Here is my frustration with digital photography.
''For landscaps, the digital workflow is easier.
The digital workflow of portraits could be more difficult. I find the colour balance of the skin could be tricky. I had experience of adjusting the colour for two hours in one shoot, in the end I was still not as happy as if I were shooting film. There is still in many occasion that I find the digital image of portraits less natural or having an artificial look. Digital processing still fails to normalize this problem, or at least no matter how hard I tried.''
The way I do this is by using Photoshop elements. I first adjust the brightness and contrast. This part is easy and I have no problem.
Then I will go to colour variation where I can add or subtract red, blue or green. It has also three area where I can choose, midtones,highlights or shadows. This bit is the area I find most tricky and most demanding. I have to decide where to add or subtract red, blue or green.
While I am doing this change of red, blue or green. I first look at the computer monitor for change I made on the image and I print it out. I discovered that the colour on the monitor very often do not agree with the colour of the print image. I find out it is actually more accurate if I print the image and look at the printed image for changes rather than the image of the monitor. Sometimes I have to make more than 10 prints in order to get the colour right.
I do find the colour balance of the human face very tricky. There is still plenty of room for me to improve or for the technology to improve.
I am happy to stay with film, part of the reason because I have not get hold of the technique to get the colour balance right.
Is there an easier way to do this other than my way ?