This guy is too good - any help to get there ?

[nextgen2012]

500px continues to amaze me - every other photographer there is too good. That tells me there are secrets out there that I don't know (and many others do!).

Take a look at this guy's work - any tips/hints on how to get somewhat closer to this dude ? He apparently uses only natural light/reflector.

http://500px.com/abeless

1. http://500px.com/photo/13327337
2. http://500px.com/photo/28448617
3/ http://500px.com/photo/20009233
4. http://500px.com/photo/25717101

[amica999]

Re: This guy is too good - any help to get there ?

The possible PP: On the gritty look some "dragan"-techniques and a lot of dodge and burn to emphasize the wrinkles and lots of compositing (montaging people in the appropriate backgrounds...would be my guess

[oneredpanther]

Re: This guy is too good - any help to get there ?

He apparently uses only natural light/reflector

The vast majority of his images are obviously lit with strobes, that much is clear to see.

On the retouching side there is really nothing remarkable going on. If you push the Clarity slider a little too far, and then apply some Tonal Contrast too - you'll get the same effect.

To me, his work is a poor derivative of Joey L - you should really check him out.

[nextgen2012]

Re: This guy is too good - any help to get there ?

Hi oneredpanther,

Thanks for the response. I am a rookie, so will appreciate if you can explain a little more. I know the clarity slider in LR and using curves to add contrast, but how do you do both ?


On the retouching side there is really nothing remarkable going on. If you push the Clarity slider a little too far, and then apply some Tonal Contrast too - you'll get the same effect.

[RobertAsh]

Re: This guy is too good - any help to get there ?

There is more to it than that. Regarding Abe Less, some of the guy's processing of ladies' skin is overdone, it's too blurry smoothed. Joey L's processing is definitely more professionally done and more refined. Abe's 'pore level detail' work is good, though.

That said, your guy Abe's posing, expressions, lighting and composition is much better. He captures better, more flattering angles of the face and poses his subjects much better, with much better consistency than Joey L does.

So I'm suspecting it's possible that even though the post-processing might be what you *think* caught your eye , the post-processing might actually be your *secondary* attraction. A superior angle of a person's face done with lesser-quality post-processing can move you more than a lesser image with better post-processing. At least for me personally.

It's a question you'll have to answer for yourself over time as you learn more in this area.

For really fine high-end post-processing Joey L can be very instructive for you. But for beautiful, skillful posing and the eliciting and capturing of expressions, your guy Abe would be the one to study. Successfully combining those two traits in your own work would really put you at the top.

[Aladdin]

Re: This guy is too good - any help to get there ?

To me, his work is a poor derivative of Joey L - you should really check him out.

With due respect, I may disagree.

1) Joey L is YOUNG & NEW.

2) Abe Less has been around much longer than Joey L and Older too.
Hence, his work could not be driven by Joey L.

3) Joey L's work is driven by and highly influenced by Calvin Hollywood.

4) Abe Less's work is not poor at all by any stretch of an imagination.

Back to the OP remarks:
No, there are no "secrets" or "Trade secrets", study & analyze his work and that of others, it all breaks down to individual elements that make up the picture, each elements is giving the proper treatment from planning, executing to post processing.