How did he do it?

[minh_ly]

Hi all,

 

I saw this pix on photo.net (photographer: Sergey Efimov), I really

like the skin tone and the sharpness of this picture. How did he do

it?? Did he used a soft-focus filter?? Did he used photoshop??

 

Thank you.

 

-Minh<div></div>

[lucas_griego]

Minh,

 

1) you could try contacting the photographer directly and asking him. Most on

Photo.net are friendly and open about how they shot something. Since he shot it, he'd

be the best to tell you what direction to go in.

 

2) No, he probably didn't use a soft focus filter... then it wouldn't be sharp like you've

mentioned. Soft focus filters are usually terribly obivous.

 

3) You can usually tell something about the lighting set up the photographer used by

the 'catchlights' or the reflections of the light source in the models eyes.. from a quick

glance we can see that he is using a round light source for one possibly two lights...

maybe umbrellas or something similar. Then if you look closely there is a funny sort

of reflection down towards the bottom of the eye.. maybe a reflector or a some kind

of strip light.

 

4) Photoshop may have been used to sharpen a digital shot (if it was) or to do minor

retouching. He could have also smoothed out her complexion as well... or touched out

freckles.

 

5) The skin tone is more likely a combination of the following:

 

a) exposure (slightly hot here.. some would say a tad over)

 

b) a model with pale skin made even more pale and even by the use of makeup

 

 

check out the rest of his shots and look for the things I've mentioned and you should

be able to get a few more hints as to how he made this shot.

[pdumais]

Also seems likely he used a medium format camera, given the square frame and the amount of detail.

 

Not to say that you couldn't do it without one.

[dean_cookson]

Not MF. It was an EOS D60 according to the tech info for the shot...

[minh_ly]

Thank you