Totally new technique, thoughts?

In December I'll be moving into my own space that'll give me alot more flexibility with shooting clients, but in the meantime I'm still banging away at a few experimental things on my own. I promise promise promise to have photos of more than my ugly mug come December

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Dammmmmmmnnnnnn I have been trying this for so long... I love it.. why can't i get it? in your opinion (honest) what is the most important to get this final effect.. PP or lighting?

I would say it's half and half. It's most definately not a case of being "all lighting" like you'll hear some people claim, but at the same time you can't really pull it off unless your lighting is just right. It took alot of back and forth where I'd PP, realize "Ok no, this lighting sucks for what I wanted to do", then go back to the lighting, then reshoot, then re process, then reshoot etcetera. So it's really both, I won't deny that there's alot of photoshop involved though

Now... that being said.. how about a quick run through your PP? not asking for too much just what do you think was most important and made the most difference towards the final effect? maybe something will light a bulb in my head.. Im looking and trying and searching and trying.. and yet I feel Im so far from this...

It RAWKS!

Thats a good look right there. (The picture,not you lololololol)

wow.. nice

I like the effect, but what do you "call" it?

I like it.

Awww. It's a cute mug. Great technique.

I'm liking it. Great subtle tones. Interesting how the lighting on your face is so even while the shadows are in no way diminished above and behind. Wish I had some idea how you do it.

Don't worry about your mug, the logo on your hoodie pulls my eyes down. Unfortunately!!!

Love the PP and the shot otherwise

martinsjc wrote in post #4306241
Now... that being said.. how about a quick run through your PP? not asking for too much just what do you think was most important and made the most difference towards the final effect? maybe something will light a bulb in my head.. Im looking and trying and searching and trying.. and yet I feel Im so far from this...

Sorry martin. I feel bad about doing this especially in light of how helpful you've been to everyone, but I just don't really discuss technique when it comes down to some of the things I've learned through thousands of hours of trial and error. Everything I do PP wise is self taught from alot of sleepless nights in photoshop and my studio lights set up in my basement, and I've just never really felt comfortable sharing what I've always thought of as being my signature techniques. Yes there's alot of stuff out there that's really similar, and alot of it comes down to the "illustration effect" you see employed and achieved differently by alot of photographers, but nonetheless I've never seen a tutorial that takes the same approach I do. It's a jerk move and I apologize profusely, but I just don't feel comfortable sharing.

FWIW, I think based on your recent shot with the smoke and the texture you have all the techniques you need, it's just a matter of getting more comfortable with them and finding out what they're capable of.

squashed wrote in post #4306994
Thats a good look right there. (The picture,not you lololololol)

You must know my girlfriend. She said the exact same thing...

Bootlegger0173 wrote in post #4307217
I like the effect, but what do you "call" it?

Never really occured to me to call it anything. How's Sally?

dazzlebea wrote in post #4307535
Don't worry about your mug, the logo on your hoodie pulls my eyes down. Unfortunately!!!

Love the PP and the shot otherwise

Yeah the more I look at it the more I realize you're right. Thanks for that.

And thanks everyone for the opinions and insight