HDR & Tone mapping on portraits

Bcrary3 · 10-13-2014, 06:38 PM

As the title says, HDR and Tone Mapping for portraits.

I did a photo shoot the other day, and took a lot of HDR images (-1 -0 +1 EV).

What is everyone's opinion on HDR & Tone mapping on portraits?

Storm Chaser · 10-13-2014, 08:29 PM

Can you post a few photos, shot a few sunrise and sunset with E/B. So down the road I can try some HDR, have not seen any portraits processed that way.

Bcrary3 · 10-13-2014, 09:33 PM

Here are just a few examples.

All photos are taken with a Ricoh Rikenon P50mm f/2 at f/2, iso 80

Storm Chaser · 10-13-2014, 09:53 PM

I like trying different things and I think this would be one. It would not be for everyone, and every client. Great pics, thanks for posting.

Bcrary3 · 10-13-2014, 10:03 PM

Originally posted by Storm Chaser

I like trying different things and I think this would be one. It would not be for everyone, and every client. Great pics, thanks for posting.

Thank you! I wasn't quite sure how they would turn out, but I actually did quite a few like that, and since I took them all as different images, I still have the normal image at -0 EV in case it doesn't work out. Haha

JRMax · 10-13-2014, 10:30 PM

I like how HDR brings out the background and muscle tone in people but it also emphasizes imperfections in the skin. If you use HDR for portraits be prepared to spend time with the healing brush to clean these up. I think that it is worth the extra pp time.

adwb · 10-14-2014, 12:32 AM

I have never thought of doing this on a portrait but what about applying it then brushing it away from the actual subject or their face as a technique?

**Rondec** · 10-14-2014, 02:57 AM

I have seen it mostly used with athletes to bring out definition in their muscles, sweat, etc. Probably not so useful for glamor shots.

redcat · 10-14-2014, 06:39 AM

the #1 pic is very nice ^^

Bcrary3 · 10-14-2014, 06:51 AM

Adwb, that isn't a bad idea, apply it as a layer mask or something.. I might eventually try that. I have however noticed it really does bring out a lot of imperfections in the skin, as mentioned above, due to bringing in the lighting from the shadows, midtones, and highlights. Now, thankfully for me, she has relatively good skin, which means a little less time in PP

I didn't really do much to these photos to be honest, all I did was apply the HDR effect (By merging the images in Nik HDR Efex Pro 2) then apply a brightness/contrast filter, and dropped the brightness, and brought up the contrast a bit.

**Miguel** · 10-14-2014, 09:30 AM

Originally posted by Bcrary3

What is everyone's opinion on HDR & Tone mapping on portraits?

Well, it's like the use of HDR in general: what are your objectives for the shot that require the use of HDR? If you are using it just to use it, then it's a solution lookin' for a problem, or even worse, an affectation that draws one's attention away from other merits of a shot. In this shot, I'd be more concerned with the blue-cast rendering of skin.
Most women I know, especially those under 40, prefer to not have a highly detailed rendering of their facial features, including skin. The amount of retouching effort necessary to offset HDR artifacts may not make it worthwhile.

M

Bcrary3 · 10-14-2014, 09:37 AM

I have to adjust the WB a little more to get rid of the bluish cast. The lighting that day was a little odd.

I don't know if I am going to keep all of them. I will show them, see what they think, if they don't like it I can give them the original -0 EV image. I don't know if I like the ones I took -1 -0 +1 EV as much as the ones that were simply -0 EV with a tone map on them.

The objective of using HDR was to capture more vivid colours, and make everything stand out a little more, because the lighting on the background was much brighter than the subject (taken in late evening, around 6pm CST) that was why I had to do the HDR on some of them, as I do not typically shoot with a flash. Haha

tuco · 10-14-2014, 09:51 AM

That lens does not have very good bokeh with complex structure. I'd look for another environmental portrait lens.

**Miguel** · 10-14-2014, 10:06 AM

Originally posted by Bcrary3

The objective of using HDR was to capture more vivid colours, and make everything stand out a little more,

You run the risk of making your subject second banana. To me, the subject of a portrait is the star of the frame. The simple solution is to learn to use artificial lighting tactfully.

Originally posted by tuco

That lens does not have very good bokeh with complex structure. I'd look for another environmental portrait lens.

Excellent point, I got a bit dizzy on the second shot.

M

Bcrary3 · 10-14-2014, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by Miguel

You run the risk of making your subject second banana. To me, the subject of a portrait is the star of the frame. The simple solution is to learn to use artificial lighting tactfully.

Excellent point, I got a bit dizzy on the second shot.

M

Any suggestions, MF preferred.

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10-13-2014, 06:38 PM	#1
Bcrary3 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 391	HDR & Tone mapping on portraits As the title says, HDR and Tone Mapping for portraits. I did a photo shoot the other day, and took a lot of HDR images (-1 -0 +1 EV). What is everyone's opinion on HDR & Tone mapping on portraits?

10-13-2014, 08:29 PM	#2
Storm Chaser Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Gallery Posts: 165	Can you post a few photos, shot a few sunrise and sunset with E/B. So down the road I can try some HDR, have not seen any portraits processed that way.

10-13-2014, 09:53 PM	#4
Storm Chaser Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Gallery Posts: 165	I like trying different things and I think this would be one. It would not be for everyone, and every client. Great pics, thanks for posting.

10-13-2014, 10:03 PM	#5
Bcrary3 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 391 Original Poster	Originally posted by Storm Chaser I like trying different things and I think this would be one. It would not be for everyone, and every client. Great pics, thanks for posting. Thank you! I wasn't quite sure how they would turn out, but I actually did quite a few like that, and since I took them all as different images, I still have the normal image at -0 EV in case it doesn't work out. Haha

10-13-2014, 10:30 PM	#6
JRMax Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 56	I like how HDR brings out the background and muscle tone in people but it also emphasizes imperfections in the skin. If you use HDR for portraits be prepared to spend time with the healing brush to clean these up. I think that it is worth the extra pp time.

10-14-2014, 12:32 AM	#7
adwb Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bristol UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,636	I have never thought of doing this on a portrait but what about applying it then brushing it away from the actual subject or their face as a technique?

10-14-2014, 02:57 AM	#8
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,650	I have seen it mostly used with athletes to bring out definition in their muscles, sweat, etc. Probably not so useful for glamor shots.

10-14-2014, 06:39 AM	#9
redcat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,939	the #1 pic is very nice ^^

10-14-2014, 06:51 AM	#10
Bcrary3 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 391 Original Poster	Adwb, that isn't a bad idea, apply it as a layer mask or something.. I might eventually try that. I have however noticed it really does bring out a lot of imperfections in the skin, as mentioned above, due to bringing in the lighting from the shadows, midtones, and highlights. Now, thankfully for me, she has relatively good skin, which means a little less time in PP I didn't really do much to these photos to be honest, all I did was apply the HDR effect (By merging the images in Nik HDR Efex Pro 2) then apply a brightness/contrast filter, and dropped the brightness, and brought up the contrast a bit.

10-14-2014, 09:30 AM	#11
Miguel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	Originally posted by Bcrary3 What is everyone's opinion on HDR & Tone mapping on portraits? Well, it's like the use of HDR in general: what are your objectives for the shot that require the use of HDR? If you are using it just to use it, then it's a solution lookin' for a problem, or even worse, an affectation that draws one's attention away from other merits of a shot. In this shot, I'd be more concerned with the blue-cast rendering of skin. Most women I know, especially those under 40, prefer to not have a highly detailed rendering of their facial features, including skin. The amount of retouching effort necessary to offset HDR artifacts may not make it worthwhile. M

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10-14-2014, 09:37 AM	#12
Bcrary3 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 391 Original Poster	I have to adjust the WB a little more to get rid of the bluish cast. The lighting that day was a little odd. I don't know if I am going to keep all of them. I will show them, see what they think, if they don't like it I can give them the original -0 EV image. I don't know if I like the ones I took -1 -0 +1 EV as much as the ones that were simply -0 EV with a tone map on them. The objective of using HDR was to capture more vivid colours, and make everything stand out a little more, because the lighting on the background was much brighter than the subject (taken in late evening, around 6pm CST) that was why I had to do the HDR on some of them, as I do not typically shoot with a flash. Haha

10-14-2014, 09:51 AM	#13
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,019	That lens does not have very good bokeh with complex structure. I'd look for another environmental portrait lens.

10-14-2014, 10:06 AM	#14
Miguel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	Originally posted by Bcrary3 The objective of using HDR was to capture more vivid colours, and make everything stand out a little more, You run the risk of making your subject second banana. To me, the subject of a portrait is the star of the frame. The simple solution is to learn to use artificial lighting tactfully. Originally posted by tuco That lens does not have very good bokeh with complex structure. I'd look for another environmental portrait lens. Excellent point, I got a bit dizzy on the second shot. M

10-14-2014, 11:15 AM	#15
Bcrary3 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 391 Original Poster	Originally posted by Miguel You run the risk of making your subject second banana. To me, the subject of a portrait is the star of the frame. The simple solution is to learn to use artificial lighting tactfully. Excellent point, I got a bit dizzy on the second shot. M Any suggestions, MF preferred.