Can anyone explain how this look is obtained (see links below)? The photographers have a page dedicated to talking about all their equipment and workflow except for the specific things they do to them in the software.
To me, the images look like their done on film, with a good prime lens on medium format but they are posted to the blog so quickly I'm thinking that it is actually the 5D Mark II with some interesting photoshopping going on to bring out those film tones. They never use flash.
They say "no actions, no presets". I don't buy it. If its digital, what they post on their blog isn't coming straight from the camera. I didn't see any blad stuff on the main page, but thats me. Sounds like smoke and mirrors to me
I don't like that look but it's pretty easy to break down how it is done if you know what elements change what characteristics of an image.
Also I think post processing technique is like the last bastion of trade secrets in this industry. When anyone can pick up top level equipment and lenses set it on auto and go to work, post processing has turned into the equivalent of when photographers had to mix their own development chemistry and/or had exclusive relationships with their lab technicians. Then again you could pick up a copy of Alien Skin Exposure or Viveza and get the same look more or less with a preset.
The may not use action"s" or preset"s", but they are using a action or preset to achieve this look.
Its not like this is what the file coming straight from camera is looking like.
jasonhupe wrote:
The may not use action"s" or preset"s", but they are using a action or preset to achieve this look.
Its not like this is what the file coming straight from camera is looking like.
they are definitely using actions or presets...even if it is something they wrote on their own. The processing is far too consistent to be done manually for each image.
That being said, I suck at getting this kind of look, so I have no input to give...wish I was better at it, because even though I would not use this look for my wedding work, I would use it for personal stuff.
I think a more precise question would be whether that look is even possible (with the same consistency throughout the wedding day) with the 5D Mk2 with some post... or is it more likely the Rollieflex or Hasselblad. The consistency of the look makes me think film.
I wonder if a really good Zeiss prime ~f/1.2 could help the 5D increase its dynamic range that much. Although the range isn't a matter of the lens, but the sensor... I guess I'll have to go rent/buy a 'blad or rollie to find out.
That's mainly just the use of photo filters and offset adjustment in PS. I could believe they aren't using actions because of consistency.
There's really no need for these two tricks in actions because they already take about one to two clicks with a mouse. I'm not a big fan of the look myself, but I can demonstrate it real fast if you need me to.
Just take a straight up processed photo from LR into PS and add a yellow photo filter on a new layer. Set the opacity really low. Now, turn off that layer and go to exposure > offset.
I'll have to do some post experimenting then. I'll try what you said Amonline, thanks for the tip.
One client specifically requested the look that I am inquiring about. I don't agree that it is for everyone but it has its purposes... I'd rather have the knowledge in case it comes up again or if I do actually need to recreate the look for anything, wedding or not.
amonline's technique would be extremely easy to run as a batch action over all your images if your client wanted a similar look. You could process them as normal, and then run the batch on the processed images. easy peasy.
Folks we have a play on words here. They don't use presets or actions. I buy that.
What I believe they're doing is editing an image completely from scratch, then syncing similar images in Lightroom and tweaking them as needed. I know this sounds similar to presets, but it's actually a different mentality.
I usually edit my photos using presets in Lightroom that I created. For the wedding I'm currently editing I decided not to use presets at all. I would edit a photo "from scratch", and then sync nearby photos that were lit similarly - usually about 10-20 photos. It actually changed the way I approached each photo and I kind of like it.
Yes "batch editing" is still being used, but in this case it's more like micro-batch editing. Currently diggin' it.
Also, something that no one else has mentioned is that the lighting plays a role in their consistency. Clearly they like broad window light, and they shot many of their photos in it from similar perspectives.
catalan0 wrote:
I'll have to do some post experimenting then. I'll try what you said Amonline, thanks for the tip.
One client specifically requested the look that I am inquiring about. I don't agree that it is for everyone but it has its purposes... I'd rather have the knowledge in case it comes up again or if I do actually need to recreate the look for anything, wedding or not.
Open a photo in PS. (It helps if it is perfectly exposed and processed to begin with; meaning no blown highlights.
For the B&W look, add a B&W Filter layer and choose the appropriate "color" based on the shot. I like green usually if the shot is natural light in the shade. Now, add a Exposure filter layer and push the offset to taste. Sometime, you'll want to fiddle with the other sliders, but rarely. You may want to add a Contrast layer also if you need to tweak.
The color version is about the same process, except you'll add a Photo layer for the overlay of a color. Obviously, this can also be done in curves. Many of these people use the curves layer so they can just copy it to other photos, but it takes a while to tweak in the look you're going for.
Lastly, for both, add grain to taste.
Rad has had a preset/action that is now included in their RadLab called Milk n' Cookies. It's nearly perfect for a starting point on the B&W's. I did my technique and then ran the RadLab on the same photo and they were nearly identical.
Blacks are grey and clipping like crazy; I've never seen that done in camera. If they are using presets, they might mean that they are making their own and not purchased.
