Color Blindness

[jim_jonkles]

<p>Hello. I am new to the forum and a bit of a shutterbug. I have been having trouble discerning between variations in colors on some of my outdoor shoots. My friend gave me a few websites where you can take color tests. He gave me this one particular <a href="https://www.eyesocialeyes.com/color-quiz-plus/" target="_blank">Color Test</a> and I seem to be deficient in the color vision department. Has anyone ever had this problem and do you have any tests to try or tips to help? Thanks</p>

[William Michael]

<p>I have a relation who has what he refers to as 'red/green' colour blindness and apparently it is quiet severe as he describes much he sees as brown or grey. He manages his landscape photography by concentrating his efforts on composition to provide initial interest and where the light and shadow fall to provide depth ad character. For his portrait work he tasks expressions; connectivity and light and shadow.</p>

<p>He has been a 'shutterbug' for quite a while, starting with film - where he used to send his negatives to a printer who managed the colour balance; with digital he entrusts 'Auto Color' in Photoshop and that seems to work well.</p>

<p>Apropos any tests to do - my eyes are tested by my Optometrist, who is a specialist in that area: where I live/work it is easy to ask that professional to perform a comprehensive Colour Blindness Test to my check-up, which I have done: I think that <strong>if one wants to understand the nuances or extent of any vision incapacity</strong>, then a self test via a personal computer screen in a non-controlled viewing environment is both inadequate and inappropriate. </p>

<p>WW</p>

[steven_clark]

<p>I wouldn't use that particular test much. It looks like it tests your ability to see brightness differences (and thereby your screen contrast) mostly and color perception not at all.</p>

<p>I would try these instead: <a href="http://colorvisiontesting.com/ishihara.htm">http://colorvisiontesting.com/ishihara.htm</a></p>

[mjgriffin]

<p>I'm also colorblind. As my eye doctor put it, one of the most extreme cases he's seen without degradation of vision. I have difficulty differentiating between colors and see mostly in shades. Over time I've learned to adapt, learned to recognize basic colors, and learned to use tools to my advantage.<br>

<br />If you've made it this far in life without knowing you'll be fine. I'd recommend having a vision test done at your next appointment. Most offices will do the Ishihara test, which will give you a basic yes or no answer.<br>

As far as photography is concerned I consider myself an advanced amateur. I've worked professionally both in a studio and in news media and have never had a problem. I do rely more on my meters and the histograms then most people do but it doesn't even slow me down. </p>

[vilk_inc]

<p>having just scored perfect on both tests above, i'll tell you this--<br>

the first one is very very hard, even to someone like me, who works with colour a lot and has above average sensitivity to it. i wouldn't worry at all if you did not do well, 9 people out of 10 would not<br>

if you do not score perfect on the ishihara, it's a different story altogether: that test is designed to expose relatively well-known deficiencies--you should consult a doctor if your or other people's safety depends on colour perception (e.g. you are a driver or a pilot)</p>

 

[Matthew Currie]

<p>I wonder if the tests depend in an odd way on the monitor used. I am doing this on a laptop with what I would consider a pretty crappy display, which does not do real justice to photographs, but I found the first test pretty easy, and got 100 percent eagle eye, and the second also very easy. </p>

<p>I am clearly not color blind in the usual sense, but I often find myself disagreeing on others about whether certain ambiguous shades are blue or green, and even some that I would not have said were so ambiguous. I think there's a difference between absolute color blindness and the way in which one perceives different colors. I know I prefer mine less saturated than many. </p>

<p> </p>

[dave_s]

<p>That color test on the web cited in the OP is ridiculous, and it has nothing to do with color blindness. About one in twenty males has red-green color blindness. It's predominant in males because it's X-linked, i.e. the gene is on the X chromosome. (If you live in a country where they play snooker, you'll know those fellows are easy to spot in a pool hall!)</p>

<p>With that 5% prevalance, at least in men, a proportion of the greats of photography were almost certainly color-blind. It would be interesting to know who they were, but I've never heard it was a hindrance to anyone's photography.</p>

[john_wheeler6]

<p>Hi Jim<br>

This is a repeat of what some have said yet<br>

1) Clear the air and get a test done by a professional<br>

2) If you have a color deficiency, then just ask more specific questions e.g. is it differentiating colors during the shoot, in post processing etc. If you give the specifics of where you feel limited after verifying #1, then I am sure forum members can better target suggestions. Good suggestions already given yet you question was a bit ambiguous to me.</p>

[tcyin]

<p>The incidence of color blindness in males is actually 8-10% (in females it's < 1%) so that the incidence in the general population is 4-5%. Here's a <a href="http://www.neitzvision.com/content/basics.html">link </a>to a website from one of foremost labs that studies color vision (http://www.neitzvision.com/content/basics.html). If you go to the "color blind world" link, it shows how various scenes look for various kinds of color blindness. This won't help the OP but may be helpful for thinking about people who are colorblind.</p>

[jcuknz]

<p>I 'failed both my Ishara tests, first when I joined the railways for awhile and refused to believe it because I was a 'photographer' most of the time. Second time was when my TV station changed from B&W to colour transmission and I knew my problem was not that bad and was more relaxed as I knew the answer. I am not colour blind simply colour deficient and ignore discussions about colour. It may be a problem for you Jim but likely it is not that serious, so get a proper test so you know Also remember that colour is a small part of what photography is all about ... though to many churning out beautiful rubbish it is all important.</p>

[glen_h]

<p>As well as I know it, the emission spectra of monitors could be enough different from the eye sensitivity curves that the results of a test (or real problems) could be very different.</p>