mccurry-photo-processing - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: mccurry-photo-processing description: Batch process Sony RAW (.ARW) files with Steve McCurry-inspired narrative color grading using darktable. Use when user needs professional warm, cinematic color grading for Sony camera RAW files.

Steve McCurry Photo Processing

Transform your Sony RAW photos with professional color grading inspired by Steve McCurry's iconic National Geographic photography style.

Features

Professional Color Grading: Warm, rich tones inspired by McCurry's legendary style
Batch Processing: Process 50-200+ images efficiently
High Quality: Output JPEGs at 85-95% quality with no visible loss
Open Source: 100% free using darktable
Command Line: Automated workflow for efficient processing
Multiple Presets: Standard and vibrant variants

Quick Start

1. Install darktable

# Check if darktable is installed
bash scripts/install_darktable.sh

# Or install manually
brew install darktable

2. Process Your Photos

# Basic usage: process all ARW files
python scripts/batch_process.py raw/ output/

# Custom quality
python scripts/batch_process.py raw/ output/ --quality 95

# Use vibrant preset
python scripts/batch_process.py raw/ output/ --preset assets/mccurry-vibrant.xmp

3. Validate Output

# Check output quality
python scripts/validate_output.py output/

# Export detailed report
python scripts/validate_output.py output/ --json

Steve McCurry Color Style

This skill replicates the distinctive visual characteristics of Steve McCurry's photography:

Warm Golden Tones: Rich oranges, reds, and earth colors
High Contrast: Punchy but retains shadow and highlight detail
Saturated Midtones: Colors pop without looking unnatural
Golden Hour Feel: Amber/yellow color cast like Kodachrome film
Deep Shadows: Rich blacks with preserved texture
Vibrant Blues/Teals: Cool tones provide visual balance
Cinematic Quality: Film-like smoothness with storytelling mood

Directory Structure

your-project/
├── raw/                    # Input: Sony ARW files
└── output/                 # Output: Processed JPEGs

Presets

mccurry-narrative.xmp (Standard)

Balanced McCurry-inspired grading suitable for most scenarios. This is the default preset.

Best for:

General photography
Portraits
Street photography
Documentary work

mccurry-vibrant.xmp (Vibrant)

More saturated variant for high-impact images.

Best for:

Landscapes
Travel photography
Images with strong colors
Festival/cultural events

Detailed Usage

Batch Processing Script

python scripts/batch_process.py INPUT_DIR OUTPUT_DIR [OPTIONS]

Arguments:

INPUT_DIR - Directory containing ARW files
OUTPUT_DIR - Directory for processed JPEGs (created if needed)

Options:

--quality QUALITY - JPEG quality 85-100 (default: 92)
--preset FILE - Custom XMP preset file
--verbose - Show detailed processing information

Examples:

# Process with default settings (92% quality, standard preset)
python scripts/batch_process.py ~/Photos/Raw ~/Photos/Processed

# Maximum quality for print
python scripts/batch_process.py raw/ output/ --quality 98

# Vibrant preset for landscapes
python scripts/batch_process.py landscape_raw/ landscape_out/ --preset assets/mccurry-vibrant.xmp

# Verbose output for debugging
python scripts/batch_process.py raw/ output/ --verbose

Validation Script

python scripts/validate_output.py OUTPUT_DIR [OPTIONS]

Arguments:

OUTPUT_DIR - Directory containing processed JPEGs

Options:

--json - Export detailed JSON validation report
--verbose - Show all warnings (not just errors)

Examples:

# Quick validation
python scripts/validate_output.py output/

# Full report with JSON export
python scripts/validate_output.py output/ --json --verbose

Installation Script

bash scripts/install_darktable.sh

Checks for darktable installation and installs via Homebrew if needed.

Performance

Processing Speed:

~5-15 seconds per image (depends on image size and Mac specs)
100 images: 10-25 minutes
200 images: 20-45 minutes

System Requirements:

macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later
8GB RAM minimum (16GB recommended for large batches)
50GB free disk space (for RAW + JPEG storage)
Apple Silicon (M1/M2) or Intel Core i5+

File Sizes:

Input ARW: ~24-42MB per file
Output JPEG (92%): ~3-8MB per file
Output JPEG (98%): ~6-12MB per file

Supported Cameras

All Sony cameras that produce ARW files, including:

Sony Alpha A7 series (A7, A7R, A7S, A7III, A7IV, A7RV, etc.)
Sony Alpha A9 series (A9, A9II, A9III)
Sony Alpha A6000 series (A6000, A6100, A6400, A6600, etc.)
Sony Alpha A1
Sony ZV series
Older Sony NEX cameras

Workflow Tips

For Best Results

Shoot in RAW: Ensure your Sony camera is set to save ARW files
Expose Properly: The preset works best with well-exposed images
Organize First: Sort and cull images before batch processing
Test First: Process 2-3 sample images to verify the look
Adjust if Needed: Try the vibrant preset or adjust quality settings

When to Use Each Preset

Standard (mccurry-narrative.xmp):

Portraits and people
Indoor photography
Balanced lighting conditions
When you want subtlety

Vibrant (mccurry-vibrant.xmp):

Landscapes and nature
Outdoor travel photography
Sunset/golden hour shots
When you want maximum impact

Quality Settings Guide

Quality	File Size	Use Case
85-90%	2-5MB	Web, social media, proofs
90-94%	3-8MB	General use, client delivery (recommended)
95-100%	6-15MB	Print, archival, portfolio

Troubleshooting

darktable-cli not found

# Run installation script
bash scripts/install_darktable.sh

# Or create symlink manually
sudo ln -sf /Applications/darktable.app/Contents/MacOS/darktable-cli /usr/local/bin/darktable-cli

Processing very slow

Close other applications to free up RAM
Process in smaller batches (50 images at a time)
Check Activity Monitor for CPU/memory usage
Ensure sufficient disk space

Colors don't look right

Try the alternate preset (vibrant vs. standard)
Ensure input images are properly exposed
Verify you're processing ARW files, not JPEGs
Check your monitor color calibration

Some images fail to process

Check if ARW files are corrupted (try opening in Sony's software)
Ensure sufficient disk space
Verify darktable version is up to date
Run with --verbose flag to see detailed errors

Advanced Usage

Creating Custom Presets

Open darktable GUI application
Import a sample Sony ARW file
Adjust color grading modules to your taste
Export the style as XMP
Use your custom XMP with --preset option

Processing Specific Files

# Process only files matching a pattern
cd raw/
python ../scripts/batch_process.py \
  --preset ../assets/mccurry-narrative.xmp \
  DSC001*.ARW \
  ../output/

Integration with Other Tools

# Process then optimize for web
python scripts/batch_process.py raw/ output/ --quality 90
cd output/
mogrify -resize 2048x2048\> -quality 85 *.jpg

Reference Documentation

For more detailed information:

references/mccurry-style-analysis.md - Deep dive into McCurry's visual style
references/darktable-modules.md - Technical details of preset parameters
references/troubleshooting.md - Extended troubleshooting guide

FAQ

Q: Can I use this with other camera brands? A: The presets work with any RAW format darktable supports (Canon CR2/CR3, Nikon NEF, etc.). Just change the file pattern in the script.

Q: Will this work with JPEG files? A: It will process JPEGs, but results are much better with RAW files since they contain more color data.

Q: Can I adjust the strength of the effect? A: Yes, edit the XMP preset in darktable GUI or create custom presets with different intensity.

Q: Does this delete my original RAW files? A: No, the original ARW files are never modified. Only JPEGs are created in the output directory.

Q: Can I undo the processing? A: The processing creates new JPEGs without modifying originals, so you can always re-process with different settings.

Credits

Color Grading Style: Inspired by Steve McCurry's iconic photography Processing Engine: darktable open-source RAW processor Skill Created For: Claude Code by Anthropic

License

This skill and its presets are provided as-is for personal and commercial use. darktable is licensed under GPL-3.0.

Version

Version: 1.0.0 Last Updated: January 2026 Compatible With: darktable 4.4+

Made with Claude Code - https://claude.com/claude-code