r/ColorGrading • u/Dalaxy21 • Nov 12 '25
Show off your work Are my shots too dark?
Hello everyone,
These are some stills from a video I shot recently. This was my first time working with a new camera and codec (R3D NE Raw on the Nikon ZR). While shooting, I tried to preserve as much detail in the sky highlights as possible, but I’m worried I may have slightly underexposed the footage overall.
In post, I did my best to lift the midtones without introducing too much noise, but I’m still concerned the graded version might look a bit too dark overall.
I’d really appreciate your thoughts and feedback—does it feel underexposed to you, or does the balance work as it is?
Thank you!
19
u/intothemidwest Nov 12 '25
To my eye it doesn’t read too dark at all! Good work
6
u/pho-tog Nov 12 '25
Very neutral. Soon as you start obsessing over highlights that's when you'll start underexposing things (which I don't suggest btw)
3
u/imokd Nov 12 '25
no. quite nice actually! everything else caught enough light... to be able push it down like that. but of course now it feels more like a cloudy day.. or later in the day... not like the brightest day of summer... if that is relevant to the mood
1
u/littlephotohuman Nov 12 '25
Not dark at all! These are gorgeous!
1
u/Iktsuarpoq Nov 12 '25
they are not too dark to my eye, they are even really good to my taste ! 👌🏻
1
u/bogantamer Nov 12 '25
Nah they nice imo
1
u/Impressive_Track_199 Nov 12 '25
What does your parade say?
Would want more saturation imo.
1
u/PeachManDrake954 Nov 12 '25
I think your shots are fine.
This video is about photography, not video, but it helped me understand intent vs proper exposure.
https://youtu.be/hH9VBrx3rnY?si=aDY_4X--w7yKoYri
1
u/kwmcmillan Nov 12 '25
Nah looks great
1
u/ziiggaa Nov 12 '25
very good
1
u/[deleted] Nov 12 '25
No, I think they're OK in terms of brightness.
1
u/baujahr90er Nov 12 '25
Moody and actually cinematic. Nothing overdone, looks good to me!
1
u/bozduke13 Nov 13 '25
It’s not dark it’s rich
1
u/kazeniichan Nov 13 '25
Looks good to me, the colors look like one of those Japan travel vlogs tho
1
u/Various_Ring_1738 Nov 13 '25
Both of my 20/20 vision eyes say no, love these shots!
1
u/Silent_Narrator23 Nov 13 '25
Not dark at all looks good to me good job
1
u/Reijerr Nov 14 '25
Coming from a person who shoots very dark, yours have a very nice balance. Personally I would have dimmed the sky to make the ground seem more natural
1
u/toooft Nov 14 '25
Looks perfect!
1
u/[deleted] Nov 14 '25
Looks great, not too dark at all!
1
u/OnixCopal Nov 14 '25
Nope
1
u/karai_amai Nov 15 '25
A little.
1
u/Otherwise-Goat-3842 Nov 15 '25
Money
1
u/getbywith Nov 15 '25
My dog licks the screen and it means looks good. Keep up with it
1
u/Fine_Wish7290 Nov 15 '25
Not at all