how was this done?

leaftors · #1 10-22-2008, 04:41 PM

http://flickr.com/photos/fdelfini/2391569262/
http://flickr.com/photos/fdelfini/2397842854/
http://flickr.com/photos/d_martini/2347385684/

brianr66 · #2 10-22-2008, 04:59 PM

Looks like either high contrast black & white treatment or some HDR or similar filter or a combination of both.

leaftors · #3 10-22-2008, 05:58 PM

can i get specific steps

leaftors · #4 10-22-2008, 06:00 PM

people also say that its how the picture is initially that determines how good it will come out.

how should my subject be lighted?

TommyO · #5 10-22-2008, 07:41 PM

Today, with digital SLR's, not too many are shooting black & white. Some are though. But, the majority are converting to b&w later. There are many, many ways to do it and none are standard. It is as much an artists touch as anything, and often it is a lot of experimentation. There are third party utilities with presets that can get you close. However, many feel this is cheating. So, we develop our own workflows to produce the results we like as a photographer.

So, experiment, enjoy it, and be creative !

leaftors · #6 10-22-2008, 08:26 PM

thanks, but im not really talking about the black and white effect.

im talking about the hdrish look but i know it's not hdr is it?

TommyO · #7 10-23-2008, 10:49 AM

It's not HDR at all. That's why I refer to it as b&w. Styles and tastes of the general public change. Today, this style has appeal. 15 years ago it did not. It is still just b&w development... although easier and faster in the digital age.

0lBaldy · #8 10-23-2008, 11:59 AM

Good lens, good camera, good lighting, polarized filter outdoors, practice cubed, PLUS a complete read and good understanding of this thread: Tutorial 05: Converting a Color Image to Black and White grayscale BW

crazyfly1 · #9 10-23-2008, 12:02 PM

Looks to me like the dragon effect and then a black white conversion. Tommy is right, the black white filter in Photoshop or Lightroom is amazing and I believe it is what you are seeing. Normaly it is difficult to get a real HDR of a sky with clouds or a person because they both move.

skauskas · #10 10-23-2008, 12:24 PM

I've just happened to try the same retouching style as you are looking for. Well for me at least it looks like the same

here is the crop from the photo. Let me know if you want me to share the workflow.
The photo is not the best example for such retouch but I was just trying if it's working

julianmarsalis · #11 10-23-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skauskas

I've just happened to try the same retouching style as you are looking for. Well for me at least it looks like the same

here is the crop from the photo. Let me know if you want me to share the workflow.
The photo is not the best example for such retouch but I was just trying if it's working

Looks awesome please share your workflow!!!!!

skauskas · #12 10-23-2008, 03:00 PM

1. Choose the right photo. Because my photo is the worst for this kind of retouching))) It great works for old people or any pictures where you can get as much details as you can get.
2. Make all basic adjustments for picture like removing color casts, cloning out some unwanted details etc.
3. Image-Adjustment-Black and White-Maximum black
4.High Pass to bring out details
5.Filter-Blur-Gaussian Blur to create soft glow. Blending Mode - Overlay
6.New Adjustment Layer-Gradient Map. Select black-and-white gradient. Make adjustments to gradient if needed
7. Group the layers, copy background layer and place it on the top of the group.
8.Doing the same for the whites. Image-Adjustments-Black and White-Maximum White
9. High Pass (I put the same value as for blacks)
10. Blur (see step #5)
11. Gradient map - double click on gradient and make adjustment to bring out "light parts" of the photo
12. Group all "whites" layers, add black mask and with white soft brush reveal which needs to be lightened up
that's pretty much it

would love if you show your results

bgouler · #13 10-25-2008, 11:29 PM

I have attached my examples of before and after. Not sure if it is correct.

Is it basically convert original photo to B&W using Max Black then Converting the original using Max White. Then using a hide all mask and painting in to reveal dark/light areas?

Thanks for looking

B

skauskas · #14 10-26-2008, 03:13 AM

what about high pass and blur? doesn't look like you applied those filters

bgouler · #15 10-26-2008, 09:29 AM

Do you apply them on separate layers? Or is just the gradient adjustment a different layer?

are steps 3, 4 and 5 of your workflow on separate layers? Do you create a background copy, then do blur?

I guess I cannot follow your workflow. Can you post your layers etc?

Thanks for your help Skauskas

B

skauskas · #16 10-26-2008, 11:33 AM

yes. everything on separate layers.
here is the layers palette

julianmarsalis · #17 10-26-2008, 12:27 PM

On the high-pass and G-blur layers are those just select all copy merged and then add the filters on to those newly created layers?

skauskas · #18 10-26-2008, 01:03 PM

I decided to add little bit info to my workflow. May be I missed something

1. Choose the right photo. Because my photo is the worst for this kind of retouching))) It great works for old people or any pictures where you can get as much details as you can get.
2. Make all basic adjustments for picture like removing color casts, cloning out some unwanted details etc.
3. Image-Adjustment-Black and White-Maximum black
4.Copy the layer - High Pass to bring out details (the radius should be to an amount to bring out the most details) - blinding mode to overlay
5.Filter-Blur-Gaussian Blur to create soft glow. Blending Mode -still Overlay
6.New Adjustment Layer (in the bottom of layer palette)-Gradient Map. Select black-and-white gradient. Make adjustments to gradient if needed
7. Group the layers, copy background layer and place it on the top of the group.
8.Doing the same for the whites (on our copied layer from background). Image - Adjustments -Black and White-Maximum White
9. High Pass don't forget to put to Overlay (I put the same value as for blacks)
10. Blur (see step #5) the same value. Overlay blending mode
11. Gradient map. Adjustment layer- Gradient map. select black and white gradient. double click on gradient and make adjustment to bring out "light parts" of the photo meaning to make gradient more white then black. but of course everything depends on the photo
12. Group all "whites" layers, add black mask on the group and with white soft brush reveal which needs to be lightened up

Now I hope should be more clear.

julianmarsalis - you need to group layers not merge them, (Layers-Group Layers)

BillFrey · #19 11-12-2008, 09:22 PM

Information from the photo tags:

Fernando Delfini's photos were taken with a Canon Rebel 400d and PP'd with Lucisart.

a_Wanderer's photo was taken with the Nikon FM2 using Kodak Tri-X film, F1.8, 50mm.

pellepiano · #20 11-13-2008, 02:24 AM

The channel mixer can be of good help, changing the output of the separate color channels. Especially in CS3 when the Black and White adjustment layer got rather sophisticated.

Here I used very little of the red channel ( good for making dramatic skies ( cloudless )). And also added somelocal contrasts by dodge and burn.

secretagents · #21 11-13-2008, 06:33 PM

Just showing a couple of examples of similar treatment not made with Lucis or Topaz Adjust but with Belousov's free plugin Multiple Histogram Equalization.