I would KILL to be able to create this look

[FlorianWardell]

Have a look at these:

http://500px.com/photo/11156153

http://500px.com/photo/19195525

Does anyone know how to do this? There's a quality to these pictures that is just breathtaking. Almost like a painting.
Any tips or pointers much appreciated.

[AKMac]

Re: I would KILL to be able to create this look

My initial response to the second image was that it reminded me of this: -
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/21186335/Sc...2009.52.45.png
But after I looking at the Botticelli image, I was struck by how different it actually is from the way I remembered it. There is a highly complex thing happening when we view images, that no amount of colour analysis will begin to unravel. I am not saying that colour analysis is unimportant - far from it - but I do think that there is a tendency to think that to discover the 'magic curve' or 'secret cross-processing recipe' will open the door to being able to produce fantastic images. That's just not the case.
Okay, I haven't answered the question, because the answer, in terms of colour numbers and tonal distribution is fairly easy to evaluate. But that's not what makes a great image.

[chillin]

Re: I would KILL to be able to create this look

Nice picture.
By looking at the skin tone, I think a blue channel was shifted a little bit

[emilmedia]

Re: I would KILL to be able to create this look

The lighting is something called cross lighting. From the catchlight it looks like a large octabox from the left, probably very close to get that soft light. And some well performed dodge&burn.

Color wise I think you could get close with decreasing saturation and using color correction. Looks like more green and red. Add green to the highlights and red to the shadows. Might be two different corrections for hair and skin. Really well done by the artist.

[emilmedia]

Re: I would KILL to be able to create this look

http://m.youtube.com/results?q=krunoslav%20stifter#/watch?v=gT8ZBSoy_IY

Here is a great video for dodging and burning

[Gratin]

Re: I would KILL to be able to create this look

A large part of the feel of those photos is the vignette. It's quite heavy, combined with soft light on the face, which is also the brightest part of the image. It's a very clear 'lead' to the model.