High Quality images (Opinions?)

I'm curious... I started shooting portraits a few months ago.

Every now and then i come across a few photographers that there work just moves me.
There images are just so sharp, colors look amazing, lighting is perfect and on top of that composition is just breath taking.

- Sharpness, i know depends more on gear. Well and a good post sharpening technique on top of that.

- Lighting, there are just so many different possibilities. It can either make or break an image. I know i will learn this as i practice.

- Post Process Enhancements, this i am pretty much in space about.
I know a decent amount about photoshop. I know how to use Curves, levels, layers, masking, all the tones etc. But some times i think my post work might either be to much or taking away from the image.

I know with time one will get better. What are your opinions?


Here are a few images from a photographer i really admire (from another forum). He hasn't been around recently to reply to my questions.

An image just doesn't look like this when it comes out of a camera...
Do you agree?

http://home.socal.rr.c​om/mpowered/web/angboo​-web.jpg
http://home.socal.rr.c​om/mpowered/web/ardenw​eb.jpg
http://home.socal.rr.c​om/mpowered/web/nadege​web.jpg


I'm working on my lighting skills. Maybe my concern is more in regards to post processing?

If anyone has any suggestion on books, websites or just tips i would appreciate it so much.

Are you telling us that these images are not your own?
If they are not, it is against our rules. Post a link instead!!!!

Thay have been PP'd.

chauncey wrote in post #6876568
Are you telling us that these images are not your own?
If they are not, it is against our rules. Post a link instead!!!!

Thay have been PP'd.

Ok, i made them into a link.

I know they have been PP'd...

Those are indeed shots taken by a member of this forum. The shots were taken with strobe lights and have been nicely PP'd.

You'll be surprised how a properly "strobed" shot looks like straight out of camera, but to give it that additional pop like in those images, PP is required.

yeah Mpowereds work is fabulous.

i know one of the lenses he favors is the 135L and i can see why. he gets great images with it.. but is PP is also detailed, and well done all of the time.

shannon

Sharpness and lighting are more generated by skill than gear, once you have a minimum of the lighting equipment needed.

Good lights and placement = contrast and enough light to stop down.

Enough light = stopped down so even cheap lenses perform well, and there is no chance of motion blur.

One other point. Landscapes do not use flash, but this is another case where technique can be greater than gear. Use of a good tripod rigorously and an eye to recognize high quality high contrast light will outperform expensive lenses every time.

M Powered

René Damkot wrote in post #6879014
M Powered

I know who the photographer is and that he is on here.

I PMed him