Ferling Foto Image retouching

In the Real World, it's the Emagination that Sells.

A good capture is only half the equation to a successful shoot. While I am a firm believer that spending ten minutes on the set will fix an hour spent in post, some editing is still required.

Having a good working knowledge of the edit process is essential to knowing when you've captured the winning shot, and can wrap the shoot. Just saying "Oh, we can fix that in Photoshop." is not enough when one whom is shooting is not the same one whom is going to do the editing.

Here are a few examples of my work.

Facial Mouse over the images to see the before and after edits.

Removing blemishes, softing porous skin, and fixing red eye, including stray hairs in the face helps. Sometimes correcting the color of makeup and nail polish is in order. However, you can't just apply a one click global solution. While soft skin is a good thing, the eyes, hair, jewerly and clothing must remain sharp. This requires hand manipulation, and files can run several layers deep. Much of this work winds up in print, which can be very unforgiving in revealing sloppy work. I use wacom tablets and photoshop running on either Mac or Dell precision workstations.

Fixing and prop removal

Removing backgrounds, wire, and putty and other props is the norm for most shoots.

Removing the power lines was the order of the day for the shot above.

Outright alterations

Left: Alex skolnick in a rift, with an effect to carry him upwards. Right:My son and his friend Sam didn't actually jump off this dam.

An example of 3d image manipulation. A missile silo in abandoned factory lot.

An example of removing and manipulating greenscreen in video (using nested sequences in Premeire Pro).

Manipulation for the sake of art. This place needs a lake, so I added one, much better. Original shot left, finished work on right.

Multiple Composites You can't always shoot everything in the same setting, and unless you own a studio the size of a warehouse (or lack the budget to rent one), you may be faced with having to combine multiple composites, and in some cases, a little creative thinking can help with limited funds. Outdoor Vette shoot converted to indoor studio poster shoot. For a closer examination: http://photos.ferling.net/shinny


Nine-image sequence.12-layers, 11,800x8500, 1.45 gigs in size.

		Inside joke: Roddy has a thing for Starbuck's Coffee.

Pan and stitch

It is possible to obtain large sensor, or large format results with small sensor bodies. Two issues have to overcome: 1) Size of course, and 2) Dynamic range (the range of exposure to bring out details in shadows without blowing out details in highlights).

The image below is comprised of nine-shots from a Canon 40d. Generally the area is divided into three segments. Then three shots of each segment are taken at high, average, and low exposure. These are then combined into three complete shots, which are then stitched together to create a large 30MP image.

lake Ontenlaunee, Reading, Pa. Nine-shot, 3 image pan and stitch composition, Canon 40d.

Old farmhouse down by the Heritage Center and skullykill river, Reading, Pa. Four image stitch, and some photoshop work to remove power lines.

Dairy farm out by route 724, Just outside of Reading.

A storm during sunset, taken from my roof top in Muhlenberg Township. Three image stitch.

Keep Shooting.

-Pete

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison.