how to make a "clean" photo?

[mort3]

Hello, today I was checking very nice page http://1x.com
and I saw, there are photos which look very "clean" to me (if you know what I mean) but I think only natural light was used.
For example:

http://1x.com/v2/#/photos/documentary/31181/

http://1x.com/v2/#/photos/documentary/32558/

http://1x.com/v2/#/photos/everyday/17355/

http://1x.com/v2/#/photos/everyday/23641/

And I am not sure if this is camera setup, or postprocess?
Can somebody please help? Because now my photos look very "dirty" compare to this.

Thank you!

[John Lang]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

Do you defog your images? Depending on original resolution, in Photoshop use Unsharp Mask at 50%, radius 2 pixels. These settings work for me after opening 8-12MB raw files. Also try a little contrast boost after defogging. Just a little.

[nowheremanphoto]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

It'd be helpful to know what you mean by "dirty" via some examples of the look you're achieving.

That first shot definitely has at least some fill-light to it, but I think what's giving it the smooth tones you're talking about is mostly dodging/burning and adding contrast.

[mort3]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

ok I uploaded RAW file
it is "normal" photo nothing special, it was not planned, but I think light and sharpness are ok, but it is missing "something"

http://hotfile.com/dl/77331926/b8ce933/IMG_6593.CR2.html

(ig HF is not ok, please tell me and I will upload it somewhere else)

Thank you

[mort3]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

or this photo, I was like " WOW!!!! "

http://1x.com/v2/#photos/latest-additions/37269/

[Aladdin]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

I am interested too, I don't know how to do "clean" look.

[Tareq]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

I really don't know what do you mean by "clean", i have many shots that are very clean or let's say clean enough to my eyes, so i didn't understand yet what clean are you referring to.
Shoot at lowest ISO as possible and have good proper light and i guarantee you to have such a "clean" shot.

Here is one example of my shots:
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9167/1ds386181.jpg

[Tareq]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

Or what about these two?

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/458/a0001417bw.jpg

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7584/a0001414bw.jpg

[Tareq]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

To upload a RAW or different files i recommend "mediafire.com".

[Aladdin]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

Sorry Tareq, they are crisp, but not clean, I understand what the OP is after, it is really hard to explain. It is like it was "bleached" but not washed, look here for more samples: http://www.crismanphoto.com/#/Portfolio/Portfolio/5 - just view the rest of the Port.

[mort3]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

yes exactly aladdin!
by "clean" i mean nice colors, but still natural, lot and lot of detail but not like hdr.
without those "black borders" around things, when you have high contrast
etc
it is really hard to explain

[JSFphoto]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

Some good color correcting goes a long long way. Add a few subtle adjustment layers for contrast or whatever you want and poof, image = pretty.

-Jeff

http://www.exposingfashion.com/

[Tareq]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

OK, i see, even still i don't know what is the difference between "clean" and "crisp" but it seems you maybe mean that shot which look like so natural and so real which is popping and don't look that overdone and so, correct me?

So what do you think of those shots then?

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7...01original.jpg
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/3508/a0024698.jpg
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/120/a0024701.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/8188/a0001603bw.jpg
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6...1603cropbw.jpg
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/100/a0001603.jpg
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3...001603crop.jpg
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/100/a0001603.jpg

[Aladdin]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

Should I go first, or should I wait for Mort3? I will wait.......I will let him take the lead on this one, after all, it is his post.

[Godmother]

Re: how to make a "clean" photo?

yes exactly aladdin!
by "clean" i mean nice colors, but still natural, lot and lot of detail but not like hdr.
without those "black borders" around things, when you have high contrast
etc
it is really hard to explain

Let me ask you something? How much time do you spend retouching your pictures?

Those pictures I can assure you have at least 5 hours of work done by a professional.

Several exposures - Manipulation - Color correction - Toning - Texture work - D&B - (Maybe some kind of edges contrast bump avoiding small textures) Shading - Detail work - Final sharpen.

So... explaining how to do that would take a lot of time too... is a combination of a lot of techniques.

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