One aspect of digital photography that is often overlooked is monitor calibration. Calibration is important because colors that you are seeing on your monitor (and your photos), might be seen differently by other users (can't be helped if the other person's monitor is not calibrated). Color accuracy should be addressed sooner, rather than later, as it will save you from redundant reprocessing.

I saw this problem first hand at my desktop, seeing different colors from the same photo from monitor to monitor. In my case, I use dual (extended) screens with an iMac and Gateway monitor. The Gateway was warm compared to the iMac. Using Mac OS X adjustable color profiles was tricky, so I opted to use a Pantone Huey to calibrate both monitors with recommendation from Leemik.

Viewing my old processed shots with the calibrated settings showed what was once vibrant colors, became bleached out or muddy, and white balance inaccurate. It took awhile, but i reprocessed my shots.

Here's a review of the Pantone Huey:
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_huey_pro.php

And an overview of the product from at Pantone:
http://www.pantone.com/pages/product...x?pid=562&ca=2

Pantone has two variations: regular or Pro. Click Pantone link above to find out the differences.

There are other calibration devices like ColorVision Spyder and GretagMacbeth Eye-One.



Some old images that was processed with a calibrated monitor:

 

nice. you comming out 2morrow night?

 

I picked one of this up once I discovered that my monitor and printer where not matching. My printer was printing to bright on the reds and blues, but in my screen they would look fine. I use a Canon MP510 printer and a HP 21" monitor. Now everything comes out great.

 

WOW.... is all i can say by looking at your photos. im new to photography and wanna take shots like you do... want to teach me sometime?

 

Got the gnawers fixed... dropped $1,000. Gotta get over the pain of the wallet, and the mouth. Had a bridge done.

Lets see some of those pics! Where's your Z?

I have started alot of threads that should get you off on the right foot. Grab your camera and start taking shots... post, then WE'LL critique.