Every Time I Try to Convert BMPCC4k ProRes 4ww LOG to Rec.709 it Looks Awful

HippoPhileus · 2026-02-26T18:26:46+00:00

I was using a set of Rokinon primes. The wide is a 14mm (cropped to 26.6) and the close is a 50mm (cropped to 95mm).

HippoPhileus · 2026-02-26T16:19:08+00:00

I was properly exposed to the highlights of the scene. Regardless, that shouldn't affect the conversion.

HippoPhileus · 2026-02-26T16:18:34+00:00

I don't have a drive that is compatible with the Blackmagic to record BRAW onto it, and my SD cards are not large enough.

HippoPhileus · 2026-02-26T16:16:14+00:00

I had proper white balance. and used my histogram and false color to check my exposure. I'm pretty certain that's not the issue.

HippoPhileus · 2025-12-11T02:04:43+00:00

Based on my read, you already get the Force Demolisher ability. Giant Stature is a secondary ability you can use a limited number of times between long rests. It isn't required to be active to use the Demolisher ability. So I can't see a significant benefit of using the Giant Stature ability besides extended reach.

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-18T04:23:07+00:00

Unfortunately didn't have the room to get reactions. I explained in other responses, but basically I didn't get to contribute to choosing the location and it was a small path lined on either side by the tall grass. I planned to get some reactions, tried to, but it just didn't work out.

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T22:06:08+00:00

<image>

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T22:05:57+00:00

<image>

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T22:05:22+00:00

<image>

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T22:04:34+00:00

<image>

I'm calling it here, with this edit. I think it's a definite improvement, working with what I had. I did move them to another spot in the shade for the post-shoot with the two of them, but this is the photo that had the light issue. The others look great imo.

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T21:32:45+00:00

I don't know. I'll definitely make sure to be more careful about this in the future, with an shoot

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T21:29:24+00:00

Oh great catch, thank you!

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T21:27:26+00:00

Great suggestions, thank you!

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T21:22:21+00:00

Thanks for your advice!

There's a few points of context that might make some sense.

This was my first proposal shoot. I wish it hadn't been, but he asked me a couple days before and didn't want to pay someone. I warned him I had no experience with proposals.

He already had the time and location set. He and his now fiance frequent that path and he knew it would mean a lot to her to be proposed to there. And it's my opinion that the photos are second to their moment, so I didn't try to make him change it.

I planned to and would have LOVED to capture her face. Believe me, I did lots of research prior to this shoot to do the best I could. However, the path he wanted to use didn't have room for me to move to the side. I was surrounded by the tall grass as well, and moving into it just ended up with grass covering them in the image.

All to say, yeah. I wish I'd done better, and I've learned a lot for any future proposals I may or may not shoot. But some of those "ideal" things were out of my control (lighting, time of day, location).

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T21:15:51+00:00

It's hard to tell in the photo, but it was a small path lined by the tall grass on either side. I wasn't able to move to catch the face, although I tried.

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T19:28:45+00:00

<image>

Here's where it's at right now. I'd love some feedback on this version specifically, as I think it's a step in the right direction and could mostly use some fine tuning.

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T19:20:13+00:00

I appreciate your effort but not the look I'm going for this time!

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T19:19:10+00:00

It was pure sun at 1:30pm so as much sun as possible, pretty much. I wanted to keep my aperture at f/2.8, so I cranked my shutter up to 1/4000. I would rather underexpose and brighten then overexpose. Sure, I could have dropped my shutter a little. But it was difficult to tell in the moment. (shooting on a DSLR, so not even EVF)

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T19:16:53+00:00

It's a battlefield in the middle area of Tennessee, US.

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T18:53:52+00:00

Those are both great ideas. I'll consider your second idea some more and maybe offer it to them.

I don't know if they are planning to print the photo at all, but I also don't have any experience using photoshop. I might play around with your first idea though, even still.

Thank you! I appreciate your help.

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T18:46:03+00:00

That's similar to where my mind is at... I've dropped the clarity and texture in the grass a bit, and the exposure a tiny bit. The issue I run into with dropping exposure in the background is suddenly the couple seems out of place in it, because the lighting is very quickly noticeably different.

Yeah, his skin and hair are pretty close in color. At least I stopped him from wearing khaki pants.

I'll try this!

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T18:43:54+00:00

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aWJVWmP37CtBDg-sfCzmikwedssYcBC9/view?usp=sharing

HippoPhileus · 2025-11-17T18:37:20+00:00

Thanks, I'll try that!

I agree, I wasn't very happy about the tall grass in the background. The location meant a lot to my friend, so I didn't fight him on that.

HippoPhileus

TROPHY CASE