Faux HDR Portraits--Topaz

[MikeFairbanks]

Using the free trial of Topaz Adjust I put together some portraits. Cropped, worked on, manipulated, mangled. I like a couple of them. The one with all the surfers is a bit over the top I think. I like the program and might buy it when the trial expires. It's pretty good.

These are all professional surfers

What do you think? Give me the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Thanks

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/MichaelFairbanks/CJHobgoodpsychadelic.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/MichaelFairbanks/TaylorKnoxb2.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/MichaelFairbanks/damienhobgood2b.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/MichaelFairbanks/PsychadelicSurfers2.jpg

[cleverer]

The skin is looking a bit creepy to me. sun Damage?

[MikeFairbanks]

Yes, skin damage.

Oddly enough, most professional surfers are of Irish/English ancestry. The Australians make up half the professional surfers on the top-level tour. You don't find a lot of dark-skinned pro surfers, except in Hawaii and such. So the fair skin that most of these guys have takes a beating over the years.

This is still a generation that grew up without using sunscreen. I never used sunscreen until well into my thirties.

These particular photos really bring out the skin damage. I like the look, personally, but I see your point about it being creepy.

If you use an ultraviolet light on a person's face you can see incredible blemishes. I went to a dermatologist a couple years ago. I was clear, but she instantly knew two things: 1. I didn't use sunscreen growing up, and 2. She said, "you take advil at least once a week."

I asked, "how in the heck do you know that?"

She pointed out the tiny veins visible in my skin. She said that after taking advil you should stay out of any sun for a week!

[seaside]

I like the composition and subject. Just a tip; I find when creating this type of effect the skin is overly processed many times. Especially with sunburned/tanned faces/skin. After I've edited the image I use the history brush with opacity @ around 30 to 50 percent and paint back some of the original image on the skin. *there are other ways to accomplish this as well.

I find it is possible to really get some neat effects and still maintain a somewhat realistic skin texture and letting the rest of the image take on more of the filter's effects.

[Kevin]

Mike, nice work with Topaz. Personally I like this treatment, except for the guy with the surfboard, he looks like he has leprosy or some skin disease:lol:. I like the effects in 3 and 4 except for the halos, not liking halos. I agree with bringing in a normal shot and painting in some skin, I do that a lot with everything from moving people, objects, neon signs, strong inside lighting at night. I have the Topaz suite and have not had the time to sit and learn it yet.

[canonnoob]

personally, not a fan.. I dont like the halos... however, to each their own.. lol

[Picture North Carolina]

Good gawd! I don't want to get within six feet of those people! Their skin looks so horribly diseased it has got to be contagious!

[m3n00b]

Ewww....people should not be HDR'd or faux-HDR'd.

[tmcman]

The skin gives me the creeps. Its grating.

[tkbslc]

Sorry guy, I think these would have been a lot better as shot. The processing is just too much. Nobody would want to see themselves that way.

[S.E.V.]

Gotta love the Topaz Lab plugins.