Interesting German Photographer

bjimmer · #1 11-08-2007, 03:33 PM

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 · #2 11-08-2007, 04:35 PM

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 · #3 11-08-2007, 04:37 PM

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

KR1156 · #4 11-08-2007, 04:47 PM

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

wonder what photogs did before Photoshop.

superkoax · #5 11-08-2007, 04:55 PM

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 · #6 11-08-2007, 05:28 PM

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 · #7 11-09-2007, 03:30 AM

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 · #8 11-09-2007, 05:32 AM

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 · #9 11-09-2007, 08:11 AM

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 · #10 11-09-2007, 08:40 AM

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 Photoshop. I enjoy seeing images where you can tell the lighting was priority 1.

KR1156 · #11 11-09-2007, 08:52 AM

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 · #12 11-09-2007, 09:03 AM

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 · #13 11-09-2007, 09:32 AM

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 · #14 11-09-2007, 10:49 AM

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 · #15 11-09-2007, 11:11 AM

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.