Help with a look...

[Peter Kalentzis]

Hi everybody!

I was hoping I could ask for a little newbie help. I recently ran across some wedding photos that really had an amazing look. I have attached a few. I wanted to see how you would go about creating this for video. More specifically, how would you go about capturing the image in the first place. I love how the clouds are exposed and the image "just pops". In post, I would assume it's saturation, contrast, maybe sharpening and working the colors. But what about in camera?

Also, does any film come to mind that has a treatment close to this? I would love to give it a watch.

Anyway, if you have a few seconds, I would appreciate any guidance you might be able to offer.

Thanks!

PK

PS- I have attached the images but incase they don't show, here is a link to the pics- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...arry-stunning-Icelandic-backdrop-instead.html

 

[Bob Gundu]

A lot of that magic is post work. The clouds add much drama and helps immensely to control exposure. But that also means you need a good knowledge in grading to bring back contrast and make those characters pop. The best you can do for capturing the look in camera, keep good exposure, time of day, location, and framing. Then back to your desk for the rest.

 

[Matt W.]

Is he using strobes?

 

[Bob Gundu]

Is he using strobes?

Certainly looks that way on a couple of shots where there are strong shadows on them.

 

[D Fuller]

Is he using strobes?

Yes. And pretty powerful ones too, I'd say, because they look like they're shooting through a pretty good sized soft box. Something like a Profoto B1 with and octabox.

 

[Kyle Moe]

You could try exposing for the landscape, adding a grad ND to find bring back the sky and then light your subject. You're gonna need some pretty big lights to fight against all that ambient light though. Check out some of Martin de Thurah's work.

 

[Matt W.]

How big a light would you need to approximate a similar strobe but continuous? How close would an M18 through a frame of 250 get you? An M40? A breise?

Cool photos. Thanks.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Knowledge, skill, time, money, and great equipment all work well... though not necessarily in that order. There are many factors that come into play when it comes to creating great images. The best post in the world can't salvage badly-shot material, and an idiot in post can wreak havoc with beautifully-lit and exposed footage.

I once talked to a guy who shot million-dollar car commercials, and I told him, "wow, the footage I saw today was fantastic." He chuckled and said, "in that case, it was all lit by the sun and we had the benefit of great locations." But he knew where to go and how to expose it, what lenses to use, how to move the camera, how to compose the image, and all the intangibles that make a good shot great.

 

[Zeb B]

Nah . . . this is basic Photoshop work using Curves on Adjustment Layers then painting the effect in where you want it via White Brush on the Mask Layer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fVms2OzWho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrgxQzHhBl0

 

[Matt W.]

Nah . . . this is basic Photoshop work using Curves on Adjustment Layers then painting the effect in where you want it via White Brush on the Mask Layer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fVms2OzWho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrgxQzHhBl0

Maybe, but those photos look terrible. Tacky over-processed, etc.

Are you sure there are no strobes being used? The shadows would indicate as much. Sure some of the same techniques above (used a lot better) in addition.

 

[Scott Crawley]

Looking @ image #2, I'm with David. There is a relatively big, soft, artificial source left of frame. It may be an octa with grid or similar. It is strong enough to sculpt the forms, but apparently not enough to cast shadow on the ground in daylight. The shadows on his back are much sharper than hers so the light isn't far from him at all. It falls off at their waistline as well, also supporting the notion that the source is close and somewhere in the neighborhood of 18"- 24" in diameter perhaps.

The rest is a big, fat, proper exposure pushed in post processing. Some of the shadow defining her right shoulder and side looks selectively hand burned in.