This thread was locked on 2010-08-21 09:36:04
Forums > Digital Art and Retouching > Retouching technique used on POTD winning shot

Photographer

Derek Cooper

Posts: 106

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Hi Gang,

A number of people have asked me what kind of work we did in post to this image:

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/potd/entrants/090830/potd-090830-103568-big.jpg

We stretched Alex, toned her, and did a number of other tweaks.

Of course, that only begs the question - but how?

On Monday, my friend Gry Garness is releasing a DVD series entitled "Beauty Retouching Techniques," and has included a look at how the editing was done on the DVD series.

If you've never heard of Gry Garness before, make sure you checkout the website - lots of great resources. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Derek

Aug 20 10 08:10 am Link

Photographer

moving pictures

Posts: 679

Paris, Île-de-France, France



as the download finally worked.

Aug 20 10 03:30 pm Link

Retoucher

Aaron Speer

Posts: 58

Minneapolis, Minnesota, US

Ordered Gry's e-book a few months back and got it just fine. Quite a lot of valuable information inside; I'd say it's definitely worth getting!

I hope your negative experience gets solved soon, because the books really are a great resource!

Aug 20 10 04:08 pm Link

Retoucher

ANA_Retouching

Posts: 285

Minneapolis, Minnesota, US

Martin Kunert wrote:
BEWARE!

I found your friend's site intriguing and ordered the e-book for $38.

However, the download has failed four times.  Considering your friend only allow people five tries at downloading, that is  f**ked.  I still haven't received the e-book I paid for.

Until the faulty download issue is resolved, I would NOT recommend people risking their money with this site.

I had no problem ordering either e-books I have gotten from Gry in the past year. I would recommend calling the number on the website or e-mailing 'customer service' or whatever it is. I lost my whole entire e-book when two external drives went to Hell and they sent me copies when I contacted them with my proof of purchase of course. They're very helpful.

Aug 20 10 04:11 pm Link

Photographer

moving pictures

Posts: 679

Paris, Île-de-France, France

Problem was fixed, so I am retracting my previous statement.

Aug 20 10 04:24 pm Link

Photographer

Ruben Vasquez

Posts: 3117

Las Vegas, Nevada, US

Nice! I loved her e-book and now plan on purchasing the dvd (which I think is a better way of learning any way).

Aug 20 10 07:10 pm Link

Photographer

moving pictures

Posts: 679

Paris, Île-de-France, France

I've been reading through her e-book and find it thorough and excellent.

Aug 20 10 10:31 pm Link

Photographer

K E E L I N G

Posts: 39894

Peoria, Illinois, US

Derek Cooper wrote:
Hi Gang,

A number of people have asked me what kind of work we did in post to this image:

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/potd/entrants/090830/potd-090830-103568-big.jpg

We stretched Alex, toned her, and did a number of other tweaks.

Of course, that only begs the question - but how?

On Monday, my friend Gry Garness is releasing a DVD series entitled "Beauty Retouching Techniques," and has included a look at how the editing was done on the DVD series.

If you've never heard of Gry Garness before, make sure you checkout the website - lots of great resources. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Derek

You started a thread about it so either tell us how you did it or let's have a Mod lock and hide this infomercial.

Aug 20 10 10:46 pm Link

Photographer

Kane

Posts: 1647

London, England, United Kingdom

K E E L I N G wrote:

You started a thread about it so either tell us how you did it or let's have a Mod lock and hide this infomercial.

+1

Aug 20 10 10:51 pm Link

Retoucher

Ashish Arora

Posts: 2068

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Trying to advertise and sell your DVD big boy?

Aug 20 10 11:15 pm Link

Photographer

Dan OMell

Posts: 1415

Charlotte, North Carolina, US

is it possible to reach the same results in the same way you did in DVD using not middle format camera (in your case - Hasselblad)? FX body? even DX body?
I know that it's possible to some extent, but just curious.

Aug 20 10 11:22 pm Link

Retoucher

Chaviit0

Posts: 2241

Wenatchee, Washington, US

I remember something like this happening before and the Mods didnt block/delete the other thred xD
--
Nice work with that picture[[=, looks pretty good.

Aug 20 10 11:43 pm Link

Retoucher

IdontKnowIForgot

Posts: 3829

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

K E E L I N G wrote:

You started a thread about it so either tell us how you did it or let's have a Mod lock and hide this infomercial.

just what i thought

Aug 21 10 02:24 am Link

Digital Artist

Eithne Ni Anluain

Posts: 1424

Dundalk, Louth, Ireland

K E E L I N G wrote:
You started a thread about it so either tell us how you did it or let's have a Mod lock and hide this infomercial.

+1

Now on 3?

Aug 21 10 04:56 am Link

Photographer

Sean Baker Photo

Posts: 8044

San Antonio, Texas, US

Chaviit0 wrote:
I remember something like this happening before and the Mods didnt block/delete the other thred xD

And as I recall, that thread had received permission from the mods in the first place and for a while didn't even have links to the product itself.

Aug 21 10 05:01 am Link

Photographer

Paul Tirado Photography

Posts: 4363

New York, New York, US

K E E L I N G wrote:
You started a thread about it so either tell us how you did it or let's have a Mod lock and hide this infomercial.

Ni Anluain wrote:
+ 1 Now on 3?

+1 now on 5 unofficially. lol. Not so much an infomercial as an advertorial. As a marketing major I do think the copy is pretty smooth though.

Aug 21 10 05:25 am Link

Photographer

Warren Joyce

Posts: 62

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Aug 21 10 07:52 am Link

Photographer

Rad Civami

Posts: 360

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

My comment no longer needed.  smile

Aug 21 10 07:55 am Link

Photographer

Warren Joyce

Posts: 62

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Oops, sorry.  sad

Aug 21 10 07:57 am Link

Retoucher

Natalia_Taffarel

Posts: 7665

Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Warren Joyce wrote:
Wow, that image has had 802 comments & is on 773 lists.  Personally I just don't get the attraction of (...).  Maybe it's just me.

The attraction comes from 2 things:

Warm tones in the model next to its complementary (blue/cyan) in the almost monotone BG

Exposure (Since it was POTD a lot of ppl saw it odds are it's gonna get a lot of attention)

I personally don't like her retouching but I think she is a great teacher from what I've read from her book. I think this DVD is going to be a great resource.

Cheers

Aug 21 10 08:02 am Link

Photographer

Derek Cooper

Posts: 106

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

It's not my DVD, and I gain nothing from the sales, but thought people might be interested in the high quality of her training materials.

If you think it's an infomercial, sorry 'bout that! I'm just pointing to a resource that I think is fabulous for those learning, tis all.

Have fun!

Aug 21 10 08:13 am Link

Photographer

A-M-P

Posts: 18465

Orlando, Florida, US

Bait and switch much. 

I'll tell you how I retouched this shot NOT. Buy this dvd. I think you could have used a better way to promote the product.

Aug 21 10 08:16 am Link

Retoucher

Krunoslav Stifter

Posts: 3884

Santa Cruz, California, US

Natalia_Taffarel wrote:
Exposure (Since it was POTD a lot of ppl saw it odds are it's gonna get a lot of attention)

+1

Natalia_Taffarel wrote:
I think she is a great teacher from what I've read from her book. I think this DVD is going to be a great resource.

Based on the promo video from the website. I think so too. It seems she covers lot of ground on more than 50 images as she says.

Based on promo, it seems very promising. smile

Aug 21 10 08:16 am Link

Photographer

K E E L I N G

Posts: 39894

Peoria, Illinois, US

Derek Cooper wrote:
It's not my DVD, and I gain nothing from the sales, but thought people might be interested in the high quality of her training materials.

If you think it's an infomercial, sorry 'bout that! I'm just pointing to a resource that I think is fabulous for those learning, tis all.

Have fun!

YOU started a thread about how YOU got the look you got in YOUR picture.  That means YOU did it.  Now start sharing and stop selling, there's a forum set aside for that.  If you don't want to share then don't start a thread telling us you are going to.

Aug 21 10 08:27 am Link

Photographer

Derek Cooper

Posts: 106

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Tough crowd! LOL

Ok, lemme see what I can dig up... hang tight!

Aug 21 10 08:28 am Link

Photographer

BP Glamour

Posts: 840

Memphis, Tennessee, US

Variant Design wrote:

+1

Add me! Not sure of the count now!

Aug 21 10 08:35 am Link

Photographer

Derek Cooper

Posts: 106

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Dan OMell wrote:
is it possible to reach the same results in the same way you did in DVD using not middle format camera (in your case - Hasselblad)? FX body? even DX body?
I know that it's possible to some extent, but just curious.

Certainly Dan - what camera you use doesn't limit your creativity.

If you are publishing your work, then clients will have certain expectations when it comes to images, but the camera doesn't help in the creative side of things.

Hope that makes sense!

Aug 21 10 08:36 am Link

Photographer

James Andrew Imagery

Posts: 6713

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I got Gry's offer in email today. Reduced price for her e-book customers.

I'm seriously considering it.

thanks Derek - I don't mind seeing this stuff talked up at all.

Aug 21 10 08:38 am Link

Photographer

Derek Cooper

Posts: 106

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

James aka Avicdar wrote:
thanks Derek - I don't mind seeing this stuff talked up at all.

Thanks James - thought people would really appreciate the link.

I've got some time in mid-September if you wanted to hook up for a drink some evening. Let me know.

Aug 21 10 08:42 am Link

Photographer

Derek Cooper

Posts: 106

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

K E E L I N G wrote:
YOU started a thread about how YOU got the look you got in YOUR picture.  That means YOU did it.  Now start sharing and stop selling, there's a forum set aside for that.  If you don't want to share then don't start a thread telling us you are going to.

Hi. Certainly it is my photograph, but with any project, it's a team effort. Wardrobe stylists, hair stylist, make-up stylist, assistants, and post-production folks. I'm only one person of about 8 on this project.

I thought it was great that Gry provided some tips on how the retouching could be done on this shot, and thought people would be interested. I'm sorry the link didn't appeal to you and that you felt it was an advertisement. Didn't intend that at all, as I've said earlier.

I will see what I can do to appease you, and will report back shortly.

*pulling daggers out of my back*  smile

Aug 21 10 08:45 am Link

Photographer

K E E L I N G

Posts: 39894

Peoria, Illinois, US

Derek Cooper wrote:
Hi. Certainly it is my photograph, but with any project, it's a team effort. Wardrobe stylists, hair stylist, make-up stylist, assistants, and post-production folks. I'm only one person of about 8 on this project.

I thought it was great that Gry provided some tips on how the retouching could be done on this shot, and thought people would be interested. I'm sorry the link didn't appeal to you and that you felt it was an advertisement. Didn't intend that at all, as I've said earlier.

I will see what I can do to appease you, and will report back shortly.

*pulling daggers out of my back*  smile

I've got some nice shots in my port, is it ok if I go ahead and advertise my next workshop here so people can come pay me to show them how I did it?  If I follow your example I won't tell anyone how I did a damned thing in here, I'll make them pay for that info.

But I'm glad your intention was not to help your friend sell his dvd's.  lol

Aug 21 10 08:50 am Link

Photographer

AfterShutter

Posts: 189

Saint Paul, Minnesota, US

I agree with the other posts, Starting a topic in the Digital art and Retouching forum and then not including any retouching information feels like a bate and switch. At the very least this should be posted in another forum.

Aug 21 10 08:50 am Link

Photographer

Derek Cooper

Posts: 106

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

AfterShutter wrote:
I agree with the other posts, Starting a topic in the Digital art and Retouching forum and then not including any retouching information feels like a bate and switch. At the very least this should be posted in another forum.

Ok, as per my previous posts, I read what was written and am seeing what I can come up with. I didn't intend to "sell" DVDs, merely point out a great resource for people provided by someone I know.

Some appreciated the link.

So, next person to blame for me advertising owes me a beer! Deal? LOL

Aug 21 10 09:02 am Link

Photographer

Derek Cooper

Posts: 106

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

K E E L I N G wrote:
I've got some nice shots in my port, is it ok if I go ahead and advertise my next workshop here so people can come pay me to show them how I did it?

Sure, why not?

The main page of MM is ripe with retouchers advertising their services - I don't think I've ever seen the main page without at least one wizard offering to retouch shots for $5 each or something!  smile

I'm kidding, but making a point!

K E E L I N G wrote:
If I follow your example I won't tell anyone how I did a damned thing in here, I'll make them pay for that info.

If you watch the promo vid on Gry's site, you'll see it actually shows the techniques used on this shot. Pretty cool stuff.

K E E L I N G wrote:
But I'm glad your intention was not to help your friend sell his dvd's.  lol

Apparently.

Aug 21 10 09:05 am Link

Retoucher

Ashish Arora

Posts: 2068

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Derek Cooper wrote:
Tough crowd! LOL

Ok, lemme see what I can dig up... hang tight!

Ooh I love ya Derek! Wait until I have my DVD.

These infomerical or whatever they are calling it, I will let you setup mine. wink Its enticing.

Regarding her work, everyone has their style, I seem to like everyone's cos I respect this profession and I know its so difficult to eventually develop yours, but I think she is a lot more experienced than most retouchers here and def. if I met her some day, I can get to learn a lot like other good retouchers must have from her and will keep doing so!

Aug 21 10 09:09 am Link

Photographer

Derek Cooper

Posts: 106

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Ashish Arora wrote:
Regarding her work, everyone has their style, I seem to like everyone's cos I respect this profession and I know its so difficult to eventually develop yours, but I think she is a lot more experienced than most retouchers here and def. if I met her some day, I can get to learn a lot like other good retouchers must have from her and will keep doing so!

Yup, tons to offer those learning, for sure!

I've seen all her eBooks cause I contribute content, and am amazed at the detail she goes into in the text. I don't do retouching myself, and leave it to those who are absolute pros.

Have fun!

Aug 21 10 09:25 am Link