chuck close inspired portraits - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

07/06/2007 11:10:05 AM · #1

I am working for glimmerglass opera in upstate new york and they are putting on Philip Glass' opera Orphee this summer. As part of the set design they wanted a giant blown up portrait of the lead singer in the style of Chuck Close's portrait of Philip Glass . Fortunately for me the professional photographer was not available so they turned to me, the intern, to take the shots. I am so excited about these and I am posting my favorite three of the top five chosen by the set designer and the director. Which one is your favorite? How do you get the pixilated effect that Chuck Close created? I tried a couple things in photoshop and couldn't seem to get it right. Any ideas? Thanks!!

Elmakias

Canon EOS-5D

07/06/2007 11:13:44 AM · #2

i misread

Message edited by author 2007-07-06 15:14:26.

AJSullivan

07/06/2007 11:21:39 AM · #3

Id go with the first.
He looks dumbfounded in it, which kind of goes with the inspiration photo. The 2nd is too serious but still a really good image, and the 3rd he looks like a vegetable.

swankFoto

Fujifilm X-E1

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

07/06/2007 11:26:57 AM · #4

I like the first one the best.
You really caught some personality/attitude with that one.

As far as the post processing, many others on here can give better advice, but it appears like you may want to scan some canvas and import it as a layer.
With a copy of your background, I'd say you need to limit your pallete significantly - down to maybe 64 shades of gray?
I don't know off the top of my head how to do it in PhotoShop but I know in ImageReady or Fireworks when you make GIFs from a raster you can tell it how many discreet colors to use.
I think that may get you close to what you are looking for.

Message edited by author 2007-07-06 15:27:17.

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/06/2007 11:37:28 AM · #5

Link to Chuck Close website.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/06/2007 11:46:29 AM · #6

oh cool!!

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

07/06/2007 12:04:50 PM · #7

The first one is definitely the best.

To get close to that effect, you can use the Texture/Patchwork filter and play with the settings a bit.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/06/2007 12:08:52 PM · #8

OH YEAH i forgot about the texture options, thats awesome, how did you get the border? i dont think they want a border but i like borders so yeah, would be nice to know :)

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

07/06/2007 12:12:19 PM · #9

Originally posted by lovethelight:

how did you get the border?

I usually use Extensis PhotoFrames, but haven't reinstalled since I upgraded to CS3. So I drew a rounded rectangle on a layer below the pic and used a Xenofex/Crumple filter (I use that a lot!). You could just use a funky brush with the eraser and go around the edges - that would work, too.

Carl Zeiss 35mm ZF f/2.0 Distagon T

07/06/2007 01:08:51 PM · #10

Awesome!
thanks!

virtuamike

Nikon D2X

07/07/2007 09:07:20 PM · #11

Portait: Theory, Kelly Wise. There's an essay by Chuck Close in it, plenty of workflow details.