THE WIDOW

Visual Storytelling, High End Retouching

Artistic Direction

A client initially approached me for post-processing and retouching her photographs for a storytelling competition. As she saw my artistic approach in action, our collaboration deepened, and she entrusted me with the complete editing of her commissioned work.

Techniques and Process

Innovative Storytelling

My approach to storytelling involved a blend of photo manipulation techniques. This included retouching, precise lighting, and grading. I employed advanced digital painting and masking techniques, coupled with Frequency Separation, ensuring a non-destructive and high-quality workflow.

Frequency Separation

I utilized frequency separation extensively to achieve high-fidelity control over reshaping forms, light, and shadows. This technique was pivotal in refining textures and balancing colors, creating harmony and flow within the composition.

Detail Enhancement

The post-processing phase predominantly focused on sharpening and balancing the image using Frequency Separation and High Pass filters. This was essential in accentuating the focal point and emphasizing crucial details.

Emotional Impact and Color Psychology

strategic use of color

A key aspect of my editing process was the strategic use of color psychology. Blue, symbolizing integrity, calmness, and trust, and black, representing durability and elegance, were chosen to evoke specific emotions. The use of blue created an atmosphere of sincerity and faith, while black accents added sophistication and resilience.

This intentional color scheme was designed to forge an emotional connection with the viewers, leaving an impression of trust and enduring elegance.

GRADING THE ATMOSPHERE

To achieve the desired emotional impact, I carefully graded the composition. This involved a combination of hand painting- and advanced selection techniques, employing filters and masks for ultimate control during the process.

By manually grading the composition, I not only enhanced the visual appeal but also ensured that every element, from light and shadow to color balance, worked harmoniously together.