The demystification of dave hill! let's all help!

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by TimeActor

Thx Fade for "behind the scene"!
Dave use always his ringflash in front of the subjects...this could be the key...a shadowless capture. But your Lightset is even good and i like the "twilight" feel and the colors! Your Postprocessing is also very good!
Did you use PWL directly in the image or a grey layer with dodge & burn or curve layers?
Cheers
Martin

I do Grey D&B Layers, and some curve adjustments as well. Much Fun.


More coming this weekend.

[TimeActor]

Originally Posted by Fadewoodarts

I do Grey D&B Layers, and some curve adjustments as well. Much Fun.


More coming this weekend.

Keep on going Fade...i´ll take a look (ore more ;-)) at your results!
Cheers
Martin

[Fadewoodarts]

Shot my buddies doing funny things. I am editing a few more, but here is a sample.

(IMO, may have overdone the first one a tad, i'll probably lay alil lower on the editing for the next few)

http://www.fadewoodarts.com/naturalborn.png

http://www.fadewoodarts.com/smokesignals.png

[TimeActor]

Amazing Fade!
I like it too...can you talk about your lightset in the 2 Pictures?

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by TimeActor

Amazing Fade!
I like it too...can you talk about your lightset in the 2 Pictures?

Two travelites on each side of subject, one in front up high with softbox pointed down for fill, and ringlight flash on camera for fill as well.

Thanks!

Another day of shooting tomorrow.. well now today.

Calvin come shoot with me man...I want to learn some Batman style lighting haha.

[TimeActor]

You´re not far away fom the DH Style! The correct Lightset is the way to manipulate and get close to this i think. I´m testing various pictures (i use curves for d&b at this time) some are good and other are not so good to create. Did you use the LAB Modus (to have major control of the lights) or RGB?
It seems the DH pictures have a little bit more microcontrast but he say´s "i´m not using lucis art"...don´t know what he does.

Cheers
Martin

[Tareq]

Dave Hill using Lucis Art, Dave Hill repeating his shoot if the lighting was not good enough, Dave Hill using D&B, something for contrast [he doesn't use High Pass, i use it and i feel it doesn't give something interesting really], I always saying that if you can get contrasty lighting which i am sure Dave is doing then it will be not difficult to manipulate to Dave Hill style or better, i tried on many different shots, some i got amazed and was same or closer if better to DH but the rest were just waste.
Also DH using blending modes, and i saw all his shots, not all are in same style anyway, even here many photos better than some of his photos, so if someone want to get his best style than some of his normal then he should be great in lighting with specific effect, then he can work on layers, D&B, blending, LA, ... to get or surpass DH.

In the future when i will have someone or some people to work with i will try to have better lighting then i will see if i can manipulate them to DH or similar styles.

[Tareq]

Originally Posted by cypisek

"DH is using Lucis Art" - Are you sure about it?

Sure about 60-70%, isn't enough?

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by Tareq

Sure about 60-70%, isn't enough?

@Tareq

Dave Hill does *not* 100% use lucisart and/or HDR for any of his images. As quoted in many of his interviews, if I have to I will post one of his interview's on here.

DH: "A lot of guys are looking for a quick fix, and if I put just an hour or two into my image, I'm pretty sure it would look like those on the forums...I definitely don't use any HDR or LucisArt.. whatever that stuff is.. and I've seen that stuff and it's kind of funny, and it's sad that people associate my name with that crap which is pretty bad and unfortunate."

It really seems like hes getting tired of Lucisart, IMO Lucisart is cool for some things, but many people are using it and saying it get's them the DH look, and they are really only getting 30% of it with horrible shadow detail lol.

[TimeActor]

Yes this is true - many photographers in the world can do something that looks like DH. Dave says that he isn´t a Photoshop Guru. I think he is a Light Guru with a good eye and creativity to create Photostorys and this would be the Key to make this style.
Here is my result: before/after

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by TimeActor

Yes this is true - many photographers in the world can do something that looks like DH. Dave says that he isn´t a Photoshop Guru. I think he is a Light Guru with a good eye and creativity to create Photostorys and this would be the Key to make this style.
Here is my result: before/after

Good good start Time, now what is your lighting set-up?

[TimeActor]

Hi Fade and thx!
This is lowbudget photography.
I use 2 Speedlights with an Sobo and the other with an Beauty Dish radiocontrolled (wireless)
Nothing special. I´m not so good with light that i´ll going in july to an coaching to calvin.

[snook305]

Originally Posted by Fadewoodarts

@Tareq

Dave Hill does *not* 100% use lucisart and/or HDR for any of his images. As quoted in many of his interviews, if I have to I will post one of his interview's on here.

DH: "A lot of guys are looking for a quick fix, and if I put just an hour or two into my image, I'm pretty sure it would look like those on the forums...I definitely don't use any HDR or LucisArt.. whatever that stuff is.. and I've seen that stuff and it's kind of funny, and it's sad that people associate my name with that crap which is pretty bad and unfortunate."

It really seems like hes getting tired of Lucisart, IMO Lucisart is cool for some things, but many people are using it and saying it get's them the DH look, and they are really only getting 30% of it with horrible shadow detail lol.

Dave is using some form of HDRing and if you deny that you and he are both fools!!!
Lucis art, anything of likes is a form of HDR and so is shaow and highlights.
They are using the basic algorithyms to get a similar effect.
I have been shooting for 20 years, way before dave hill and I can garantee you he using some form of HDR.
He even has it on his videos where half the background have been replaced.
You can get the danymaic range, so even merging a shot shot in the street during the day like he does then putting into a shot shot at night is another form of HDR or gaining the highest dynamic range which is impossible from one image, even with raw.

Beleive what you will, but dave hill is not going to say, yeh I use lucis or HDring. he is not going to tell his secret.
I for one beleive he use the contrast maskig routine with lots of dodging and burning and just lots of work in post for sure. No lighting is going to give you that cartooned retocuh to all hell look.
This has been stated SO MANY times.
Yes the light is part of the formula, but only 30-40% of it.
Period.
Snook

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by snook305

Dave is using some form of HDRing and if you deny that you and he are both fools!!!
Lucis art, anything of likes is a form of HDR and so is shaow and highlights.
They are using the basic algorithyms to get a similar effect.
I have been shooting for 20 years, way before dave hill and I can garantee you he using some form of HDR.
He even has it on his videos where half the background have been replaced.
You can get the danymaic range, so even merging a shot shot in the street during the day like he does then putting into a shot shot at night is another form of HDR or gaining the highest dynamic range which is impossible from one image, even with raw.

Beleive what you will, but dave hill is not going to say, yeh I use lucis or HDring. he is not going to tell his secret.
I for one beleive he use the contrast maskig routine with lots of dodging and burning and just lots of work in post for sure. No lighting is going to give you that cartooned retocuh to all hell look.
This has been stated SO MANY times.
Yes the light is part of the formula, but only 30-40% of it.
Period.
Snook

Well you just summed it up for me lol, HDR is put into effect when doing what he does, but I think what I was getting at was just the fact of plugins.

-Fade

[jvr]

After reading this thread I understand the part of the lighting setup to get kind-of-dave-hill pictures. But I still don't get the post process in photoshop.

I mean what do you do in Photoshop to get the sharpened look with almost no cyan color?

Fade, your images are great. What's the photoshop process after the shooting?

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by jvr

After reading this thread I understand the part of the lighting setup to get kind-of-dave-hill pictures. But I still don't get the post process in photoshop.

I mean what do you do in Photoshop to get the sharpened look with almost no cyan color?

Fade, your images are great. What's the photoshop process after the shooting?

Thanks JVR

Process:
Camera Raw Adjustments - Sharpening - Skin Retouch - Necessary D&B - Adjustment Layers numerous times with levels, curves etc, and then final touches with playing with colors and gradients.

Note: This will most likely stay my process and I am looking forward to doing my work with a higher end camera whenever I get that chance. Someday...

[longside1]

Hi Fade,

I really like your work, but I think you should tone doen the surface blur or whatever. As When you look at DH's in the majority of his shots, you can still make out skin textures.

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by longside1

Hi Fade,

I really like your work, but I think you should tone doen the surface blur or whatever. As When you look at DH's in the majority of his shots, you can still make out skin textures.

Hello, and yeah I agree with you, im trying to, but with only 6.3 MP of Picture, unless im taking a really close shot, I can't make out any good skin textures that I am happy with and anywhere close to DH status. So basically I will probably just do skin smoothing for most of my works until I am able to upgrade to a higher end camera system. I will try to do a shot for you guys though and do very little skin smoothing and see what i can come up with with just 6MP.

Here is a shot I did last summer, up close and personal, it was actually just a shot I didn't intend to get, but turned out hilarious. LOL

http://www.fadewoodarts.com/oldpatredone.jpg

[Tareq]

I am still thinking that Dave Hill using Lucis Art slightly, i didn't say he is using HDR, i got something closer to his style but Lucis Art but not with HDR, unless his is playing with Background as HDR then the rest of subjects are using different techniques, and i took millions of photos from many cameras including cameras he is using and make sure the exposure or lighting is top notch and still can't get anything closer to Dave Hill, as long he will not tell secret and we didn't see any of his "Before" shots then we will never get the answer, but i worked on some photos of others where the lighting and the processing [already processed] is really nice and not so far from DH, then i added Lucis Art, i feel like i got DH exactly, just need more editing for shadows and highlight and it will be DH exactly.

[skydog]

Has any one checked Jim's site lately? I like to watch his evolution and he has been doing this for quite some time? Is DH and Jim the same or different?


http://www.fiscusphoto.com/

[snook305]

Originally Posted by Tareq

I am still thinking that Dave Hill using Lucis Art slightly, i didn't say he is using HDR, i got something closer to his style but Lucis Art but not with HDR, unless his is playing with Background as HDR then the rest of subjects are using different techniques, and i took millions of photos from many cameras including cameras he is using and make sure the exposure or lighting is top notch and still can't get anything closer to Dave Hill, as long he will not tell secret and we didn't see any of his "Before" shots then we will never get the answer, but i worked on some photos of others where the lighting and the processing [already processed] is really nice and not so far from DH, then i added Lucis Art, i feel like i got DH exactly, just need more editing for shadows and highlight and it will be DH exactly.

AMEN!!
The lighting is only 50% of the recipe and is basic 3-4 point lighting that any photographer can do. It is the newbies that are just discovering the light and think that is it...:+]
HE is for sure using some type of HDR/LUCIS. Lucis is just an automatic program that tweaks the S&H's. which is what he is doing either by contrast masking or plug in to help.
You guys think Dave is going to say, yes I use Lucis...:+}
Snook

Snook

[Tareq]

Originally Posted by snook305

AMEN!!
The lighting is only 50% of the recipe and is basic 3-4 point lighting that any photographer can do. It is the newbies that are just discovering the light and think that is it...:+]
HE is for sure using some type of HDR/LUCIS. Lucis is just an automatic program that tweaks the S&H's. which is what he is doing either by contrast masking or plug in to help.
You guys think Dave is going to say, yes I use Lucis...:+}
Snook

Snook

I agree, he will never say, i use this and that, i swear that i read an interview somewhere when he was asked about his technique, then he answered: "Two Words, Lucis Art", so is he misleading all followers that once he says i use LA and another time he says i don't use LA at all, in all cases he is a talented guy and smart enough not to show his secret, and to be honest one day i saw a great Pro photographer using Profoto lights on the models using MF camera, the RAW original photos are all great but never never were closer to DH, so let those who are just saying lighting is the only way for DH to prove that, show me RAW SOOC that is Dave Hill effects on it.

[Fadewoodarts]

You really need to understand photoshop and how to tweak the highlights and shadows without using LucisArt. He composites 90% of his images, if an image has multiple people and is on location, then he shoots each person with the same lighting on a tripod so the background stays, then composites each person in where they were extremely well, which also gives it that HDR look because of the depth and tonal range of having all the subjects have their own separate lighting from the background light.

You guys should listen to this:

http://odeo.com/episodes/23453904-In...with-Dave-Hill

[namphoto]

How can you be so certain dave uses something such as lucis. There isn't one way to achieve the technique. I hope you all know, Dave has used a retoucher for his photos before.

[HelloPiccadilly]

shot by me from party where i was drunk a lot ))
though:
http://hellopiccadilly.deviantart.co...opez-124292750

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by HelloPiccadilly

shot by me from party where i was drunk a lot ))
though:
http://hellopiccadilly.deviantart.co...opez-124292750

Haha looks like a good time!

[Doug Nelson]

Dave has people to keep him from being bothered with fan requests, but if you'd like to see him (or his retoucher) at work in a future RetouchPRO LIVE event, do what you can to contact him and request it. If there's enough demand, I'm sure we could do it.

[snook305]

Yet another Dave Hill wannabe on the market.
This stuff get's so old it is sickening.
http://www.clorimages.com/
Snook

[Mtmm]

That is not even near DH.

[Mtmm]

Wannabe hero or other photo?