Interesting German Photographer

[bjimmer]

Ralph Hargarten has some nice portraits on his website, has anyone got any ideas on his retouch methods especially for the one like the JPEG attached? The skin looks ultra ultra sharp and a nice shine to it.

http://ralphhargarten.com/

Appreciate any help.

[superkoax]

I like his light work alot! he looks in control with lights! his lights are more visual then others that I've seen! love the shadow work! Nice link!

G

[superkoax]

OMG, the trumpet man was very nice! hehe...really passion he feel with his trumpet! reminds of a kiss...hehe

[KR1156]

nice pics....but is this style getting tiring to anyone?

wonder what photogs did before ps.

[superkoax]

KR: this style? I don't get tired of it! maybe to others...I understand people who love analog an dthe work around that would find this style tiring, but take people who don't have the same foundation and only use digital workflow...Is my prediction right, that you like analog work better?

[Sistere]

You know, I really wish they would up the max allowed sizes for images/attachments.

Anywho, the photographers use of sharpness made me think of a series we did last year for a production company's Indie Horror movie line. The subject matter of this pic is...just slightly different than the other photographers ...but in the words of Tony Soprano "Whataya gonna do?"

The problem with this photo I am attaching is that when you shrink it down enough to fit the alloted file size...all the natural sharpness gets mushed and starts to look muddled and gunked up in the shadows. But I will attach it anyway and hope for the best; because hey "Whataya gonna do?"

Damien
http://www.digitalsistere.com

[DJSoulglo]

I looked through all the images on the site, and he really does have a certain style that gets a bit.... well.... boring after a while.

The problem as well is that 90% of all images out there use this style at the moment and it's getting a bit overdone. It's the Helvetica of retouching.

[superkoax]

DJS: I can agree to his style...very low on variation, but I still love the light on some of them...
I wonder what will be the new "style" ...It's hard to see in front of you what will come next...

[KR1156]

i don't know, i guess lately all i've been seeing and hearing about, is basically this guys style.

i'm more into great captures, than great retouching.

and on that note....i think dragan's style should be left to dragan...can't look at any more butchered dragan wannabes!

but i'll give you this, his shots look very cool, like his landscapes a lot.

[jessibelle15]

I think his images are beautiful and a lot of what I find so stunning about them has more to do with his lighting techniques vs the retouching. I feel that many photographers these days let the lighting slide because they know they can adjust that aspect of the images afterwards in PS. I enjoy seeing images where you can tell the lighting was priority 1.

[KR1156]

ahh, i think i know what my problem is....too many portraits lately! maybe i'm just personally getting bombarded with them, retouching wise as well! plus i have a bit of a hangover.

[Ant]

Photography = light

The word comes from the Greek words φως phos ("light"), and γραφίς graphis ("stylus", "paintbrush") or γραφή graphê ("representation by means of lines" or "drawing"), together meaning "drawing with light." Traditionally, the product of photography has been called a photograph, commonly shortened to photo.

[jessibelle15]

I understand that photography = light, but how the photographer chooses to use the light really emphasizes their creativity and skill. I think we've all seen many images that are deemed impressive mainly because of the impeccable retouching. I enjoyed Ralph Hargarten's portraits because with his use of light, I imagine that many of the images are quite beautiful and interesting to look at even prior to retouching. I think the retouching he has done brings out the beauty of his images instead of creates it.

[mr.aj]

Man you guys you are missing the whole f%^&ing point! The guy that started this thread is not looking for your opinion...he is just wondering how it was done. It doesn't matter if you are a premodonna and you think this is bad or overdone, or anything because this guy is famous and you are not. So love it or hate it, it doesn't matter. He just is trying to figure it out...so can we help him or not?

[KR1156]

sorry aj...let me help a bit, don't know photography, but as far as the retouching, on the jpeg example posted....i would desat. a bit overall, mask out the skin, desat. it a lot. then throw a curve in color mode on top, pick your monotone color of choice and push it in, then make another curve on top of that, in luminosity mode, and punch up the contrast between highlights and shadow, midtones. (then do you D&B, softlight layer or whatever you do, underneath your color moves) to bring out the highlights and shadows, however drastic you like them to be.

[mr.aj]

@KR

See that is what I am talking about, what a great response! That is exactly what this guy and anyone who started to read this thread was looking for. You are a good man, or woman, can't ever tell in text. Thanks for your time and your help.

[superkoax]

aj: aaah...by discussions, many things can be said about workflow...we have discussed lights and a bit of retouching as well...what more can be said? the technique surrounding these pictures as more about paint with light...IMO...using dodge/burn on 50%grey softlight/overlay layer...

I understand your concern, but I think we all want to say our opinions about the photographers skills as well

[pixelzombie]

Originally Posted by Ant

Photography = light

The word comes from the Greek words φως phos ("light"), and γραφίς graphis ("stylus", "paintbrush") or γραφή graphê ("representation by means of lines" or "drawing"), together meaning "drawing with light." Traditionally, the product of photography has been called a photograph, commonly shortened to photo.

k, how did you get the greek letters to show up like that?....you'd have an easy time getting around Greece, but then again English is their 2nd language these days(it was French for the longest time)...

[superkoax]

maybe ant is greek? he is probably dancing to the song "sorba" or something as we speak

[Ant]

Copy and paste. Not greek. Great book http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorba_the_Greek_(novel)

[superkoax]

ant: hehe...I think I've seen a movie from that book...with anthony quinn?!

LOL! This thread takes u-turn...

Gerry

[Ant]

Yeah.

I think pie is one of the best desserts ever. Peach pie.

[superkoax]

I agree! Peach pie! But The Presidents Of The United States Of America does have a nice song about peaches as well ... I'm stopping now...

[prizo]

Originally Posted by KR1156

pick your monotone color of choice and push it in

Please describe this process.

[KR1156]

prizo, what i meant was, in you curves box...push the R, G, B channels in the direction of the desired color you are after....play with it until you find the right color combination. since the underlying skin is desaturated, it will give you a monotone look like the provided jpeg. then you can bring the skin to life with your highlight/shadow and contrast moves.

just keep you color curve in "color" mode, so you don't shift anything other than the color around.

[jenniferfrances]

Originally Posted by KR1156

nice pics....but is this style getting tiring to anyone?

wonder what photogs did before Photoshop.

i'm with you on this one. seems like it has all become variations of the same thing. its great work, but is anyone out there thinking out of the box?

[mr.aj]

Jennifer,

I would love to think out of the box...but I have no schooling, no art background, and my only free time is my down time at work which isn't much...I'm a medic in the army and I can't tell you why, or why, or why...

Photoshop is a passion that gives me 3 seconds a day to be creative, to express myself in a way that all the GI joes around me can appreciate. I am sorry these images are overplayed, and the same thing. To me it is amazing and when you work with a crowd who doesn't know dresser, greenberg, hill, they think that even if you get grenade range close your pic is amazing. That is why people are trying to understand this stuff...not because we want to just add to a style that is already in use... When I try to figure someone out, I wish I could explain to you how much I learn about Photography and Photoshop.

I know I will never go to art school, I can't afford it, and I can't hear well enough anymore to sit in on class. But I have time to read on here...and people like KR and Pelle take time to help explain things that are "played out"...but man does that make my day...

Hope this helps why we search for the same thing everyone else is doing...

aj

[jenniferfrances]

Originally Posted by mr.aj

Jennifer,

I would love to think out of the box...but I have no schooling, no art background, and my only free time is my down time at work which isn't much...I'm a medic in the army and I can't tell you why, or why, or why...

Photoshop is a passion that gives me 3 seconds a day to be creative, to express myself in a way that all the GI joes around me can appreciate. I am sorry these images are overplayed, and the same thing. To me it is amazing and when you work with a crowd who doesn't know dresser, greenberg, hill, they think that even if you get grenade range close your pic is amazing. That is why people are trying to understand this stuff...not because we want to just add to a style that is already in use... When I try to figure someone out, I wish I could explain to you how much I learn about Photography and Photoshop.

I know I will never go to art school, I can't afford it, and I can't hear well enough anymore to sit in on class. But I have time to read on here...and people like KR and Pelle take time to help explain things that are "played out"...but man does that make my day...

Hope this helps why we search for the same thing everyone else is doing...

aj

I understand and admire your passion for creativity. We all have to start somewhere. I didnt mean to offend or discourage. I have learned a lot of valueable stuff from tutorials and from this forum. The learning process never stops.

I work with a lot of photographers some of which are looking for the latest trend in retouching - like the dave hill style.
No doubt Dave Hill is brilliant, as well as all the others - but that is HIS style that no one can truely come close to recreating. I am sure Dave Hill would be honored to know that eveyone wants to copy his work but Im sure he would be the first to tell you that the life of a picture has to start from the camera. His lighting setup is what brings real character to his images. It's not just a whole bunch of blending modes and highpass layers.