How many of you like tone-mapped people ?

vipgraphx · Dec 8, 2011

I tried this in some soccer shots of my daughter, My wife hates it but I kinda like it. Its real(fake) if you understand what I mean.

ari1 by VIPGraphX, on Flickr

ari2 by VIPGraphX, on Flickr

I put this in HDR because it uses similar techniques..

make sure you click on the image and then click on flickr to see the bigger image with more detail

Majeed Badizadegan · Dec 8, 2011

If you like it that's all that matters :sexywink:

Personally I think in some situations it can look ok. In the case of your photos it gives them a three-dimensional feeling. (But also a very fake and processed feeling)

Destin · Dec 8, 2011

I think it's a little overdone on your examples. I've tried it on portraits but never sports photos (opens photoshop to try it)

BastiaanImages · Dec 8, 2011

The effect can be nice but you overdid it indeed

vipgraphx · Dec 8, 2011

yeah I have seen some really nice photos out there on the net. I cant just quite get it yet but I will. I personally really like these two images even though they look real/fake thats kinda what I like...but there also is another style that really looks good.

here is a samples of one photographer who's pictures that i saw on flickr that got me started in this direction.

215 by mikeyeh88, on Flickr

Texan cheerleader by mikeyeh88, on Flickr

0308 by mikeyeh88, on Flickr

and these are from another photographer. This guys stuff is amaizing!! go through his photos..just amaizing!!
The Undead Unsober | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Are You Being Served? | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

unpopular · Dec 8, 2011

Tone mapped people are weird. At first I am like ACK! There is an immediate reaction that REALLY does bother me a lot.

But then I look a little closer, and I can't quite see what it is that I don't like and the image kind of comes into focus for me. Overall though, I don't think it's my thing.

ann · Dec 8, 2011

the hockey isn't too bad, the cheerleaders..........are you kidding me. they look awful. I don't know any woman who wants skin tones like that. ugh.

This is very much a dave hill effect that has been around for a long time.

GooniesNeverSayDie11 · Dec 8, 2011

I don't like it. Occasionally I will see it on a portrait and think "eh thats kind of a creative twist" but thats pretty much it. I tend to give more leeway with portraits than sports. To me, the sport and action should be the focus, not some destracting effect. Now, I have seen some cool sports THEMED shoots for advertisements, but that is a whole different ballgame. (no pun intended) That is just me though.

shootermcgavin · Dec 8, 2011

Yeah I think some places it can be done but women definitely a no no... I think rough tough sports guys look ok. Shooting your daughter playing soccer probably not the best place for it.

2WheelPhoto · Dec 8, 2011

The better HDRs I've seen have the background tone-mapped but not the people. Try placing the people in a separate layer from the HDR entirely and you might like the results better.

vipgraphx · Dec 8, 2011

yeah good idea I will try that.

pathoulihan1 · Dec 9, 2011

The hockey shot looks like a Norman Rockwell at first glance (obviously not so much in subject as in look and feel) just saying!

I have to agree with whats been said, most of the time it does really strange things to skin tones, however in the hockey shot because there isn't much exposed skin, it does have some merit.

vipgraphx · Dec 9, 2011

Good input! I guess I am one of the only ones out there that really likes this style of processing. My wife is with the majority here she does not like it on people. She said it makes them look like they have bruises...I can see that. I am on a mission to figure a way to do this but keep the skin tones smoother.

Now I have always been a fan of abstract art maybe this has a little influence on why I like HDR and these images.

Thanks again.

Destin · Dec 9, 2011

After reading this thread I wanted to try it out for myself, but less extreme. So I imported a photo from this soccer season back into lightroom and tonemapped in HDR Efex Pro. I kinda like the added texture!

Original Shot:

Tonemapped: