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

[Flashtones]

You saw the interview, I didn't. But interpreting what you wrote, it's possible that he was using one layer for color and a BW layer for texture contrast, and his masking was poor between layers.

Just one hunch. Probably wrong.

[vapour]

The link is not working Snook.

[snook305]

Hey Vapour.. What link? One that I posted?
Please let me know, but I am not sure what link you are looking for.
Snook

[vapour]

what is this, a fun house thread?

[smoop]

I really wanted to know how David Hill produced this effects awhile ago and created some experiments. I still havent stopped reading about it, its a crazy hyper-real look.

the pictures below were created using the "high Pass" with "blending".


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2567/...bb04145d_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/...7fdeed89_o.jpg

[Tareq]

Originally Posted by smoop

I really wanted to know how David Hill produced this effects awhile ago and created some experiments. I still havent stopped reading about it, its a crazy hyper-real look.

the pictures below were created using the "high Pass" with "blending".


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2567/...bb04145d_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/...7fdeed89_o.jpg

Avoid High Pass.
Try with lighting, if you can get many lights and get some great lighting and contrasty and better exposed shots then you are about 70% closer to his technique.
Later by the end of this year maybe or on January i will get new lights and i will try myself, then will see how much that lighting helping us.

[skydog]

What is a good midpriced lighting kit to invest in?

[Tareq]

Originally Posted by skydog

What is a good midpriced lighting kit to invest in?

What is your budget?

[manzneri]

I'm going to order elinchrome d-lite 2 set today and use it together with my 580ex speedlites...let's see what i can do with them.

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by skydog

What is a good midpriced lighting kit to invest in?

I'm sticking with Alienbees, since they do the same shit really expensive lights do, and you can get the same effect lol.

PLUS Dave Hill uses alienbees and white lightnings.. both by Paul C Buff.

[pumpkincat210]

Interesting thread, but i couldn't read all 69 pages. I did a retouch for a girl and she told me I was using the dave hill method. I had no clue who he was. Interesting I can see some of the likenesses, but he is way better than me!

[namphoto]

Originally Posted by Fadewoodarts

I'm sticking with Alienbees, since they do the same shit really expensive lights do, and you can get the same effect lol.

PLUS Dave Hill uses alienbees and white lightnings.. both by Paul C Buff.

Alien Bees do NOT do the same thing as expensive lights.. if they did, Alien Bees would be the industry standard, along with all of paul c buff's products. The number one difference in the alien bees and any expensive lighting distributor is color consistency. It's the most daunting and useless task trying to color correct an image where two light sources are almost 500-1000k off. I will say though, for the price it is unmatched, but when I have the chance I'll rent or use better equipment.

[dennisonb]

Do not be confused. The "really expensive lights", are top professional systems. They cost thousands of dollars because they make photographers thousands of dollars. What they offer can not be matched at lower price points, simply put. Calibrated, consistent color and power output are critical requirements that professionals recognize and demand.

If your starting out- yes I recommend the alien bees. Great set to start with. I own a couple myself and they are lovely small units. I also own a Hensel system and regularly rent Profoto.

Fadewoodarts: You are wrong. They do not do the same thing.

[Fadewoodarts]

I may be wrong in the sense of the alien bees not being as calibrated or as color corrected as the expensive pro lighting set ups, but they can still be used in a professional manner. I can't afford a $4000 two light set up just to get consistent kelvins and power output. My point is, is that I wasn't trying to say Alien-bees are the BEST, and are unmatched by the more professional set ups out there, but that Dave Hill uses Alien-bees, and White Lightnings on his shoots, and I'm sure he has used or rented really expensive lights as well, but even if the Alien-bees don't have consistent kelvins, their power is fine, and what you see that DH has done with Paul C. Buff equipment is pretty damn nice for $500 or $800 strobes. I myself work with them, and I'm fine with sticking with them and saving my money until I can afford some "higher end" strobes to do some studio work with. I rent Profoto and Calumet set ups when i get the chance so i can get more power than the Alien-bees, but could care less owning them or not. Yes i could have elaborated more about what "Alienbees do the same shit as more expensive lights" What I meant by that was that they do everything fine for me since I'm a student nor do i have a studio to use expensive lights.

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by skydog

What is a good midpriced lighting kit to invest in?

The new Calumet Travelite Wireless set ups are pretty nice, and they are mid priced.

[dennisonb]

Yes to be fair, Alien Bees are fine to work with in many situations- and for Dave Hill's work I can see how working with the Bee's are probably are good fit.

For higher end work though- like high end fashion and high end advertising, the color output and the power output are really necessary to be spot on. It's such a hard thing to describe- but even though profoto likes to brag about it in their literature, it's sometimes true that you can tell just from the photo that profoto has been used. I know, it sounds corny but as you go along in your career you find that the things you might have taken for granted in the beginning all work up to be the tiny critical points that make your image look 'real' when you become a pro.

All that said- I do own bee's myself and I'll hold onto them yet. Very handy. :-)

[Flashtones]

The amount of high-end work that has been done with low-end lights, like dyna-lights, is innumerable. Get lights you can afford, get to know their characteristics, how to modify them, and make art.

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by Flashtones

The amount of high-end work that has been done with low-end lights, like dyna-lights, is innumerable. Get lights you can afford, get to know their characteristics, how to modify them, and make art.

Amen, that is what I was trying to say all in two sentences.

[Flashtones]

Originally Posted by Fadewoodarts

Amen, that is what I was trying to say all in two sentences.

You're an example what can be accomplished with modest equipment and a grand vision. Keep it up!

[Fadewoodarts]

Originally Posted by Flashtones

You're an example what can be accomplished with modest equipment and a grand vision. Keep it up!

That means a lot Flash! Thanks.

[skydog]

thanks for the feedback...

[HelloPiccadilly]

let's refresh this topic)
http://hellopiccadilly.deviantart.co...week-138740478
http://hellopiccadilly.deviantart.co...lady-138740888

[Calvinhollywood]

I like to refresh too:-)
http://CalvinHollywood.deviantart.co...ANCE-138671328

lg Calvin

[pellepiano]

Like that very much =) Very nice tone and clean.

[skydog]

calvin...still doing your webinars...I haven't seen anything posted is some time...I only made it to one and it was quite good.

[longside1]

Originally Posted by Calvinhollywood

I like to refresh too:-)
http://CalvinHollywood.deviantart.co...ANCE-138671328

lg Calvin

Great stuff Calvin, you obviously have this technique nailed...care to share a workflow or tutorial?

[Calvinhollywood]

Hi Longside
Its very difficult for me to share my techniques in english.
In germany i did 6 dvd Tutorials , many onlinetrainings and much more.
My techniques are not secret.
But i have to work on my english befor i can write tutorials or do english dvds

lg Calvin

[longside1]

Originally Posted by Calvinhollywood

Hi Longside
Its very difficult for me to share my techniques in english.
In germany i did 6 dvd Tutorials , many onlinetrainings and much more.
My techniques are not secret.
But i have to work on my english befor i can write tutorials or do english dvds

lg Calvin

No worries Calvin. I must admit though, I thought your english was extremely good during your recent webinars.

Why don't you do a webinar on how you get the Dave Hill look? I'm sure it would be very popular!

[Calvinhollywood]

@Longside
Sorry but i am a commercial photographer/trainer and i dont do workshops to explain other peoples techniques.
I dont know how Dave Hill do his pictures.
I only know how i do my pictures.
So i will never do a tutorial how other people do their pictures.

lg Calvin

[longside1]

Originally Posted by Calvinhollywood

@Longside
Sorry but i am a commercial photographer/trainer and i dont do workshops to explain other peoples techniques.
I dont know how Dave Hill do his pictures.
I only know how i do my pictures.
So i will never do a tutorial how other people do their pictures.

lg Calvin

Sorry Calvin, I think you misintrepeted, I wouldn't expect you to produce a webinar on one of Mr Hill's images, this would be wrong, so apologies for any confusion.

However, nobody can lay claim to a style, and some of your shots, for example the one you have just posted certainly have the illustrator look that a lot of people on this forum are trying to understand.

I for one would pay good money for a webinar where you break down the post processing of the last shot you posted.

What do you think?