Quote - And try this little test: Open these two images in photoshop and click "auto contrast" and see how the lighting changes: http://www.scenicreflections.com/files/White_cat_in_snow_Wallpaper_eux3j.jpg

http://www.insanewallpapers.com/wallpapers/snow_white_cat-1366x768.jpg

When he took those photos did he apply any postwork afterwards? 

Quote - Does this mean the photographer 'didn't use a light meter to properly light the scene?' No. It means the photographer was smart enough to know when to use his own judgement and ignore what the tool was trying to tell him.

Well after I render something, I do an auto contrast to test my lighting.  If it checks out then I apply postwork. If I do auto contrast after the postwork I would get similar results as if auto contrasting that image you provided.

Quote - It's a bit like those people you hear about who want to drive 2 blocks to the store but they blindly follow the instructions their GPS is giving them until they are 300 miles into the wilderness. Tools are fine, but they are like employees, you need to stay in charge of them. Once you assume they know what they are doing or let them run the show things turn bad.

I'll keep that in mind, well said :)

Quote - > Quote - A lot of you are talented and have a GOOD eye, chances are you guys nail the lighting most of the time. But why not be 100% thorough?

You are advocating being 100% thorough but you are working on an uncalibrated monitor which 'tends to show things darker'?

Software wise everything is set to default when I work with renders & photoshop. When I watch a movie I have NVIDIA control panel adjust the bright, contrast, gamma (calibration).

Let's say I have nvidia control panel adjust the bright, gamma, contrast.  Now I take one of my renders and try to judge how it looks and make modifications via photoshop. Technically the modifications wouldn't be accurate because I have custom calibration settings right?  I always want to apply postwork and judge render lighting with the defaults of the monitor and default nvidia control panel settings right? Looks like there is windows 7 color calibration but once again, that is software modifying everything to my eyes.

Please give your feedback on this. I'm still new to this genre of work.