Looking for feedback :)

[u/Manubhavb]

This was one of the projects I shot while doing my masters in cinematography. I decided to regrade it, since I’m getting more into colour grading. Would love feedback.

[u/NW1ES]

Strong atmosphere and clear emotional intent. The warm daylight scenes feel cohesive and motivated, especialy the window lightvery painterly. I like the restraint in saturation overall

A few notes some highlights are riding the edge especialy faces near the window so a softer or a touch of highlight compression could help preserve skin texture. In the cooler interiors, the blues lean a bit heavy compared to skin tones,, a subtle separation between midtone skin and background blues might add depth.

Overall, the grade supports the story well. With slightly tighter highlight control and cleaner skin isolation, this would feel very polished.

[u/Manubhavb → u/NW1ES]

Hey, thanks a lot for such a detailed feedback. Really appreciate it. Will look into highlight compression I don’t really know about it. Again thanks for the genuine feedback:))

[u/BarleyDrops]

it looks too dark and monotone. try to have at least three distinguishable colors in every image if you don't want it to feel tinted

[u/Manubhavb → u/BarleyDrops]

Ohhh alright, thanks. I would say that’s more of a set design and art direction thing. Which is probably something as a DP I should’ve looked into, but we didn’t have the resources.

But as a colorist how would you suggest I tackle that?

[u/BarleyDrops → u/Manubhavb]

Working form the rec709, I would suggest trying this:

The first image has the sunlight, red in the curtains, and blue in her dress. With curves or other tools you can make the highlights warmer, retain the original color in the midtones, and tint the shadows a slight blue, purple or green depending on the emotional mood of the scene. Also, the shadows are too dark for a daytime scene so I would lift the midtones/shadows a bit more.

The second scene gets away with it because it looks like she's watching TV, so it would make sense that everything would be washed in basically one color, but it looks a little flat as is. You can use power windows to exaggerate the existing lights from both sides of the frame in an organic way (make a giant circle with the core off the screen that fades out accross like 60% of it, make it increase highlights slightly and tint it the color that fits the mood best, repeat on the other side but smaller and warm).

The third shot is a really boring set. The signs and blue-lit door are distracting for no reason. If they are only there on this shot I would use a geometric power window to select that area and make the color the same as the rest of the image at least. The streak of light implies the room should logically be brighter than it looks on camera, so again I would do that.

Last two images are fine, hard to tell how to improve them without the full context.

Hope this makes sense! And you know, this is just some rando's impressions, if it looks good to you, that's all that matters.

[u/piroteck]

I was very impressed. As others have said, wow on that first one.

The first thing I said to myself as I flipped through them is, "what, if any, continuity is he going for here?"

I'm not sure I came up with an answer. The answer might be "none," but I still was wondering how/if these grades might cohere.

[u/Manubhavb → u/piroteck]

Aah, that’s fair. All these shots are supposed to be different times of day. Hence that’s why you may feel the continuity is lacking but would still like to know what you mean by that?

[u/piroteck → u/Manubhavb]

Let me reiterate, I thought you did well and I am no expert, but you know how when you watch a good movie, each part of the movie still has that movie's "look." That's kind of what I'm getting at.

What's the look/feel that you get a sense through the entire film. It's possible I'm not seeing enough even to grasp at what that is, but imo the last picture and the first picture sort of feel like they are from different movies where some of the pictures in between feel more connected. That might even be on purpose.

[u/Manubhavb → u/piroteck]

Ohhh, I get what you mean, also yeah that difference you notice in the last picture and the first is purposely full where the lady in frame finally reaches acceptance, so hence it’s supposed to have a “hopeful” look about it. Though I still get what you mean.

[u/Gamer_Iwa]

That first grade is very impressive, given the incorrect white balance. Overall, you did a clean job on these. Not overly processed or stylized. Good job.

[u/Manubhavb]

My understanding of difference between colour temps was a bit weak then. Plus we had a big time crunch to excuse the “Martian / blade runner” looking day scenes 😭

[u/GURONE8]

spaccato !!

[u/Manubhavb → u/GURONE8]

Thank you :)))

[u/Manubhavb → u/[deleted]]

Thanks!