Recent Professional Works

[Dick Roadnight]

Dick,

With this shot, I wanted to have everything in focus from front to back, and even with lens movements and stopping to 22-1/2, at this distance, there was essentially about an inch of depth per slice. Sure, I could have shot it on a higher mp mfdb but I still would have had to stack focus for the effect I wanted. The tonality of real black and white film still can't be matched by any digital I've run across.

As to why the software blending didn't work, I'm not really sure. It can't be solely file size as both programs did complete the process, but both got confused in very different ways. Maybe a note to Adobe and Helicon would be in order. I'd have to re-do them to send examples, as I didn't save either of those attempts. I just figured I was trying something way beyond what anyone had envisioned  - sort of in the idiot or crazy category.

I hope that within a few weeks or months I will have a Sinar 86H MS DB and Sinar eShutters and a stackshot or Velmex auto photo stacker ( on the rear standard of my Sinar) and a Mac Pro, so I should be able to do this type of shot in an hour or less - it would be interesting to compare tonality.

[haefnerphoto]

Here's something I do a fair amount of, studio details.  They can be utilized in a few ways, everything from spread majors in catalogs to gallery shots on vehicle websites.  These were done for Chrysler vehicle launches.  Jim

[cunim]

Here's something I do a fair amount of, studio details.  They can be utilized in a few ways, everything from spread majors in catalogs to gallery shots on vehicle websites.  These were done for Chrysler vehicle launches.  Jim

I'd love to know the lighting used for these.  The tonal ranges are great.

Peter

[haefnerphoto]

I'd love to know the lighting used for these.  The tonal ranges are great.

Peter

Peter, I use a combination of tungsten lighting bounced off flats and kenoflo's on the majority of studio car images, some direct light too.  Below is a shot taken of a vehicle major set.  Jim

[Abdulrahman Aljabri]

Peter, I use a combination of tungsten lighting bounced off flats and kenoflo's on the majority of studio car images, some direct light too.  Below is a shot taken of a vehicle major set.  Jim

lol!! look at that softbox on the top, its bigger than my entire studio! Speaking of this shot, the big softbox is not being used, only the two side panels, correct?

Can we see the final outcome for this shot?


Thanks for posting
Abdulrahman

[cunim]

Aaargh, Jim.  I'm doomed.  Trying to light with 10% of the gear and 5% of the skill.

Peter

[fredjeang]

Peter, I use a combination of tungsten lighting bounced off flats and kenoflo's on the majority of studio car images, some direct light too.  Below is a shot taken of a vehicle major set.  Jim

As always Jim, I thank your postings here, the grade of perfection in the images from beginning to the final result is a delight for the eyes, the mastered skills in every aspects. (if it was human beings I'd probably find this grade of perfectionism too cold, but with cars it's pure art).

 

[pchong]

From earlier this year...an independent watchmaker's watch...



Photographed with H3D-39, HC4/120 macro with H28+H52 extension tubes on-site in Motiers, Switzerland. For the story and more, larger wallpaper sized images.

[Rob C]

Watch. Exactly the sort of subject that requires edge-to-edge crispness. In my view, at least, and not giving it that is nothing more than just getting in close to the subject. Where the skill? I could do that, and I'm a people photographer with people photography equipment.

Same thing was popular with food shots for a while... but, if we are talking art, then I'm the first to admit that anything goes.

Rob C

[fredjeang]

Watch. Exactly the sort of subject thast requires edge-to-edge crispness. In my view, at least, and not giving it that is nothing more than just getting in close to the subject. Where the skill? I could do that, and I'm a people photographer with people photography equipment.

Same thing was popular with food shots for a while... but, if we are talking art, then I'm the first to admit that anything goes.

Rob C

Got the same feeling Rob. Now, the bokeh could have been a consious choice, but then IMO it's too "shy" in that image if that was the purpose. It's like it's neither one way or the other. Not sure either about the post prod and specially the color correction. (I find for ex that the gold (hot) and iron (cold) metals are not separate enough because the iron has a yellowish tone wich concurs to give too much flatness)
The background on the right does not bring anything but mess, specialy the right-bottom corner that attracts a lot the eye, the composition choosen is not easy at all and IMO requires much more intervention on the file.
It lacks more post prod IMO.

[haefnerphoto]

lol!! look at that softbox on the top, its bigger than my entire studio! Speaking of this shot, the big softbox is not being used, only the two side panels, correct?

Can we see the final outcome for this shot?


Thanks for posting
Abdulrahman

Guys, Thanks for the compliments on the studio spots!  Here's some of the shots taken that would have used that lighting setup pictured or something similar.  These have minimal amount of post work with the exception of being outlined, I also ghosted in the engine too.  Jim

[fredjeang]

Just below my antique flat there was a dealer specialised in top american cars, Cadillac, Dodge, Corvette, Pontiac etc...I could see them all. It's amazing how different are the designs from here in Europe. The notion of sport and power has a different esthetic and tech response. American cars are in general more angular like a german ww2 machine. This one could be a BMW, it's very similar but definatly different. 2 different worlds.

[Abdulrahman Aljabri]

Guys, Thanks for the compliments on the studio spots!  Here's some of the shots taken that would have used that lighting setup pictured or something similar.  These have minimal amount of post work with the exception of being outlined, I also ghosted in the engine too.  Jim

Thanks for sharing, its always fascinating to learn about this unique field of photography.

[donaldt]

oh wow
I recently discovered this post and I am amazed by the quality of the work you guys are producing

I just wonder
how much retouching or post-shooting works were done, on average, on these kinda jobs

I am just an amateur so I spend little time on retouching
but after seeing some o fthese
I might as well start to spend less time shooting and more time making each of them right

[Rob C]

Just below my antique flat there was a dealer specialised in top american cars, Cadillac, Dodge, Corvette, Pontiac etc...I could see them all. It's amazing how different are the designs from here in Europe. The notion of sport and power has a different esthetic and tech response. American cars are in general more angular like a german ww2 machine. This one could be a BMW, it's very similar but definatly different. 2 different worlds.

Hi Fred

It's the grille - the same double box as BMW. I like US muscle cars; at least they look the part, and some even go well in straight lines, I'm reliably informed. I don't know if you can see Top Gear with your tv setup, but they usually have some European powerboxes on test(?) and when you consider the enormous size of the corners on their test track, you realise how pointless these big power things really are: you would be dead doing it on a road with normal curves - everything would put you straight into the hedge. They seem to drift sideways for at least fifty metres before being able to start going forwards again... but we do like our dreams!

Rob C

[fredjeang]

What I'd like to ask Jim if you see that post, is that if you noticed in the case of car, that the differences in philosophy and design between the european market and the US require different solutions in the lightning and retouching.
The product esence is the same but not the envelope. Does that affect the way you think the pictures and the AD's needs?

[donaldt]

I wonder, for example, the shots for the cars, those look kinda unreal-ly stunning
how much post-production is done on those

because I dont do so much products shots as I am not a professional
most of my works are wildlife or portraits
they are totally different but I would like to be able to make images like that someday

[Frank Doorhof]

Some experiments.

[bcooter]

Pretty work Frank, most original I've seen from your studio.  Looks great.

_______________________________________________

This is a double page print ad from the RED.


Obviously reduced

BC

[fredjeang]

Frank: great pictures, unexpected (different from what you generally post). I like when you play.

BC: again this picture talks to me a lot. What I like most is the atmosphere. Color grad is right on the money IMO.

Will this movie be released soon? Hope you'll post a link.


ps: when you say double page from the Red, is it the file with the reso right out the box or an upsampling was needed (like with a Genuine Fractal kind of stuff)?

Cheers.