The art of retouching and visual effects is a subtle one, if you notice it’s presence it’s most likely failed.
It’s a mostly thankless job as it’s only those who have dealt with this side of digital imaging that know what goes in to such a production. As you can see from the amazing show reel below from Brainstorm Digital there’s very few scenes where you would notice the VFX, from adding fire to a shot, moving a party to the beach, or creating a whole city street. It blows my mind, and we’re not talking about science fiction films anymore, it’s just that some things are done easier in the computer than on set and that tells you a lot about the direction of the digital imaging industry as whole.
Visual effects artists and retouchers are the (latest) unsung heroes of the imaging world, whether the work they do is sociable responsible or not, films such as Life of Pi and Avatar would never have been made without these talented and midnight-oil-burning specialists.
I salute you, whilst quietly removing all my badly retouched work from view…