Marco Grob - how to?

[AlexDylikowski]

Dear community,
I was browsing on-line and was hardly able to find anything remotely available on how Marco Grob retouches his portraits. First, it has to be tge light and then the retouching. Anybody has any clue on the whole process end to end and specofically retouching?

[paulkris]

Re: Marco Grob - how to?

After a quick look into Marco Grob's portfolio I think he is mastering the lighting. I think most of the photos are mostly done in camera. Lighting can make or brake many photos.

But, as many other artists, he does not have only one style. He is adapting to the subject, background etc. In few shots I can see he used dodge&burn quite heavy to improve the dramatic lighting.

Alex, maybe you should post one photo here, so we can discuss more about that. It's quite difficult to take into consideration an entire portfolio.

[AlexDylikowski]

Re: Marco Grob - how to?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBerjcoPlOs/?hl=en
Lets use this one as an example

[Sara86]

Re: Marco Grob - how to?

It is surprising how much you can do with a sharp lens and contrasty lighting.

I'm interested in how he's getting the dark around the side of the face. You can do it if the light's very close, and feathered down. Or maybe he's flagging the light. But contrast in the light is the foundation.

And the rest of the look is some form of local contrast enhancement. Whether it's Clarity or Structure in something like Capture One, selective sharpening, or tone-mapping. I'd say the retouching's a little problematic, in having so much detail in the beard, your eye's very pulled down towards it. I think less processing would make for a more satisfying image.

[paulkris]

Re: Marco Grob - how to?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBerjcoPlOs/?hl=en
Lets use this one as an example

Learn dodge & burn techniques (using brushes). There are tons of tutorials on this subject as a starting point. This includes learning about anatomy, proportion etc. and reminds me of another forum here: http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/pho...knowledge.html

But first you need to figure out the lighting, to get the highlights and shadows in the right places. I am not a photographer, so can't help you with lighting. It seems to me like a modified version of Rembrandt lighting using black walls, but I might be talking nonsense now.

[Wolfman]

Re: Marco Grob - how to?

I would say some dodging & burning was used on this....check out the setup:

http://www.iso1200.com/2016/02/how-shot-was-done-jeff-bridges-by-marco.html

[klev]

Re: Marco Grob - how to?

And the rest of the look is some form of local contrast enhancement. Whether it's Clarity or Structure in something like Capture One, selective sharpening, or tone-mapping.

It doesn't have to be that complicated. If you get the lighting right, lassoing and darkening a couple shadow areas isn't difficult at all, and you could get away with that here. Any kind of local contrast enhancement runs the risk of losing shadow detail in other parts of the image.

[Aladdin]

Re: Marco Grob - how to?

It is surprising how much you can do with a sharp lens and contrasty lighting.

I'm interested in how he's getting the dark around the side of the face. You can do it if the light's very close, and feathered down. Or maybe he's flagging the light. But contrast in the light is the foundation.

And the rest of the look is some form of local contrast enhancement. Whether it's Clarity or Structure in something like Capture One, selective sharpening, or tone-mapping. I'd say the retouching's a little problematic, in having so much detail in the beard, your eye's very pulled down towards it. I think less processing would make for a more satisfying image.

You got it right. It is all in the light. Actually, it is the angle and direction of light, you do not have to flag it if you use narrow strip box (controls direction of light) at close proximity to create sharp fall off and stark contrast, the rest is just icing on the cake which is done in post work, which is mainly D&B.

To OP, you can't just take existing photograph and turn it this way, the majority of work has to be created before hand.

This leaves one aspect that no camera, light or Photoshop can do; connection with the subject and getting your subject to open up and connect with you as a photographer, you need to capture the inside of the person to create this connection with the viewer. No Photoshop required, it is called experience and the ability to connect and communicate with others.