Saxman47 Loc: Lorton, VA

Frankly, I like the way your photos pop off the screen.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Of course, the saturation level is your choice. You get comments because over saturation of a landscape doesn't look natural. Of course, your monitor may be to blame. Calibration is a very good idea. And, you don't know what other people are seeing on their own monitors.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Perhaps calibrating your monitor might help with colour balance...I love this shot!

Cheers!

Big Yankee Fan

Richard, I've read all this (IMHO) nonsense about oversaturation. I don't know what that means. I DO know that 1) your pix are gorgeous 2) beauty is in the eye of the beholder 3) it is difficult if not impossible to judge any art form using objective standards, assuming they exist at all and if they do, whose they are and 4) I wish my pix looked as good. As for the comment about too few colors I would think that if you crop it so that the red kayak is in the lower 3rd of the pix it would address that issue. Mike

williejoha

Why do you care what others think? Do you like it? If yes, then what’s the issue?
WJH

kcooke Loc: Alabama

I personally like this capture. I don’t think this one is over saturated Many whitewater kayaks are over the top on colors. I know I paddled whitewater for many years. I looked at some of the other pictures you have posted that are very saturated. If you like that effect then go for it. In our local camera club with 105 members we have monthly competitions. Categories are color print b&w print artistic print and projected. If we get entries in the color prints that are too over saturated the judges will move them to artistic.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I won't speak to other of your posts, but this one looks good to me. As rmalarz wrote, often sporting objects have very bright (oversaturated) colors from the manufacturer. I see that as the case here. Overall I like the photo and do not see it oversaturated. The rocks appear quite natural to me.

On the other hand as other comments noted, it could be your or their monitors may be calibrated differently.

Mike1017

Not at all looks good Mike

Tim Hoover

Yes it's overcooked. Of course you are free to push sliders as far as you like, just as you are free to prefer Mogen David to Château d'Yquem, just don't expect others to agree with you.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Seems like a very simple question: If you are a pro selling pictures you're client does. If not, you do

SAVH Loc: La Jolla, CA

I have often felt certain photos shown on UHH are over saturated for my tastes but have never made that comment for, as so many have already stated, you process each picture for your own enjoyment. My personal criteria generally is that when I see a photo that strikes me as processed to the point that it resembles nothing I have ever seen with regard to color, sharpness, contrast, etc., it appears over saturated or over processed for my personal likes. Having said that, some over processed pictures are done for a specific purpose or "look" and are effective for that purpose. I try to avoid labeling anyone else's work as oversaturated or over processed because I have to presume that is the way they like it. Were I to be paying someone to produce a photo, then I might offer my thoughts on whether the "look" is not what I prefer.

I would encourage you not to be so sensitive to other opinions on UHH as many of us seem to have very specific ideas of what a photo should look like and expect others to follow. Do what satisfies your tastes and experiment to see if you might like things more or less saturated or processed.

Scotty

ski Loc: West Coast, USA

I guess you told them so called critics!!!! Good for you.... As you mentioned, every photographer (amateur or pro) has their own style and the critics should honor it!!!!

KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

OK, let's take this one thing at a time.

What determines over saturation? We do, everyone who can see. If we take the arithmetic mean, the number between the smallest & largest values of a set of quantities would correlate to under or over saturation.. Of course, not everyone who can see is going to respond to your question. So, the set of quantities, most likely, would be all those responding to your posts. I'll leave the math to you if you want to go through all your posts to do it.

Isn't it okay for a photographer to choose his/her own style? Yes, it is.

I wonder if my critics will say this shot is over saturated also? Some did, most loved it. Others pointed out that it is hard to tell, given that the only really colorful items were the red kayak and the blue object of clothing. Those colors from sporting goods sellers run the gamut.

Now, let's look at the rest.

You say you're perplexed at the comments about over-saturation. You shouldn't be. Most of the photos you've posted are clearly over saturated. You posted some on your first day on this site, most people welcomed you, but a few commented on your "over-saturation". That's actually kind of rare, since most folks don't comment/critique unless asked by the OP (original poster). So to get that type of response, that's what stood out to some about your photos.

You say you would like more comments about your composition than about your color choice. Well, to be honest, your color choice is so "over-the-top" on some of your photos that it's hard to get to the composition. However, your composition is usually very good.

You do have a good "photographic eye", you have things published on calendars, etc. Obviously some people like your work. You say you joined this site to learn ... and some folks are trying to help you do that.

You just joined this site and there is an amazing amount of talent and knowledge that is shared here. If you stay on here long, you will learn that most of us are hesitant to critique someone else's work. Way too many on here are effusive in their praise of just about any photo posted.

As many others have already stated, if you like your own work, no need to improve.

Artster Loc: Venice, FL

Richard - With all that water the kayaker's clothes may be over saturated, but the picture looks great.

MRichard

Perhaps it's a waste of effort to seek affirmation from others of one's taste in music, food, travel, art, etc., etc. My advice is to continue to post your beautiful photographs and savor the positive responses. If you deem any of the critical advice to be helpful, that is also good. I recently got some good advice about one of my photos that I was completely unaware of until it was pointed out to me.