I appreciate the honest constructive criticism and I totally get the points you all are making.
Posted by Lars I'm a fan of your work and...
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Thanks. glad you like it
Posted by Lars ...and of photomatrix's more fun settings too
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Posted by strangePlaces Some slight adjustment in LR is all that is needed. Photomatix is usually an irredeemably awful thing.
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The only one i used photomatix in is the one of the two models scrounging through the garbage and I don't see myself using it again. I prefer to do things manually even though it takes longer.
Mostly what I do is export from raw several times with different settings and blend them together using layer masks in an attempt to get more dynamic range, crisp gritty textures in fabrics and environment and softer skin,then I retouch skin imperfections, then dodge and burn and sometimes add textures
Posted by strangePlaces A lot of work is put in setting up these photo shoots, but I do feel that this style is more of a "stage", (HDR-stage, just-discovered-postprocessing - stage)than a conscious effort to contribute to an already interesting photograph.
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I agree, most of these are from when I first started spending more time on processing. I have been taking photos for about a decade but only started shooting with models on a regular basis about a year ago. My recent work is improving but I know i still have a ways to go in honing my post processing style. Since most of my current work isn't UE related I had to dig back to my earlier work to find something relevant. The shoot with the two models in the junkyard was one of my first of these shoots and my first attempt at trying to define my own personal post processing style that stands out, I don't hold back on trying even though it is obviously overdone. with each set I edit I continue with what seems to be working for me but test out new techniques at the same time.
Posted by strangePlaces Could you at least consider redoing some of these shots with minimal processing?
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I still have all my raw files in case I ever do want to go back and re-edit any although I also have about 40 shoots I still haven't touched so I'l probably just continue to explore my editing style moving forward through those.
Posted by skatchkins Some of these are too dark to even see what's going on at all. With the super dark ones...
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This is something I struggle with, personally I love dark and creepy and tend to not feel right when i make things to bright (depending one the concept). Although if this makes it too hard to see what is going on then I obviously need to tone it down a bit. For some of the zombie ones I was on a movie set in Massey at 1 am with only one tiny flash at the time so I struggled a bit to get enough light, and even more to focus.
Posted by skatchkins I get that the processing sets you apart and how that could potentially be a good thing in this oversaturated photog world. But dude, all the work you put into it suffers because of the processing.
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This is my goal, and I know I have a long way to go to get there. Although over processing might be more detrimental to the quality of my photos than helpful, pushing my limits and learning from my failures teaches me more than not trying anything new at all.
here are a few images that are a bit more current. These images have nothing to do with UE so I hope I am not offending anyone or breaking any rules by posting these here as that is not my intention. I am sure you will appreciate the progress I have made even though I imagine it might still be considered too much post processing I rather continue to stand out and slowly refine my ability and smooth out the rough edges.
1 December 2015 - MUA:Aly Goo Model: Lorrie Blais
2 February 2016 - Shibari ropework by me, Model: Amber Woods
3 February 2016 - Shibari ropework by me, Model: Amber Woods and Shauna Pardy
4 December 2015 - MUA/Model: Aimee Good
5 September 2015 - Model: Becky Daviau
6 October 2015 - Body-paint by me, Model: Alyssa Savarie
7 October 2015 - Body-paint by me, Model: Jeseanne Lacasse
8 January 2016 - collaborative body-paint and background painting by me and both models: Rebecca Loranger and Amber Woods. Fire, Ice and Water textures shot by me.