Removing Distractions From Your Photographs
So, how do you shoot at the legendary Disney Concert Hall without breaking their rule of ‘No Professional Photography‘? You do it with finesse. Benjamin Von Wong was faced with the task of shooting the Trio Dinicu at the location without looking like a professional photographer. In this behind the scenes video he shows you how he accomplished that and also walks you through cleaning any distractions from your photo using Photoshop.
Photo by the lovely URFotogenik
In the video he explains exactly what Photoshop technique he used to smooth out all of the unwanted imperfections that were distracting the viewer of the photograph from the trio and from the amazing lines of the architecture.
“The best way to smooth surfaces over (IMHO) is to use something known as the Frequency Separation Technique. Never heard of it? Throw it into google and you’ll find a bazillion different examples and uses for it. What it essentially does is separate a single file into two separate layers: A texture layer and a colour layer. This means that you will be able to smooth tones without affecting texture in an image.
Too lazy to search for one? Check out Sarah Kiesling’s detailed tutorial (specifically targeted to beauty retouching)here. She has a far sweeter voice than mine and goes into some great details you might enjoy.
The reason I use this technique is to smooth out distractions in an image. Too often, our eyes are drawn to imperfections in an image which I feel can greatly weaken your image. Of course, like all things, I recommend that you “perfect” things in moderation as the final result is still supposed to be a photograph!” – Benjamin Von Wong 
If you want to read more into how he lit every shot that he did from this series and a more detailed explanation into his Photoshop techniques then head over to his BLOG where he breaks them down for you: Guerrilla Lighting and the Importance of Removing Distractions (Photoshop Breakdown) feat. Trio Dinicu
