Question on lightroom editing

[aqualeris]

Couldn't really find a proper subforum regarding photo editing so I thought I'd post here.

Picking up photography recently and would to love to replicate film looks despite using a dSLR. I've already experimented with various film presets in Lightroom but still can't achieve a desirable film effect. In particular, I really love Sam Alive's photos (linked below) and he uses mainly Lightroom to edit, but doesn't really share how he edits. So was wondering if any Lightroom experts can roughly deduce what presets he uses/what adjustments did he make to achieve such a look with his photos. Thanks!

https://500px.com/samalive

 

[coolhirako]

Couldn't really find a proper subforum regarding photo editing so I thought I'd post here.

Picking up photography recently and would to love to replicate film looks despite using a dSLR. I've already experimented with various film presets in Lightroom but still can't achieve a desirable film effect. In particular, I really love Sam Alive's photos (linked below) and he uses mainly Lightroom to edit, but doesn't really share how he edits. So was wondering if any Lightroom experts can roughly deduce what presets he uses/what adjustments did he make to achieve such a look with his photos. Thanks!

https://500px.com/samalive

How about vsco preset ?

 

[aqualeris]

How about vsco preset ?

Yes I have tried vsco presets but I can't find the preset that comes close to giving the effects Sam Alive achieved.

 

[catchlights]

Yes I have tried vsco presets but I can't find the preset that comes close to giving the effects Sam Alive achieved.

just need to ask Sam directly, if he don't want to reveal, accept it and move on.

preset is like cooking recipes, not everyone willing to share with others, try to develop your own if you want some uniqueness, else just find those free to download or paid presets from the web.

 

[Ha Zu Ni Za]

Yes I have tried vsco presets but I can't find the preset that comes close to giving the effects Sam Alive achieved.

How about tweaking or customizing the vsco film presets to meet your needs? I think that can be a starting point.

Or you can just shoot with film cameras. Then you don't have to replicate anything.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

[sammy888]

Sam Alive could have taken months if not years of learning and practicing at the computer and possible doing this for a living. Even if he wants to teach you out of the goodness of his heart, can any one really be able to mimic his work or style? You are still at stage 1 of photography as you said and already you think editing photo in a graphic program is easy given PRESENT and think knowing the fundamental of photo retouching is not required? That's like learning to fly when you barely walking at this stage. Preset is never always a foolproof shortcut you can buy with money

Looking at Sam's work there are so many variety of styles he use and likely he did them manual using also his creative eye and knowing what combination of work flow. Even of he use Preset, he still tweak them using his experience and what he learn thru practice. It is naive if anyone think, all Sam did was use a preset and VOILA. Instant beautiful work.

Now that is maybe cheapening his skill and long time dedication to his craft I feel. To think that can be learn easily or by some Plugin Preset app and with the least amount of practice via short cut style. If you think that is possible, well then you need to walk in his shoe a lot longer to get to where this Sam skill level is at. want to know how easy or hard it is to get to that level? GOOGLE YOUTUBE on photo editing. TONS of tutorial there to show you how to do certain things and maybe show you how elaborate some of the work flow requires of you..

Even then no one is going to teach you everything for free. You need to read lots more, practice lots more and put your work out there publicly to be judged till you get better at it or find you might able to reach Sam's level.

 

[daredevil123]

Yes I have tried vsco presets but I can't find the preset that comes close to giving the effects Sam Alive achieved.

Forget presets. Learn how to get the results you desire. Play with split tone section while balancing with white balance.

 

[Light Machinery]

Before you start editing the pictures for colors, may I suggest the monitor which you will be editing the pictures on be calibrated. A calibrated monitor will give you a much better & accurate indication of the changes in colors & tone that you will be trying to achieve.

Presets are a good start to learn but you will be able develop your own style & presets too if you practice a lot.

 

[kandinsky]

Yes I have tried vsco presets but I can't find the preset that comes close to giving the effects Sam Alive achieved.

Which have you tried? There are quite a few. Can try Film 06 perhaps, looks close to my eyes.

Presets are called presets, but they aren't really a one click magic solution. Just a starting point. Generally you still need to tweak it for different lighting/wb scenarios, etc. Also just to add that your 'base' images need to be 'there' as well, conceptually and technically, for any sort of preset/editing to work together with that to present the effect/image you saw in your mind.

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If you google a bit more, you'll find that samalive has a VSCO grid page with some images from some years back, where you see that a lot of the images are processed with VSCOcam, the mobile app.

http://vsco.co/samalive/grid/1

 

[dareangel321]

Please use manual and strictly manual