looking photo around. Maybe if people adjusted white balance etc beforehand but clearly his shots are closer to real life after adjustment.

Also...Everyone's monitor is calibrated differently. What looks drab on one may look over-saturated on another. Think some are missing the point. He's not a vendor and some vendors post pics taken under 20k without much photoshopping. To me that's a bigger misrepresentation.

But either way who cares. Like monitors everyone's lighting is different and these would look different under everyone's light regardless of how they were presented.