Awesome Edit

[jbedford]

Hi everyone,


I'm starting to post more now, so I should probably introduce myself before continuing. My name's Joel and I'm from Ottawa, Canada. I've been teaching myself a lot about retouching over the past year with help from this forum and the inter-web : )...Thank you.

Anyway, I absolutely LOVE this look for photos, but am stumped about how to go about achieving a similar result. Anyone have any insights or links to GOOD tutorials?

Joel

[0lBaldy]

Generally speaking it all starts with the Photography and Lighting set up. In this case I think it might be a .. Rembrandt portrait lighting setup

There is no substitute for an excellent photograph to start with!

[jbedford]

Hi there,

Thank you, yes, I'm familiar with Rembrandt lighting and you're right, the lighting is first and foremost.. My question is regarding the photoshop work on the image. The toning / coloring.

[mistermonday]

One key characteristic is that the image has low contrast and strong saturation. If you have PS CS4 try Image>Adj> Brightness-Contrast and check the "Legacy" box. If you have earlier versions of PS there is no legacy box and that was the way that command worked anyway.
Regards. Murray

[notmydog]

I love Jaime's work as well and I've also been looking for tutorials on how to do similar work. I've not found anything definitive yet. The suggestions I've found point to an RGB adjustment via curves and the addition of a fill layer (white/pale yellow) with reduced opacity.

I'm still looking because I love the look. I'll let you know if I find anything.

[notmydog]

Went right to the source, Jaime Ibarra. He gave a quick reply indicating that they're all done by hand. He doesn't provide info for free, but does do phone consultation. I may take him up on it.

[chas18052]

It says under the photo the only light was window light from the left

[eraanexact]

Seems like you could make your image super dark and contrasty with lots of rich blacks, then add a curve adjustment layer on top and bring the bottom (darks) handle up from the corner up the side, so that the blacks get a bit washed out.

[ApWizard]

Originally Posted by eraanexact

Seems like you could make your image super dark and contrasty with lots of rich blacks, then add a curve adjustment layer on top and bring the bottom (darks) handle up from the corner up the side, so that the blacks get a bit washed out.

I do quite the same as that but using levels.
Reverse-engineering seems to work here, copy_paste the image in ps, add a levels adjustment, push the black input slider until you get the right contrast (eg: 31) now push the black output slider to the same value.

[Godmother]

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

Generally speaking it all starts with the Photography and Lighting set up. In this case I think it might be a .. Rembrandt portrait lighting setup

There is no substitute for an excellent photograph to start with!

ptssss

Artist's Comments

This one goes back a few years, actually...about the same time when I started noticing more of a "style" in my work. Or at least the beginnings of what would later become that, anyway...

The only "lighting" in this image is window light from the left of the frame.

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by Godmother

ptssss

Artist's Comments

This one goes back a few years, actually...about the same time when I started noticing more of a "style" in my work. Or at least the beginnings of what would later become that, anyway...

The only "lighting" in this image is window light from the left of the frame.

I read the comments also (natural light)... my point which evidently was not communicated well was that the models head was positioned to emulate the Rembrandt lighting setup, I guess I should not have mentioned the setup at all... my error ...

It was a good shot in camera and possibly not much post work was done to emphasize the "Style."

The style, IMHO, is proper positioning in good natural light with good bounce fill.. the point was ... not everything is Photoshop.. but then again tis only my opinion and I could very well be totally off base in my speculation. All I know is that in the past, long before Photoshop, photos like the sample were created in camera.

[holgaman]

All of Jaime's work is amazing. This shot looks like it's had a color shift as well, possibly something like this -
-Make a blank layer over the original
-Click on background color and set to something like 00122c
-Fill blank layer with this color
-Set blend mode to Exclusion and adjust opacity to suit taste

In this case, using the Exclusion blend mode with this color will make the shadows cyan, the highlights yellow, and reduce the overall contrast. Play with different colors to fill with, but it's usually best to use something reasonably dark to begin with or the shadows will lose too much. Just remember, the shadows will be your chosen color and the highlights will be the opposite color. Have fun.

[_ManWithNoName_]

Im far from a pro too but to me, to me that is. It looks like it's had a decent amount of subtle post work.

It's a window light shot he says.
There looks like there is some retouching on skin
Adjustments on colour
Layer overlay as mentioned above.

Im no pro tho and this is what I think and could be completely wrong.

Would be interested to know more from someone who knows more :-)

[notmydog]

Originally Posted by holgaman

All of Jaime's work is amazing. This shot looks like it's had a color shift as well, possibly something like this -
-Make a blank layer over the original
-Click on background color and set to something like 00122c
-Fill blank layer with this color
-Set blend mode to Exclusion and adjust opacity to suit taste

In this case, using the Exclusion blend mode with this color will make the shadows cyan, the highlights yellow, and reduce the overall contrast. Play with different colors to fill with, but it's usually best to use something reasonably dark to begin with or the shadows will lose too much. Just remember, the shadows will be your chosen color and the highlights will be the opposite color. Have fun.

Thanks for this suggestion. It was spot on. Exclusion blend mode worked well. I then added a second fill layer f4f4d3, dialed it down to 15% and set it to pin mode. Worked like a charm.

[_ManWithNoName_]

Could You post your results please / attach original and final

[notmydog]

Originally Posted by _ManWithNoName_

Could You post your results please / attach original and final

Sure, original and final attached.

[michaelbs]

Originally Posted by notmydog

Sure, original and final attached.

Great job!
What a difference!
Congrats.

[_ManWithNoName_]

Cheers.

Last question then. What was your workflow for the image.

Ta

[notmydog]

Originally Posted by _ManWithNoName_

Cheers.

Last question then. What was your workflow for the image.

Ta

1) general tone, CB, cropping in lightroom
2) general clean-up, light smoothing in CS3
3) add colour layer, 00122c blend=exclusion
4) add colour layer, f4f4d3 blend=pin mode, opacity=15%
5) add texture, blend=overlay
6) back into lightroom, general sharpening

I think that was it.

Cheers

[jbedford]

Just came back to the thread after a few days away...Great responses, especially the breakdown by Holgaman and Notmydog. It's that subtle color toning I'm after. I'm going to go try that now...Sweet results btw, notmydog!

[IbarraPhoto]

If you want to learn, I actually DO teach my Post-Production techniques. It is how I make most of my income.

If you are interested in paying for a session, just let me know

~Jaime Ibarra
Photographer | Austin, TX
www.ibarraphoto.com

Originally Posted by jbedford

Hi everyone,


I'm starting to post more now, so I should probably introduce myself before continuing. My name's Joel and I'm from Ottawa, Canada. I've been teaching myself a lot about retouching over the past year with help from this forum and the inter-web : )...Thank you.

Anyway, I absolutely LOVE this look for photos, but am stumped about how to go about achieving a similar result. Anyone have any insights or links to GOOD tutorials?

Joel

[_ManWithNoName_]

Thanks for the info.

I don't think it is that complicated,poster above has it I am sure there are a few more tweaks depending on the image.

But it's th exclusion mode layer that I think gives it the overall feel and subtle light along with some nice light.

On the actual website of the original photographer, he has a before and after section, this really gives you a good ide...

[IbarraPhoto]

Hehe...ummm...I AM "the original photographer"...as in, "I am Jaime Ibarra"

You are talking directly to the source, here.

Originally Posted by _ManWithNoName_

Thanks for the info.

I don't think it is that complicated,poster above has it I am sure there are a few more tweaks depending on the image.

But it's th exclusion mode layer that I think gives it the overall feel and subtle light along with some nice light.

On the actual website of the original photographer, he has a before and after section, this really gives you a good ide...

[_ManWithNoName_]

I know but you're not going to tell us your process are ya? :-)

I am not saying I am right but I was actually looking at your work a few weeks back, forgot about this thread, and was having a play. Now obviously yours is more accomplished and you have it down but I got pretty close just playing around with some curves, selective colour exclusion layers e.t.c

What I am saying is. It's not that hard when you know how and it is very nice don't get me wrong, but I am not going to to pay for it :-) as I don't think it is that advanced...No offence...It is nice tho and I do love your images...

[notmydog]

Originally Posted by _ManWithNoName_

What I am saying is. It's not that hard when you know how and it is very nice don't get me wrong, but I am not going to to pay for it :-) as I don't think it is that advanced...No offence...It is nice tho and I do love your images...

I took one of Jaime's sessions after posting my workflow (above). I can tell you that Jaime's workflow is considerbly different. While not overly complex, it's much more involved than the workflow I outlined. If you've come up with something you're happy with, great. If you want to learn from the "master", take one of Jaime's sessions. I found it well worth the time and money.

[_ManWithNoName_]

Originally Posted by notmydog

I took one of Jaime's sessions after posting my workflow (above). I can tell you that Jaime's workflow is considerbly different. While not overly complex, it's much more involved than the workflow I outlined. If you've come up with something you're happy with, great. If you want to learn from the "master", take one of Jaime's sessions. I found it well worth the time and money.

Jaimie...That you :-)

[notmydog]

Originally Posted by _ManWithNoName_

Jaimie...That you :-)

LOL. Anyone who's ever heard me play guitar can attest that I'm no Jaime Ibarra.

[pelez]

Originally Posted by notmydog

I took one of Jaime's sessions after posting my workflow (above). I can tell you that Jaime's workflow is considerbly different. While not overly complex, it's much more involved than the workflow I outlined. If you've come up with something you're happy with, great. If you want to learn from the "master", take one of Jaime's sessions. I found it well worth the time and money.

how much you paid for jamie`s sessions?

[pelez]

Originally Posted by IbarraPhoto

If you want to learn, I actually DO teach my Post-Production techniques. It is how I make most of my income.

If you are interested in paying for a session, just let me know

~Jaime Ibarra
Photographer | Austin, TX
www.ibarraphoto.com

i like your retouch, i dont know what is the different cross processing techniques and Post-Production techniques since i saw the result is the same

[notmydog]

Originally Posted by pelez

how much you paid for jamie`s sessions?

It's probably best to check with Jaime himself. He does specials from time to time.