Detail and Color contrast

[Yisehaq]

Hi All,
Could someone tell me how you can get a color contrast like this photo (http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/4358695_xm369#255801636_SsmC7-A-LB) vs what my photos (http://www.photography.ca/Forums/f2/portraiture-trail-4328.html)usually look like. How can I get portraits with details like the first one? Is it possible to change the second shot to the coloration and contrast of the first one? (I hope it makes sense):confused::confused:

Can anyone be kind enough to demonerate the technique?
Thanks

[Marko]

Hi Yisehaq,

What you are asking is how to fix a photo where little attention was paid to the lighting in order to emulate a photo with great lighting. very difficult.

IMO, this is the wrong approach and not the best investment of your time.

Much better - is to try and emulate the actual lighting in camera. This allows you to "see". Go out and try to copy this lighting style a few times IN CAMERA...once you do, then you can reproduce this anytime.

Yaqub's photo has soft light Coming from the left
Your shot looks like direct flash that wasn't strong enough taken in harsh light. (please let me know if that is correct)

I'd practice with natural night first plus (possibly a reflector - depends how much natural reflectivity is in the environment ie light concrete or walls can act as natural reflectors) to try to emulate Yaqub's image.

Hope that helps
Marko

[Yisehaq]

Thanks Marko for the explanation,


Yaqub's photo has soft light Coming from the left
Your shot looks like direct flash that wasn't strong enough taken in harsh light. (please let me know if that is correct)
Marko
Yeah, mine is taken in a harsh midday sun with a built-in flash used as fill-in.
In fact, I wasn't trying to convert my photo to Yaqub's style but trying to learn what Yaqub did and compare to my skills :wall-an::wall-an:. I thought that is one way of going forward.


Anyways, I have taken your advice well.


practice with natural night first plus (possibly a reflector - depends how much natural reflectivity is in the environment ie light concrete or walls can act as natural reflectors) to try to emulate Yaqub's image.
Marko

hope to come back with such a photo soon.

[Marko]

Cool - look forward to it. :)

To emulate Yaqub's photo look for the softer light that he used.
Stay away from (or TAME...by letting it bounce or diffuse it) direct harsh light.....it's terrible for learning what you are trying to emulate. It's great for other stuff, but one step at a time. You seem to like portraits...learn soft lighting first and you'll be happier.

Lighting really is everything in photography...
Post processing is a jillion times easier when the lighting is right.

Hope that helps - Marko