Getting the "Cool" look with NX2

[radar]

From the January 2010 Nikon School:

Getting the "Cool" Look

[gstark]

Thanks for posting this.

The final "not normal looking" image that Kiara wanted

Not normal is right. I think he's taken a not too bad image, and bloody well demolished it!

I would like to have seen larger versions of the images shown for the intermediate steps; there are certain items the author mentions that are not evident in the smaller images presented, and thus it's really difficult to judge the effect of those items upon the image.

But I certainly have no real affection for the finished result. He's thrown everything, including the kitchen sink, into his post-processing for this image.

Except he forgot to include restraint and good taste.

[sirhc55]

There are two points re this cool look.

1. The woman wanted this look

2. The WOMAN, wanted this look

[gstark]

There are two points re this cool look.

1. The woman wanted this look

2. The WOMAN, wanted this look

I realise that. It would appear that the concept of restraint doesn't seem to be evident within that family, given that this is supposed to be a photo of his daughter, and that this is the outcome she desired.

I still think the final image looks way worse than what he started with.

Maybe energypolice was correct?

[Willy wombat]

Yes - I agree that less is more

[radar]

Actually, the link points out the techniques used to get the final "cool" image. I didn't really care one way or the other for the final image, what is interesting here, for me an NX2 user, is the various techniques he used to get there. I photograph people rarely, so the final image doesn't really matter.

However, I do like to read the various steps he took to get there, some of which I would be able to use when doing my photos.

In this case, it's not the destination that matters, it's how he got there that is interesting.

cheers,

André

[biggerry]

However, I do like to read the various steps he took to get there, some of which I would be able to use when doing my photos.

[gstark]

However, I do like to read the various steps he took to get there, some of which I would be able to use when doing my photos.

Seems to me like these are steps I should avoid taking ...

[biggerry]

Seems to me like these are steps I should avoid taking ...

one should be open to all methods, it also may not be everyones cup of tea.. I would never have thought to use NR in NX2 to smooth the skin...I did learn something from reading that 'tutorial'

[gstark]

Seems to me like these are steps I should avoid taking ...

one should be open to all methods,

Oh, absolutely.

I would never have thought to use NR in NX2 to smooth the skin...'

Just as I would never have thought to take a perfectly fine, sharp image, made with the 85 f/1.4 - surely one of Nikon's finest, sharpest lenses - and turn that image into a visual blancmange.

I could have saved him a whole lot of time and trouble by just shooting that image through a Coke bottle.

[radar]

Seems to me like these are steps I should avoid taking ...

Ah, but I don't think so, for me anyway. An example for me: I have a great photo of a bear in the rainforest. I had to shoot at very high iso, so I end up using noise reduction but that makes me lose some of the sharpness in the face of the bear. By making use of the step he described as:

I really liked the Noise Reduction effect except on the eyes and brows. The effect makes the eyes look too soft (left image). To fix this, I selected the – (minus) brush, set the opacity to 50% and adjusted the brush size to fit the eyes/brows. I then carefully subtracted the NR effect from the eyes and brows. I also enlarged the brush and subtracted a bit of the NR effect from Kiara's hair (right image).

I can then accomplish what I wanted to do but wasn't quite savvy enough with NX2 yet to do it properly.

Cheers,

André

[radar]

Seems to me like these are steps I should avoid taking ...

Ah, but I don't think so, for me anyway. An example for me: I have a great photo of a bear in the rainforest. I had to shoot at very high iso, so I end up using noise reduction but that makes me lose some of the sharpness in the face of the bear. By making use of the step he described as:

I really liked the Noise Reduction effect except on the eyes and brows. The effect makes the eyes look too soft (left image). To fix this, I selected the – (minus) brush, set the opacity to 50% and adjusted the brush size to fit the eyes/brows. I then carefully subtracted the NR effect from the eyes and brows. I also enlarged the brush and subtracted a bit of the NR effect from Kiara's hair (right image).

I can then accomplish what I wanted to do but wasn't quite savvy enough with NX2 yet to do it properly.

Cheers,

André