How is this effect achieved?

dreamspy · Jun 16, 2015

Hi there

I often see pictures that look somehow super realistic and I wonder what post production methods are used to achieve this look. It's best if I give an example. Here are a few images I found on the web that have this super crisp look I'm refering to:

Now I assume that the photographer used HDR for these images, since there seems to be pretty uniform brightness over the whole picture. And then applied allot of modifications in photoshop.

I have some experience with using Photomatix, but have never seen anything nearly as good as this come from that software.

Anyone care to elaborate a bit on how I might manage to get a similar look?

hotdog321 · Jun 16, 2015

These do look like HDR, but I think there is some very nice lighting going on, too. I really notice it in the second image with the open door to the far room. That dark wood looks terrific and I think it is receiving some light.

Denis the Menace · Jun 16, 2015

Not sure I've been in a restaurant with that much lighting before but it looks very nice.

vander · Jun 16, 2015

I think this is pretty standard interior photography results. There is a lot of ambient light in this photography and if you tend to shoot more over exposed images than under exposed for your HRD, so like maybe -1, 0, +1, +2, +3 you will get more uniform brightness in your images.

lbuclk= · Jun 16, 2015

hotdog321 said:
These do look like HDR, but I think there is some very nice lighting going on, too. I really notice it in the second image with the open door to the far room. That dark wood looks terrific and I think it is receiving some light.

Richard Weisgrau · Jun 16, 2015

hotdog321 said:
These do look like HDR, but I think there is some very nice lighting going on, too. I really notice it in the second image with the open door to the far room. That dark wood looks terrific and I think it is receiving some light.

sssesq · Jun 16, 2015

Some are Dave Dugdale

or Mike Kelly

and also the ubiquitous HDR of which there are about a googleplex worth of articles.

dreamspy · Jun 16, 2015

lbuclk= said:
The photographer used a very slow shutter speed, popped a few flashes & HDR. if you darken a room, and use a long exposure and a flash, you can make it seem like its a bright room. The last time I did that was a loooong time ago with film (1988 I think) before HDR.

Are you sure about that? I gave this some thought and noticed that f.x. in the first picture the shadows on the floor really look correct, like they are the real shadows from the lights above. And the picture seems to be very uniformly lit, which I assume would be almost impossible if one was exposing with multiple flashes.

If this is the case, then I must admit I'm amazed that the photographer pulled it off.

Kind regards
Frímann

dreamspy · Jun 16, 2015

vander said:
I think this is pretty standard interior photography results. There is a lot of ambient light in this photography and if you tend to shoot more over exposed images than under exposed for your HRD, so like maybe -1, 0, +1, +2, +3 you will get more uniform brightness in your images.

Thats an interesting trick!

So you will get less detail form highlighted areas which should still give us some burnouts in the whites, and I guess that gives the picture some flavour.

And more detail in the shadows, which should give the feeling of extra lightning in dark areas.

Yeah it makes sense... I'll try it out. Thanks

Kind Regards
Frímann Kjerúlf

lbuclk= · Jun 16, 2015

dreamspy said:
dreamspy said:

The photographer used a very slow shutter speed, popped a few flashes & HDR. if you darken a room, and use a long exposure and a flash, you can make it seem like its a bright room. The last time I did that was a loooong time ago with film (1988 I think) before HDR.

Click to expand...

Are you sure about that? I gave this some thought and noticed that f.x. in the first picture the shadows on the floor really look correct, like they are the real shadows from the lights above. And the picture seems to be very uniformly lit, which I assume would be almost impossible if one was exposing with multiple flashes.

If this is the case, then I must admit I'm amazed that the photographer pulled it off.

Kind regards
Frímann

A long time ago , I read a how to article in Modern Photography (no longer pub.) I tried it & it worked. I have not tried it with digital cameras because I forgot about it until I read your post. If you want to see some fantastic pre Photoshop work Google Jerry Uelsman, he did all of his effects before PS in his darkroom. I had a BW darkroom once , but I was not on his level!

David L. Moore · Jun 17, 2015

Looks like a straight shot without HDR.

Camera on tripod, camera to manual, aperture f8 and adjust shutter speed to get the correct exposure. No biggie as there are no windows or big jumps in dynamic range to worry about, all those lights hanging from the ceiling fill the space with even light.

I do this type of work every day...

Hope this helps,

David L. Moore

Vibbily.com

--
Professional Photographic Services
www.moore-photo.com

photobob1950 · Jun 17, 2015

I believe David is correct, but no need for the commercial.

Boomanbb · Jun 17, 2015

dreamspy said:
Hi there

I often see pictures that look somehow super realistic and I wonder what post production methods are used to achieve this look. It's best if I give an example. Here are a few images I found on the web that have this super crisp look I'm refering to:

Now I assume that the photographer used HDR for these images, since there seems to be pretty uniform brightness over the whole picture. And then applied allot of modifications in photoshop.

I have some experience with using Photomatix, but have never seen anything nearly as good as this come from that software.

Anyone care to elaborate a bit on how I might manage to get a similar look?

Most great shots are made thru proper lighting to start with. You know, using a meter and multiple lights for instance like in this shot. I would also think a tilt shift lens is being used due to the lack of distortion. Some things are difficult to do if you are relying on your computer and some plugins rather then skill and knowledge of lighting. Get that down, then think Photoshop.

Ben

--
Disagree without being disagreeable

David L. Moore · Jun 17, 2015

photobob1950 said:
I believe David is correct, but no need for the commercial.

David L. Moore · Jun 17, 2015

"I would also think a tilt shift lens is being used due to the lack of distortion. "

Ben,

Hard to tell for sure but it's not an ultra wide lens and I don't think its a PC lens either. It looks like a 35mm lens on a level and plum tripod.

David L. Moore

Ellis Vener · Jun 17, 2015

Careful lighting. Maybe some post production but mostly careful lighting. It takes time but saves aggravation and prevents the photo from looking HDAwful.

dreamspy · Jun 18, 2015

Ellis Vener said:
Careful lighting. Maybe some post production but mostly careful lighting. It takes time but saves aggravation and prevents the photo from looking HDAwful.

I really can't imagine how the lightning was achieved in this case, since all the shadows look right. I guess I need someone to school me in flash photography

Ellis Vener · Jun 18, 2015

dreamspy said:
Ellis Vener said:

Careful lighting. Maybe some post production but mostly careful lighting. It takes time but saves aggravation and prevents the photo from looking HDAwful.

Click to expand...

I really can't imagine how the lightning was achieved in this case, since all the shadows look right. I guess I need someone to school me in flash photography

It's a combination of existing light with added light: that is what the shadows aren't pitch black and we don't see the usual artifacts that come from pseudo-HDR tome mapping. It doesn't have to be flash that the photographer used. It could be tungsten or quartz-halogen or gelled (something in the CTO family) flash.

As to why it does not obviously look lit, that comes fro experience, not rushing while you work and paying attention to details large and minute. I added at least six different lights to make this architectural shot to make it look "unlit".

dreamspy · Jun 18, 2015

sssesq said:
Some are Dave Dugdale

or Mike Kelly

and also the ubiquitous HDR of which there are about a googleplex worth of articles.

Now that was super interesting! I've never gotten into flash photography but I'm quite exited about that now.

I see that Dave was using standard flashes meant for on camera. But Mike was using some kind of a big flash.

I'm wondering about the difference between those two flash types. I assume that the big one has higher output and is therefore more versatile and useful for indoor flash real estate photography. Any recommendations regarding what kind of flash to choose? I'm working on a Sony A7 camera btw if that makes any difference.

dreamspy · Jun 18, 2015

Ellis Vener said:
dreamspy said:

Ellis Vener said:

Careful lighting. Maybe some post production but mostly careful lighting. It takes time but saves aggravation and prevents the photo from looking HDAwful.

Click to expand...

I really can't imagine how the lightning was achieved in this case, since all the shadows look right. I guess I need someone to school me in flash photography

Click to expand...

It's a combination of existing light with added light: that is what the shadows aren't pitch black and we don't see the usual artifacts that come from pseudo-HDR tome mapping. It doesn't have to be flash that the photographer used. It could be tungsten or quartz-halogen or gelled (something in the CTO family) flash.

As to why it does not obviously look lit, that comes fro experience, not rushing while you work and paying attention to details large and minute. I added at least six different lights to make this architectural shot to make it look "unlit".

That look really good I must say. I also just watched Dave Dugdale's video:

That was good tutorial on how to do this kind of stuff. Actually much simpler than I had imagined.

How is this effect achieved?

Member

Forum Pro

Leading Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Member

Member

Senior Member

Leading Member

Attachments

Forum Enthusiast

Senior Member

Leading Member

Leading Member

Forum Pro

Member

Forum Pro

Member

Member

Similar threads

Keyboard shortcuts