How can I recreate Andrew Bayda’s vivid color and high-contrast sports photo look?
Asked 5/26/2012
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I like the bold, punchy look in Andrew Bayda’s sports photos. The colors seem very vivid and the images have strong contrast. I use Capture One Pro, but I haven’t been able to get similar results in post-processing.
What shooting conditions and editing approach help create this look? Is it mainly the software, or more about light, subject choice, and processing technique?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
4
Just based on the frontpage you linked I have the following remarks:
light conditions on the field
All pictures, except for the B&W versions, are taken in bright sunlight. Almost no clouds on all these pictures. This is the available light on the field.
Bright sunlight gives harsh shadows and high contrast pictures. This definetely is the first step.
subject
colorful subjects. Red, green, blue and yellow, all primary colors are seen in these pictures. Choose subjects with these brights colors. Thanks to the direct sunlight these colors are even brighter.
post processing
For post processing it's not really what tool he uses that is important. It's rather the technique you have to look for. Start by capturing your images in RAW format.
In some cases he seems to be using HDR and a very soft approach of the Dave Hill effect. Also search high pass filter tutorials.
Originally by user4899. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4899
14y ago
0
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It’s probably not mainly about Capture One. From the examples discussed, the look comes mostly from a combination of:
- Bright direct sunlight: harsh light creates strong contrast, deep shadows, and a crisp look.
- Colorful subjects: uniforms and scenes with saturated reds, greens, blues, and yellows naturally look more “poppy,” especially in sun.
- Shooting in RAW: this gives more room to adjust contrast, color, and dynamic range in post.
- Post-processing technique: contrast and color are being pushed deliberately. In some images, an HDR-style approach may also be contributing.
So the recipe is: photograph colorful subjects in strong sunlight, expose carefully, shoot RAW, then increase contrast and color in post rather than relying on a specific program. The software matters less than the light, subject, and editing choices.
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