In this video I go through a complete Portrait Retouching Workflow in Lightroom on my iPad …
Becoming a Fine Art Photographer and Master of Monochrome | Vincent Versace
Watch the recording of this LIVE Broadcast as I chat with Fine Art Photographer, Nikon Ambassador and Recipient of the Computerworld Smithsonian Award in Media Arts & Entertainment” Vincent Versace and discuss life as a Photograper, finding your style, the art of post production and more ...
links mentioned in the video:
Vincent’s Website: versacephotography.com
Vincent on Instagram: @vincent_versace
Vincent’s Workshops: versacephotography.com/workshops
Vincent’s Promotional Slideshow …
Ragnar - Viking Composite using Photoshop
Following on from the earlier article I wrote ( LINK ) showing the Behind the Scenes of a recent Viking Photo Shoot, I’ve now finished the 2nd image so thought I’d share it here for you to see …
This is a composite made using Photoshop and is a combination of several images comprising the original studio photograph of my friend Simon ‘Foxy’ Fowler dressed as the Viking, the Location Shot and several Sea Bird Photographs.
Here’s the studio photograph of Simon …
Here’s the location shot which is a part of the coastline at Three Cliffs Bay, The Gower, South Wales …
To make sure that I got the angle and height correct, when at Three Cliffs Bay, my great friend Anthony Crothers stood in the spot where I would eventually place Simon …
In the studio when photographing Foxy, my camera was on a tripod and at a height where the lens was in line with the top portion of his nearest thigh.
When on location photographing the background / scene, Anthony was stood on a rasied area of ground …
(Note: it looks precarious but actually isn’t … to the front of Anthony on the other side is a flat area that you can comfortably walk on)
… so to get the angle / height to look as though Simon was photographed higher than he actually was, the camera lens was level and aimed just below Anthony’s nearest knee.
My new compositing workflow
Returning to some compositing has seen me now approach them in a different way especially when it comes to potentially time consuming cutouts such as hair anf fur.
My new workflow sees me leaving this part to the very end and getting great results in literally a fraction of the time …
This is something that I’ll definitely be going through in my Combining Old and New : Mastering Selections and Cut Outs in 2024 class in the upcoming ( FREE ) Photoshop Virtual Summit 6 …
If you’d like to see a larger version of both images created from this photo shoot, I’ve now added them into my PORTRAITS PORTFOLIO ( LINK )
Thanks for looking in,
Glyn
Capturing and Creating FINE-ART DREAM-LIKE IMAGES of the LANDSCAPE with Enrico Fossati
Watch this recording of LIVE Broadcast as I'm joined by FINE ART LANDSCAPE Photographer Enrico Fossati and go Behind the Scenes to discover his process for capturing and creating such INCREDIBLE Fine Art, Dream-Like Images of the Landscape.
*Use Discount Code: GLYN24 for €30 Euros OFF (valid until 30th September 2024)
Enrico on Instagram: @enrico.fossati
Enrico on Facebook: enricofossatiphotography
Enricos’s Inspiration
Fantasy Illustrators:
John Howe , Allan Lee, Ted Nasmith, Les Edwards, Frank Franzetta,
Painters:
Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Cole, Edwin Church, Caspar David Friederich, William Turner … and many more
My How to Print Course: ( LINK )
Portrait using a 55mm Prime and LED Lighting
I’m currently trying out a new portrait style for me using a different lens focal length than what I’ve used for a while now, and also adding in an additonal light to my usual one-light set up.
For some time I’ve used the Sony 85mm G Master lens with my Sony A7RIV and have and still do love it for the quality and sharpness of the files it produces. However I’m now going to be using a 55mm focal length … my Zeiss f/1.8 Prime Lens.
It’s hard to put into words what I’m really liking about the look the lens gives … it’s just different. Some would say that it gives a much more realistic ‘as the eyes see it’ look but I guess that also depends on how close to the subject you position yourself.
I also like how the focal length means you’re much closer to the subject, making the portraits much more intimate and revealing of the person being photographed ... if that makes sense.
I’m also, like I said, using an additional light with this new look I’m working on; both of which are LED Constant lights.
I’ve been using the 60W Westcott L60-B COB LED for a while now but a few days ago I received the new 120W L120-B COB LED; a slightly bigger unit with the advnatage that no adaptor is needed to fit any of my light modifiers.
So the portrait of my friend Anthony above, I took using one of the grey walls in my office as the background; here’s the set up showing the positon of the lights …
LIGHTING
Westcott L60-B COB LED fitted with a square Westcott Pocket Box Softbox rear and camera right and positioned so that it added both a bit of light onto the background but also a hint of light onto the camera right side of Anthony’s head.
Westcott L120-B COB LED fitted with the 24” Rapid Box Switch Softbox
Westcott 2-in-1 Reflector (silver and White) with silver side uppermost
*NOTE: If you’re looking to invest in Westcott Kit, then give me a shout and I’ll pass on a Discount Code
Westcott L120-B COB LED
Westcott 24” Rapid Box Switch Beauty Dish
Westcott Pocket Box Speedlight Softbox Kit
camera settings
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/60sec
ISO: 1250
When taking Anthony’s portrait I was experimenting with different apertures to see hat I prefered for this new look; f/2.0 , f,4.0 , f/5.6 and actually liked the look of f/40 as with the 55m lens it gave a great depth of field with the tip of the nose in foucs and then from the ears losing focus.
However, I mistakenly left the camera in f/5.6 so during the retouching in Lightroom I used the Lens Blur to convincingly fake the depth of the field.
retouching in lightroom
The portrait I retouched using only Lightroom and I’ve added it into my Lightroom Community Profile Page …
When you go to my Lightroom Community Profile Page, click on the portrait and this will then take you to where you can see all of the retouching steps I did to the ‘out of camera’ file. You can also save the settings as a preset to use on your own images and even click on Remix to get access to a Smart Preview of my original file and have a go at retouching it yourself.
Raising Mental Health Awareness - Through Photography
This past weekend I had the absolute homnour of having been asked to officially open a Landscape Photography Exhibition by Photographer Nigel Thomas in Kidwelly, West Wales ; an exhibtion that Nigel has worked on to help raise awareness of Mental Health …
“I am so grateful that photography, landscape photography in particualr, has become such an important element in my life. I have found a profound sense of peace and purpose. My journey into landscape photography qas not just a creative pursuit, but a therapeutic escape from the depths of severe depression and anxiety”
I can honestly say that I’ll NEVER forget this!
Throughout my career in this creative industry I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have presented at functions around the world. I’ve had some amazing experiences and made some amazing friends … and today I add to that!
A stunning body of work that has been instrumental in his recovery and my god, what a story he has to tell and is just so damn brave to do so.
It was an emotional rollercoaster of a day but it’s a ride I wouldn’t have missed.
Truly honoured. Truly blessed.
Talking Lightroom and Photography with Adobe Lightroom Product Manager Katrin Eismann
Watch the recording of this LIVE Broadcast when I was joined by Adobe Lightroom Product Manager and Photographer, Katrin Eismann as we discuss her process for capturing stunning Travel Photographs, her Personal Projects, kit and also take a look at Lightroom’s latest technology for Photographers and some hints and tips for best results.
links mentioned during the broadcast
Katrin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katrineismann/ ( @katrin_eismann )
Lightroom Academy: lightroom.adobe.com/academy
Adobe Community Forums: https://community.adobe.com/
Marc Muench Photography Workshops: muenchworkshops.com/workshops/
Mastering the Art of Landscape Photography with Ian Asprey ( Landscape Photographer of the Year 2021 )
Join me for this YouTube LIVE Broadcast as we delve into the world of landscape photography with Ian Asprey - Landscape Photographer of the Year 2021.
From breathtaking vistas to the intricate details of composition, Ian will share his insights, techniques, and tales from behind the lens. Watch the recording of this LIVE Broadcast to discover the secrets behind his award-winning shots and be inspired by a Master of the Craft.
Links mentioned during the LIVE Broadcast
Ian Asprey Website: www.ianaspreyphotography.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/ian.asprey
Instagram: @landscapes_ianasprey
Mark Andreas Jones: www.markandreasjones.com/
Lightroom Virtual Summit 2024: bit.ly/lvs-2024
Spending time with Photography Students at Cardiff and Vale College
On Wednesday this week I was at Cardiff and Vale College in South Wales, having been invited to speak to a group of Photography Students for a couple of hours.
It was so good to be amongst people who were clearly excited about their Photography but also in particular about the possibilities with their retouching using Lightroom .
During my time with them I first of all went through some tips and techniques for Portrait Photography, focusing (no pun intended) on the ‘people’ side of things as opposed to the technicals, and all with the intention of helping the person in front of the camera to relax.
After a short break I then went through retouching a portrait using ONLY Lightroom and going through my new workflow which shows how I am now doing tasks such as Dodging and Burning, my 2010 Technique and Lighting Effects, which up until very recently I would have only ever done by using Photoshop.
“Had a great time at Glyn’s lecture yesterday. I had been researching about how to take good portraits. What Glyn shared about techniques (with just one light!) was really encouraging. I was still using Photoshop for my editing, but the techniques demonstrated in Lightroom were amazing. I must sign up to his channel!”
“Thank you Glyn for yesterdays photography workshop. Your expertise and passion made it a truly enriching experience. Looking forward to applying the new skills I’ve learned. Many thanks for your valuable time.”
“Yesterday I attended a talk/presentation hosted by Glyn Dewis. This presentation was not only hugely informative but presented me with a number of questions to ask of myself. If I were to make comment on one thing from the presenter/presentation it would be the unswerving passion for the subject and inspiring others to achieve of their best. ”
HUGE thanks to everyone for making me feel so incredibly welcome and for my great friend Anthony Crothers (College Staff / Tutor) for inviting me in.
The ART of ALTERNATIVE FASHION and CULTURAL PORTRAITS | Krishen Nagar
Watch the recording of this LIVE Broadcast of a conversation I had with Portrait Photographer Krishen Nagar and discuss style, subject matter, working with models, lighting, kit and more PLUS being Genuine and not following the crowd …
