The Boxer

Llywellyn · August 27, 2008

This series of photos came about due to a second idea I had for the recent DSS Mega Challenge (the "failed" idea is the last in this set). Though I didn't run with this idea, this series demonstrates a ton of firsts for me as a photographer: using a multi-light set-up, working with a "model" and posing, and post-processing utterly unlike anything I normally do.

I wanted to capture a style similar to Joey Lawrence and Dave Hill, though less illustrator-ish than the latter. After bribing my extremely fit friend to model and gunking her up good, we set to shooting--with lots of giggling in between. (We were doing this on my front porch and got some straaaaange looks from my passing neighbors as well as the UPS guy and my mailman. So worth it, though!)

The Set-Up

1

2

3 (Missed the focus, but I still love her expression)

4

5

Thanks for stopping by! :thumb

Darren Troy C · August 27, 2008

She needs a shower.....and you need a ribbon! Fantastic! Not really in love w/ the fire on the fists, but it definately works! (wish the "flames" were a little more "real" looking in nature.

Overall, great post-prod. work!

Awais Yaqub · August 27, 2008

:beatwax

Excellent !

Flyinggina · August 27, 2008

Focus be damned. I love #3. But all of them are truly fantastic!

Virginia

pyry · August 27, 2008

So that's where the exploding soufflé came from

Kerry, this is quite simply stunning work. Wouldn't want to meet your friend alone in a dark alley...

shatch · August 27, 2008

Kerry, these are great. What is your post steps on this?

Richard · August 27, 2008

clap

Llywellyn · August 27, 2008

Idlewild wrote:

She needs a shower.....and you need a ribbon! Fantastic! Not really in love w/ the fire on the fists, but it definately works! (wish the "flames" were a little more "real" looking in nature.

Overall, great post-prod. work!

Thank you.

These flames are actually more what I had in my mind's eye, and are steps above my first attempt. :giggle But you're right that the falseness of the flames is what didn't make it work completely.

Awais Yaqub wrote:

:beatwax

Excellent !

Thank you!

Flyinggina wrote:

Focus be damned. I love #3. But all of them are truly fantastic!

Virginia

Thank you! That's how I ended up feeling about #3, too.

pyry wrote:

So that's where the exploding soufflé came from

Kerry, this is quite simply stunning work. Wouldn't want to meet your friend alone in a dark alley...

And thank you. She's actually quite harmless, and one of the goofiest chicks I know:

shatch wrote:

Kerry, these are great. What is your post steps on this?

Thanks, Steven!

The PP is actually a bit complex--lots of layers involved, mainly curves, multiply layers, and hue/sat. I was thinking of putting together a how-to post in the Techniques area if enough people are curious. It's not a simple "cook," for sure, and I didn't use exactly the same steps for each photo as the same steps didn't always work for the pose/focus/lighting variations.

I did put together a "Dave Hill" action (which I used in some shots but not in others, and always tweaked the adjustment layers afterward) based on this tutorial. That could be a good starting place.

dlplumer · August 27, 2008

Love 2-3 Kerry. Very dramatic and intense. Good model.

evoryware · August 27, 2008

I looked at the shots and was just gonna say this has a feel similar to Joey L and I LOVE IT! You photographed it well, she was obviously into the role and the 4th one is only missing growling Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans and German shepherds.

I think you should continue to play with the fire in #5. It's not there yet, but it's close.

I love the phone books for light stand stability.

Llywellyn · August 27, 2008

Richard wrote:

clap

:curtsey

dlplumer wrote:

Love 2-3 Kerry. Very dramatic and intense. Good model.

Thank you! She was fantastic...after we got past the giggling. :giggle

evoryware wrote:

I looked at the shots and was just gonna say this has a feel similar to Joey L and I LOVE IT! You photographed it well, she was obviously into the role and the 4th one is only missing growling Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans and German shepherds.

I think you should continue to play with the fire in #5. It's not there yet, but it's close.

I love the phone books for light stand stability.

Thank you! Glad to know I captured the same feel.

I need to put #5 aside for a bit, as I've worked on it so much I've grown to hate it. I know my OCD side won't let it go, so eventually I'll go back to tweaking.

Yeah...phonebooks. Funnly enough, I'd been watching a lot of lighting videos before attempting this and saw the liberal use of sandbags. I thought that was way heavy duty and figured, "I'm no pro, I won't need 'em." That strobe had a brolly on it at first, then one good gust of wind came by... :uhoh I frantically began searching for something to weigh the stand down, and we'd just had new phonebooks delivered. Worked like a charm.

Llywellyn · August 27, 2008

Guuuuuh...I just spent about three hours trying to put together a tutorial on this. I tossed it up in the Techniques forum: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=907691#post907691.

Give it a whirl if you like. Let me know if it doesn't make any sense.

thebigsky · August 28, 2008

:jawdrop

Kerry, these are extraordinary!

Charlie

Llywellyn · August 28, 2008

thebigsky wrote:

:jawdrop

Kerry, these are extraordinary!

Charlie

Woo, a jawdrop!

Thank you, Charlie.

Photosbychuck · August 28, 2008

WOW GREAT Photos!!!

crockett · August 29, 2008

To the original poster:

If you google Scott Kelby's Website/Blog and go back a few posts (less than two weeks ago).

There is an interesting video on how to create fire/flames in PS by creating a brush from the smudge tool.

I just watched it and moved on so I don't know if it would be applicable in your situation but I believe it would be worth a look for the photo your struggling with.

Llywellyn · August 29, 2008

Photosbychuck wrote:

WOW GREAT Photos!!!

Thank you so much!

crockett wrote:

There is an interesting video on how to create fire/flames in PS by creating a brush from the smudge tool.

Interesting. I'll have to try it out to see if I like it or not. Thanks for the tip!

For anyone who's curious, here it is on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzlOj0CHzY0

Tango · August 29, 2008

#4 is awesome, as they all are, but #4 sure tells a story in ones mind...

thebigsky · August 29, 2008

Llywellyn wrote:

Woo, a jawdrop! Thank you, Charlie.

Hey credit where credit's due, by the way, does 'fit' have the same slang connotation in America?

Charlie

Llywellyn · August 29, 2008

AaronNelson wrote:

#4 is awesome, as they all are, but #4 sure tells a story in ones mind...

Thanks, Aaron!

thebigsky wrote:

Hey credit where credit's due, by the way, does 'fit' have the same slang connotation in America?

I'm not sure what it means for you across the pond, but here it's meant as "physically in shape/healthy." My friend is very lean and muscular, and she has an amazing workout routine.

The Boxer

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