The Style of Herman Van Den Berge

[acroreef]

Does anyone now how the look of Herman van den Berge's images are achieved? I love this hyper-realistic style and was wondering if this is accomplished via luminosity masks and color grading of the image? I would love to experiment with this style but need some direction regarding how the basics are achieved. He is one of the very best at what he does, my opinion, of course. Here is a link to his images...(I hope I'm in the correct category and assume this is a post processing query).
https://500px.com/brains11

Thank you to all who respond.

Dave

[Manfred M]

It looks like nothing more than tone mapping to me, i.e. using HDR software (Photomatix, etc).

[Shadowman]

Does anyone now how the look of Herman van den Berge's images are achieved? I love this hyper-realistic style and was wondering if this is accomplished via luminosity masks and color grading of the image? I would love to experiment with this style but need some direction regarding how the basics are achieved. He is one of the very best at what he does, my opinion, of course. Here is a link to his images...(I hope I'm in the correct category and assume this is a post processing query).
https://500px.com/brains11

Thank you to all who respond.

Dave

Dave,

The basics start in camera, within you, and with your environment. The within you portion involves finding a location that appeals to you, setting the camera to capture that likeness, and then processing further to reveal your vision. In my experience, the PSA modes doesn't really provide you with the fiery reds you often see at sunset; you]'ll need to manipulate what the camera is capable of capturing, perhaps as easy as using EC or perhaps just adding a cpl. A good place to start would be finding that scene that appeals to you, posting the composition along with camera settings and getting the discussion flowing.

[Donald]

It looks like nothing more than tone mapping to me, i.e. using HDR software (Photomatix, etc).

Agreed. Not a style I like. Too over-tone mapped for me. Some good reading about tone mapping (What it is; How it works; etc) would be your starting point.

[James G]

Dave, these look very much like tone mapped/ High Dynamic range (HDR) images.Personally I'm not overly keen on extreme tone mapping though Herman Van Den Berge has a style which is interesting.

There are a lot of tutorials available if you search for HDR/High Dynamic Range/Tone Mapping and there are a number of books out there that go into the technique. Here in the UK there are quite a lot of titles available, and second hand copies can be found on Amazon for ridiculously low prices.

As Manfred said in his post Photomatix is probably the leading HDR software available but there are others. (And HDR processing can be done in Photoshop.)

I've not done much HDR but I have used Photomatix and Photoshop CC. I prefer to keep my images as natural as possible, and found that tone mapping techniques where I control the blending of a number of images works best for me.
I found that manipulating the blending with Photomatix and Photoshop's HDR panel very rapidly can generate the 'grungy' look which I dislike.

I now tend to use exposure blending rather than HDR since I find it much more controllable and consistent.

Jimmy McIntyre is a landscape photographer who has published a lot of free tutorials on blending techniques and you may find the attached link useful.

http://www.shutterevolve.com/7-examp...-superior-hdr/

Not sure if this helps you much... I suspect you are going to have to start experimenting....

[DanK]

yes, just google "hdr images" without the quotes, click on images, and you will see lots of these, some with even more exaggerated colors and tones.

[acroreef]

Thanks to all for your responses. I am familiar with the HDR/Photomatix style and I usually don't like it. And I do use Photoshop to blend multiple exposures manually. But I thought these images were different...more akin to a cinematic color graded look...maybe I'm wrong...

Dave

[Manfred M]

Thanks to all for your responses. I am familiar with the HDR/Photomatix style and I usually don't like it. And I do use Photoshop to blend multiple exposures manually. But I thought these images were different...more akin to a cinematic color graded look...maybe I'm wrong...

Dave

No, colour grading looks quite different; more like a standard photo that has been shot under coloured lights. This is definitely tone mapping / HDRI work and nothing more. He does use well shot images and seems to stay away from the more grunge look.

[Donald]

I think what you'll find, Dave, is that he is just a very, very good exponent of this style of photography. Despite some of us not being huge fans of this style, we still have to acknowledge when someone is obviously very, very good at it. I'd guess that your thinking it is something else because what you're seeing is the difference between people who do it now and again compared to a specialist in the style.

[James G]

Dave, one thought does occur...have you considered contacting Herman Van Den Berge regarding his workflow/process? You never know, it might just shorten the journey a little...

[acroreef]

Funny, I usually don't like HDR tone-maped/Photomatix style images but there is just something that really draws me to his images, which I find quite unique and appealing. Also, I did try to contact Mr. Van der Berge offering to pay for a tutorial. He was very kind but said he was too busy at present.

[Mack2060]

Funny, I usually don't like HDR tone-maped/Photomatix style images but there is just something that really draws me to his images, which I find quite unique and appealing. Also, I did try to contact Mr. Van der Berge offering to pay for a tutorial. He was very kind but said he was too busy at present.

Totally agree with all your comments acroreef. I hate most HDR (the over-done and niavely processed ones) but absolutely love Herman Van Den Berge's pictures.

[rpcrowe]

I like the style but, could get tired of it.

I have recently viewed an ad for an application which specializes in this type of photography. I think that I saw it on Serge Ramelli's Photoshop videos on YouTube

[DanK]

An old thread comes back to life!

It's all a matter of taste, but I generally dislike HDR tone-mapped images, but I see them as the tip of the larger iceberg of oversaturated landscape images, which are hugely popular on the web. Ironically, the panorama at the top of his page is far less exaggerated than the rest of what I have seen on his site, and it is by far the image I like the most.