This "haze" effect...

[SixHouse]

The great Don Hales...

A lot of his images have this awesome, sometimes very subtle haze about them. I doubt it's a simple white to transparent gradient because a) I use that myself sometimes and it's a much different look, and b) his images have a uniform haze that covers the entire image, not a gradient.

Here are 2 examples:

Any idea how to recreate this look?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...89540520_o.jpg

https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/...05077291_o.jpg

[redcrown]

Re: This "haze" effect...

Those images have a "signature" that has been discussed a lot lately. The most common technique is to simply adjust (reduce) the blacks.

In ACR, use the blacks slider. In Photoshop, try a Levels adjustment, but instead of using the sliders under the histogram, use the black "output levels" slider. Or use a Curves adjustment and simply push the black point straight up.

Combine these with a mask or blend if adjustments to limit the effect to desired areas.

[SixHouse]

Re: This "haze" effect...

Those images have a "signature" that has been discussed a lot lately. The most common technique is to simply adjust (reduce) the blacks.

In ACR, use the blacks slider. In Photoshop, try a Levels adjustment, but instead of using the sliders under the histogram, use the black "output levels" slider. Or use a Curves adjustment and simply push the black point straight up.

Combine these with a mask or blend if adjustments to limit the effect to desired areas.

Thanks. That might be one technique but it's definitely not what's happening in the 2 images I posted. Anyone else have an idea?

[skoobey]

Re: This "haze" effect...

That is exactly what's happening in those images you posted to give "haze".

And cloning and healing and shading, and other color adjustments.

And lighting, model, make-up, pose.

[SixHouse]

Re: This "haze" effect...

That is exactly what's happening in those images you posted to give "haze".

And cloning and healing and shading, and other color adjustments.

And lighting, model, make-up, pose.

It's always funny to me when someone says that's "exactly" what's happening, when they couldn't possibly know for sure. In this case, you are WRONG. I know because I spoke to the photographer. And while he's not willing to give up his technique, he has no problem telling people what he didn't do, and he did not lower the blacks to create a haze effect. Guess again.

And cloning, healing, model and pose have even less to do with creating a haze effect, which is the only question that was asked in this thread. Try to stay on topic please.

[Tony W]

Re: This "haze" effect...

Redcrown gave a perfectly reasonable answer i.e. lowering the contrast either in all channels or selectively maybe in conjunction with masking and other adjustment layers.

If you are wanting to mimic the photographers 'look' then why not post an image of your own and a link to the specific image you want to replicate. This way others may be able to help you realise your goals.

Also try bringing these images into PS and colour correcting using your tools of choice e.g. Curves to regain contrast and colour - it may give you a better idea of how to achieve 'the look' at least globally

[SixHouse]

Re: This "haze" effect...

Redcrown gave a perfectly reasonable answer i.e. lowering the contrast either in all channels or selectively maybe in conjunction with masking and other adjustment layers.

If you are wanting to mimic the photographers 'look' then why not post an image of your own and a link to the specific image you want to replicate. This way others may be able to help you realise your goals.

Also try bringing these images into PS and colour correcting using your tools of choice e.g. Curves to regain contrast and colour - it may give you a better idea of how to achieve 'the look' at least globally

Thanks. He gave a reasonable answer but it wasn't the correct one. I know because I've tried. Please read my original post and you'll notice that I DID post links to not 1 but 2 images as examples of the haze effect I'm talking about.

[Tony W]

Re: This "haze" effect...

Please post the image of yours that you tried to get the effect - I assume that it will match fairly closely to either of the links you posted to i.e. studio lit or daylight shot.

Have you tried contrast and colour correcting either of these samples as suggested to bring the image to a more normal look i.e. SOOC?

[skoobey]

Re: This "haze" effect...

Or, he takes a color fill layer, and adjusts the blend if sliders, it gives a very similar effect. Or has done the same thing with curves... or with selective color. So, either learn, or be ignorant, maybe someone else will benefit from these posts.

[klev]

Re: This "haze" effect...

I think it needs to be emphasized that this is a finishing effect. The underlying images have strong contrast and a lot of adjustment. Even with the haze effect I can see where they deepened the color of the carpet, just as an example. I would probably attempt it in levels or curves just by raising the minimum black in the image and possibly bringing down the whites, then tuning to get the right color cast. I bet I could work out a neat script to do a better job than the basic photoshop tools, but it won't happen this week. If I get around to it I'll post in this thread. It's important to recognize that if the only thing you did was apply this, the images would look way too flat. They got away with it here by making certain elements fairly bold, then scaling down the brightness range of the image.

[Flashtones]

Re: This "haze" effect...

It's probably more than one thing, but try filling a layer with beige and lowering it's opacity. Then you can color the shadows and whatnot via curves, selective color, etc.

[klev]

Re: This "haze" effect...

It's probably more than one thing, but try filling a layer with beige and lowering it's opacity. Then you can color the shadows and whatnot via curves, selective color, etc.

Yeah you know I just noticed, they may have feathered it somewhat. The effect itself appears a little weaker on the main subjects, which may or may not be the case. I didn't look that closely. I just took another look after reading your comment.

[Flashtones]

Re: This "haze" effect...

I wasn't trying to contradict anything you were saying. I was just offering an alternative approach since the OP seemed to have heard things were not done one way, so I offered another. I'm sure there's gotta be a dozen ways to do it.

[klev]

Re: This "haze" effect...

I didn't think you were contradicting it. It just made me look at the images again.

[Flashtones]

Re: This "haze" effect...

then we're even, your comments do that to me all the time ;-)