Here is a quick little challenge for photographers of all levels. As you progress through your photography career, you will often find yourself coming across images thinking, “I want to create a shot like that”. With so much of a final image coming from post-work, it is often difficult to determine what was in camera, and what was added or removed. Building the skills to reverse engineer an image takes a lot of practice, but it is one of the most profound skills needed to elevate the quality of your photography.
With that being said I present to you “Spot the Shop”.
I will introduce a photo that is heavy in Photoshop adjustments. There is no need to deconstruct the basic adjustments, however try to spot the areas that have been been transformed, cloned, created digitally, or dramatically adjusted. Then, look out for the second part of the series which will include the original image, and details of all adjustments made.
The small photo is below, if you need a closer look just go here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=501995736541168&set=a.180578372016241.44050.168414686565943&type=1&theater
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Robert Hall is a freelance photographer in Southeast Michigan. His work includes a multitude of specialties including weddings, commercial and editorial. He is always trying to improve his skills through sharing of techniques and critique with other photographers. He always welcomes new connections on all social networks.
www.facebook.com/robhallphoto
Twitter/Instagram: @robhallphoto
Something was edited out of the lower left, Her eyes were lightened and whitened and sharpened, Same with the lips, the ‘blown snow’ was added, the background was selectively blurred further and darkened, The hat was darkened, and her skin was processed to make it clearer and smoother.
I notice a few things, thought that doesn’t mean you changed them. The snow in her hands looks ‘off’ somehow. Her hair on both sides moves from sharp focus to blur in the same focal plane. Her lower lip isn’t in alignment with her upper lip (though that could just be the lipstick). Behind her, I see a ‘cotton balls’ on the left, but less so on the right. And there is some pinkish color on the left in the cotton balls. All of that said, I love the lighting on her face. It’s beautiful!