Colour Correction and Colour Grading explained.

Colour Correction & Grading

So what is it?

So colour correction is just making sure that the black and white colours on the screen are 100% correct because if these 2 colours are true then every colour in between will be as well.  I use vector scopes rather than just use my eyes so I know everything in that shot is the right colour. I do try and get things right on the day but its not always possible sometimes because different light sources give off a different shade of light and these are measured using the kelvin scale so daylight for example is 5500k and a bulb maybe 2700k. Filming weddings involves moving quickly from one area of a room to another or from inside to outside so the light source is constantly changing. Sometimes I may not have time to change the settings in the camera to compensate for the light change because if I did I would miss the shot so I shoot it with incorrect colour and then fix it in post production. Belwo is a quick example of a before and after 

Colour grading

Colour grading comes after colour correction and is used to give the footage a certain ‘look’ . I shoot all my weddings using a flat profile in the camera so it capures as much digital information as possible (dynamic range) so Im talking about details in the shadows etc. The downside of this is that every single shot requires colour grading because the image straight out of the camera is very wishy washy but adding contrast and shadows in post production rather than just letting the camera do it gives you a much better result. Many filmmakers use colour and colour grading to send subliminal messages to viewer. 

I believe grading should be subtle and not that noticeable, it should just enhance what you already have blow is a before and after grading example

So does all this actually matter?

In my eyes it absolutely does matter, correct colour means correct skin tones, no orange or horrible green tones to the skin, also continuity of shot is important so your colours remain consistent throughout the film. Obviously if your filming a wedding breakfast for example and its only lit with candles then there will be a ‘warm’ orange glow to everything and I wouldn’t try and correct this because that is the ambience that has been specifically created but if I’m shooting a ceremony with 3 cameras I would want each cameras colour to be identical so that I move from one to another it will feel seamless and not jar with the viewer.