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

[PhotoHobo]

Thanks for the response. I'll have to toy around with adding fog to my shots in a similar fashion. I've done it once with photoshopped snow earlier this year: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3...099_3smlll.jpg

Joel Grimes website is also pretty intense.

[kkamin]

I like your photo!

If you don't mind, I could give my humble opinion on how to push it further. If you are going for the Dave hill look, you'll need to have stronger lighting. Both of your images were taken on an overcast day which produces flat lighting. Dave Hill and many compositers use a lot of side lighting. This is a dramatic style of lighting that works well with composites because the light can almost seem to come from anywhere due to the two 'key' lights. Using more dramatic lighting will also support a dramatic looking photograph.

Your photograph is a good example of where a fogged background would help separate your subject from a busy background. I also think adding a strong simulated backlight, like an exposed sun that isn't really there, would help with the flat lighting. And doing a slight light wrap would help integrate your subject and background better.

I like the people on the ground, but I sort of wish they were interacting with what was going on. Like pointing up at the guy going off the jump.

I did this in a few minutes and it doesn't look not very good.; I would need to spend several hours playing with it. But I was intrigued with your photo and the discussion at hand.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...77/testbg3.jpg

Thanks for sharing and great work! I learned a lot from engaging in this discussion.

[zajac4]

Hello everyone!
As yet I did not write here I would like to introduce
My name is Mariusz, I come from Polish. DH technique has long been interested in.
I would like to know your opinion. I used the attached photo for example, in this conversation.
http://www.zajac4.xnet.com.pl/dh1.jpg

I present my technique on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ellEaK3Wsz0

my page with a photograph of a wedding in which I try to apply the treatment of DH
www.zajacfoto.com

[PhotoHobo]

Kkamin, thanks for the critique, compliments, along with your version, it helps. I like your info on lighting and an interacting background, and I'll consider those more when I do my next shot.

[falem]

My try.
I can make it much better if the original was a high resolution.
If I seperate the background from the subject I can make it much better.
I think that is the first rule, subject's and background on seperate layers.

http://imageshack.us/f/850/trym.jpg

[PhotoHobo]

Oh believe me, they were on separate layers, check the background is an HDR, I used it to get some detail in the snow. Here is the original shot of Danny: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L...0074_smlll.jpg

[falem]

I didn't know.

[skoobey]

It is simply about pushing it until it looks almost comic book like all the while paying attention to the shapes.

Amy Dresser does the exact same thing just more moderately.

[pixelzombie]

Originally Posted by falem

My try.
I can make it much better if the original was a high resolution.
If I seperate the background from the subject I can make it much better.
I think that is the first rule, subject's and background on seperate layers.

http://imageshack.us/f/850/trym.jpg

i like that look, what sort or workflow did you use on that image?

[golyos]

falem nice workflow