Retouching help wanted for photographer!

[Asher Kelman]

Hi,

I'm asking for anyone who'd like to have a go at helping a photographer with a retouching problem. He needs to remove foliage and branches behind a model and have remaining beautiful sky and the rocks and whatever plants make the picture work.

I have done a sketch for him but have no time to do the work. You can see the photograph at http://www.openphotographyforums.com...ead.php?t=7370

This picture does have the lady's bottom showing so if that's a problem, don't look! The photographer is very talented and this work is a new area for him.

Asher

[Markzebra]

See thats an example of what I always said about RAW, you get people with no retouching experience ruining their work before it ever gets to post.

[chillin]

Besides removing some things, I used few gradient patches.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ml_chillin.jpg

[Asher Kelman]

Originally Posted by chillin

Besides removing some things, I used few gradient patches.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ml_chillin.jpg

Chillin,

Thanks for taking up the challenge. You can also post directly in OPF if you register. Allow me to show your work:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ml_chillin.jpg

I do like the clean result. The result is impressive a makes the form of the picture work I wonder about two things. First the edge of the bushes to the right might be softened by adding few branches from the lower left of the picture and flipping them horizontally. Would you think it would be more striking if we added a space below her right leg either removing that diagonal trunk and some somehow defining her high shoes against the background?

Thanks so much for being so helpful.

Asher

I cross posted this thread in OPF here for René to see.

[sirespen]

Gradient patches?

[Asher Kelman]

Originally Posted by Markzebra

See thats an example of what I always said about RAW, you get people with no retouching experience ruining their work before it ever gets to post.

Hi Mark,

Yes, the colors are weird, but this is a satire on Fetish. That's an artistic choice. The art is the personal vision of the photographer somehow externalized to a 2D image. The camera does not see like the mind might imagine. It's only capable of recording what's out there. Our job then is to minimize the gap between what the artist wants and the final result.

A major part of art is the form devoid of any social or emotional meaning. Here the scene was felt to be too cluttered. What's intended to be shared here with this problem picture is not the failings of the photographerin screwing up things, LOL! Looking down on lack of skill doesn't get us anywhere.

Let's look at this in a more positive way. What I though would be a good idea was a bridge between you the retoucher and photographers, just like René who might not yet know what nice chaps talented retouchers are to work with.

I myself would love to see retouchers reach out educate photographers as to what is possible.

Asher

[chillin]

Originally Posted by Asher Kelman

Chillin,
...First the edge of the bushes to the right might be softened by adding few branches from the lower left of the picture and flipping them horizontally. Would you think it would be more striking if we added a space below her right leg either removing that diagonal trunk and some somehow defining her high shoes against the background?

Thanks so much for being so helpful.

Asher

Yes, it requires some more work.

Originally Posted by sirespen

Gradient patches?

Yes, The patches should be small enough, to allow a proper gradient distribution. (Below a patch sample)

[Markzebra]

"Looking down on lack of skill doesn't get us anywhere." - a fair point. Its not just skill though surely, its taste. And its not just colour, its a terrible tonal sense too. maybe I'm wrong and probably far too quick to judge, I can be I will admit. But as a starting point for retouching, that image is destroyed.

[Asher Kelman]

Originally Posted by Markzebra

"Looking down on lack of skill doesn't get us anywhere." - a fair point. Its not just skill though surely, its taste. And its not just colour, its a terrible tonal sense too. maybe I'm wrong and probably far too quick to judge, I can be I will admit. But as a starting point for retouching, that image is destroyed.

Hi Mark,

For sure I'd need Compazine or stronger if I had to face those colors. Imagine how painful it must be for a girl at the makeup counter when some woman chooses awful colors. Same for a retoucher! The photographer knows the direction he's going. One issue that you well know is color and tonal effects are often overdone. Yes, one needs taste! There's feedback and I find that when framed well, it generally is well received. You're correct that the changes that are global can be done at the very end. If you want the RAW file just ask!

Asher

[RFGArtPhotos]

Hey Mark,

I am sorry you feel that way about the colors. I feel that as an artist it is my personal choice to use those colors to enhance the contrast between the "romantic" light of the sunset and the "harshness" of the fetish boots on that model. Of course the colors are exagerated, again it is my choice as an artist...

Rene-Frank

[Asher Kelman]

I do hope we can get more interest.

[RFGArtPhotos]

Asher,

Chillin is helping me out....much appreciated.

RFG

[designsex_co_uk]

i dont know if it's the size of the image or the camera settings but perhaps a higher iso when you shoot it

if your keeping it with those colours id recommend a basic clean up and maybe tone boost

i think most photographers should (if it's not just clean up work) consult with the retoucher for better results and for forsight of the finnished graphic/ image

speaking as a photographer and someone who's alreet in potatoshop

i think the image looks like it's shot on a high iso with the wrong white balance not my kinda thing but if it's what your trying to get then top marks

but then that's not the origional file is itttaaa

*firstpost*

[Asher Kelman]

Originally Posted by designsex_co_uk

i dont know if it's the size of the image or the camera settings but perhaps a higher iso when you shoot it

Are you saying that the pixels are not clean? This is taken, I believe with a Kodak 14N and likely at low ISO but I'd check with René.

if your keeping it with those colours id recommend a basic clean up and maybe tone boost [/quote]
Could you show what you mean. You may edit the image as you wish. It doesn't have to be perfect, just remain the original ©

Originally Posted by designsex_co_uk

i think most photographers should (if it's not just clean up work) consult with the retoucher for better results and for forsight of the finnished graphic/ image

What do you mean by "consult with the retoucher". Is that ask what the retoucher might want to do to make the picture work better?

Originally Posted by designsex_co_uk

speaking as a photographer and someone who's alreet in potatoshop

Do you mean speaking as a person who is very skilled in photoshop or one who is merely "alright" in photoshop?

Originally Posted by designsex_co_uk

i think the image looks like it's shot on a high iso with the wrong white balance not my kinda thing but if it's what your trying to get then top marks

I too had reservations about the sky, but then, each person has a different vision and that's what makes it interesting!

Originally Posted by designsex_co_uk

but then that's not the origional file is itttaaa

*firstpost*

The orignal file is available for a retouch artist who is skilled in photogshop, GIMP or other retouching software!

The latest work on this image is shown here.

Your input is appreciated! I'll let René know of your post so he can answer your questions. Meanwhile it would be interesting to see you ideas on "basic clean up and boosting of the tones"

Asher

[RFGArtPhotos]

It was shot at 160 ISO. Which is actually the lowest ISO setting for the kodak DCS SLR....The color was "adjusted" on purpose in first instance to have a much more purple skye.

A more recent touched up image was shown through the link in a previous post by Asher Kelman.

I do have the original tif, in case you are interested in working with it (39Mb).

R.F. Granaada

[designsex_co_uk]

Originally Posted by Asher Kelman

Are you saying that the pixels are not clean? This is taken, I believe with a Kodak 14N and likely at low ISO but I'd check with René.

if your keeping it with those colours id recommend a basic clean up and maybe tone boost

Could you show what you mean. You may edit the image as you wish. It doesn't have to be perfect, just remain the original ©



What do you mean by "consult with the retoucher". Is that ask what the retoucher might want to do to make the picture work better?


Do you mean speaking as a person who is very skilled in photoshop or one who is merely "alright" in photoshop?

i get paid for it my skillset in potato shop grows everyday as im sure most of yours does


I too had reservations about the sky, but then, each person has a different vision and that's what makes it interesting!

The orignal file is available for a retouch artist who is skilled in photogshop, GIMP or other retouching software!

The latest work on this image is shown here.

Your input is appreciated! I'll let René know of your post so he can answer your questions. Meanwhile it would be interesting to see you ideas on "basic clean up and boosting of the tones"

Asher[/QUOTE]

eesh here we go,

from the origional i'd as has been done move the branches out of the way
I'd also crop it at the end of the big branch i think if it was more subject and the tree rather than subject, tree and the rest of the scene (on the most left of the frame) i think the gradient sky would be suited ina landscape but im not feeling it and also the sundown/dusk orangei'd have maybe used some different gels or cast whatever

What do you mean by "consult with the retoucher". Is that ask what the retoucher might want to do to make the picture work better?

i mean if your creating images for adverts or montages it's nice to have a idea where they are going to end up before you take the shot then you can consider factors when setting your shot up such as theme or even tell the retoucher what you have in mind and he could advise problematics im not saying photographers havent don't factor these things in im just saying depending how far up the food chain you are the more a relationship is needed for beautiful visuals and images on behalf of creative direction photographer and retoucher

Do you mean speaking as a person who is very skilled in photoshop or one who is merely "alright" in photoshop?

i get paid for it mostly portraiture/comps montages and cleanups for stock images ... my skillset in potatoshop grows everyday as im sure most of yours does

i had a little tinker with the image i didnt do much (my wacoms 8 miles away) and im sat on the sofa ... im not really sure about the image but the photo isn't really explaining it's self but i thought i'd get my hands dirty with you lot as im new hear .. and im expecting a lashing now

www.designsex.co.uk/touchy/screeny.png

id like to see this girl on a bike or a bonnet of a car ... i'd like to see a sweet girl against that tree with something more sinsear

but as always each to there own

i would like to have a look at the EXIF of the file also

[RFGArtPhotos]

Desingsex, hello, Rene here, I had a look at how you worked on the photo and how you cropped it. and it does not do for me what i set out to do when I took the photo... which is about the connection there is between every woman for the "eternal" feminine part in her to what Native Americans call "Mother Earth", whatever that woman's personal tastes in life... so, to put it simply, the picture has two subjects (actually 3 if you also count the dead tree, slightly symbolic for her decadence), and the nature is as much a subject in the photo as the model/woman with the fetish boots. If you crop it that much you lose that whole idea, and the landscape just becomes a slightly out of place backdrop for a fetish model. Besides showing the relationship, I also want to show the contrast, I did create a version with a much starker looking sky on OPF, where the original thread is located.
I know this is not all that simple but it is not meant to be a simple photograph...Maybe I am asking too much from the viewer, but this is the idea I meant to put into it. If you want to work on the tiff file let me know, however at the moment I can't really afford putting much $$ as other people are allready working on the "challenge" and my finances at the moment are very limited.

RFG