Dark Toned BAND Photography - Can't explain it, but need some advice!

[KyleGP]

Hi guys/girls,

I'm getting into Band photography and one thing (not only for band photography) I've always wanted to learn is this particular technique.

Take a look at this picture:
http://i46.tinypic.com/20giu86.jpg


See how everything is very dark, crisp, well toned, shadowed. Just look at it, and hopefully you'll understand me.

Now no matter what I do, I can take a picture and adjust the curves and it will look great but not to that extent. How do they make it that rich and crisp with nice shadows? It almost doesn't look real, it looks great!

I'd really like some techniques on how to adjust pictures in this manner. I have a shoot on sunday and I'd like to know what I need to do to adjust my photos to look like that.

They also do this on many band posters across the world, but how are they doing this? What is the technique? or is it just special curve adjustment!?

Help on this would be MUCH appreciated!

[robonrome]

I can't tell you how it's done (would like to know myself), but this falls under what I would call "hyper-real" imaging. There's certainly a lot more to it than a simple curves adjustment. I did attempt to read a how-to article on hyper-real portraiture in a UK mag (it was using a band album shot as the example), but gave up as it was well above my photoshop skills at the time... so many selective masks, layer and application of high-pass filtering and such. Still a skill well worth mastering at some point.. The article was in Digital SLR Photography Issue 36 Nov 2009. Good Luck.

[MDSimpson]

Firstly, welcome to APF. Secondly, is this image yours? If not, you will need to remove it unless you have permission form the copyright owner to post it, otherwise, post a link to the image..

Now, To get images with more black, you will need to make sure, firstly, you have black in the image. Do the normal curves, levels, increase contrast and increase the blacks.
Do you shoot RAW or JPG, If RAW, in Adobe Camera RAW, there is a Blacks slider, slide it up until you get the desired effect.
Maybe post up an image of yours we can have a look at and maybe show you what you need to do.

[Tomalophicon]

you could use multiple external flashes and underexpose the background.

[Brown Dog]

You will definitely need more than a curves or levels adjustment to achieve this sort of look.


Robonrome is right, this technique is generally known as 'hyper real'. First off it starts with the lighting..you want to try and sculpt with the light using highlights and shadows ( I've seen examples where 'cross lighting' has achieved the sort of look you want). Then the hard work begins ;). In photoshop basically you are enhancing the contrast in a more controlled and artistic way than just using the contrast tools or curves is PS. You will need to be skill full at 'dodging and burning' (there are various methods to achieve this besides the dodge and burn tool)...then some specific use of the high-pass filter to enhance the contrast more.

Here (http://www.lookit.be/) and Here (http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157594577686705/?search=dave+hill+look)are a couple of links that have helped me to understand it a little more ( still have a long way to go though:o). I would also suggest googling photographers like Dave Hill and Jill Greenburg

hope this helps
Cheers
BD:cool:

[GoNotReady]

Guys shoes on the right are huuuge ha!

[KyleGP]

Hey guys cheers for the reply.

As for the image, I don't have permissions to alter my post. If you would be so kind as to remove the [IMG] tags please, and make it a link.

I am doing a shoot for a band I manage on Sunday. After that, I will post some of the images and we can build on them.

My camera sucks quite frankly. I don't have the money for a DSLR atm so it's only JPG not raw. However, after importing a jpg image into Camera Raw, adjusting clarity and blacks, it looks almost like the effect I'm after.

I'll report back when I have those images on Sunday or I might post one later (from previous times).

[GoNotReady]

RAW is a must for black and white and just in general for post processing, but don't want to rub in the lack of camera.. Some prosumer p&s's have RAW capability, LX3 seems quite good, or for better quality maybe a Olympus E-PL1 which is fairly cheap and has a large sensor. I'm getting the E-P2 in the next few days, small but quality! Of course you can get some DSLR's now for reasonable prices..

[DrEvil]

Band photography was in today's DPS newsletter, not the black photos or much on technique, but thought it may be of interest :)

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=92YdJ&m=1c31wwromrkfGf&b=jo3HPq1m5MH_Htmbz7WIzA

[Jamieson]

I can't tell you how it's done (would like to know myself), but this falls under what I would call "hyper-real" imaging. There's certainly a lot more to it than a simple curves adjustment. I did attempt to read a how-to article on hyper-real portraiture in a UK mag (it was using a band album shot as the example), but gave up as it was well above my photoshop skills at the time... so many selective masks, layer and application of high-pass filtering and such. Still a skill well worth mastering at some point.. The article was in Digital SLR Photography Issue 36 Nov 2009. Good Luck.

I read the same article. The investment of time and effort required wasn't worth me looking into it in depth for me as well, but using the High Pass filter was one very useful bit of information I picked up from it. I actually had a go at achieving this same effect myself the other day. I got halfway there, but didn't invest much time. Would be interested to hear if anyone else has any specific techniques...