Texas Photo Forum

Allen · **How do I make my images pop like these? -** 10-25-2005, 11:44 PM

I cam across the work of Jill Greenberg in a recent issue of Digital PhotoPro. I love the way her photos look. You can see some examples here:

http://manipulator.com/

Lets assume the image I'm starting with is exposed properly and is in focus. What can I do in Photoshop to really pump them up? In the article she states "I use a lot of masking, apply color curves, dodge and burn." Granted, my digital skills could use a lot of work, so I know this probably won't come easy to me.

Btw, I'm looking forward to purchasing her book on monkeys and apes when it becomes available. Some of the most stunning portraits, human or otherwise, I've ever seen.

RHoldenSr · 10-26-2005, 12:02 AM

Here is one way:
This is a partial of the video but you can get the main idea.

See Rick Sammon - Enhancing Wildlife Photos

Joe_Lorenzini · 10-26-2005, 12:27 AM

I love Jill's work. I'm pretty sure the monkey thing was an accident, she was doing a shoot with one and got inspired. She's also a true pro in Photoshop - a lethal combination for sure.

Abel · 10-27-2005, 12:29 PM

nice links guys! thanks..

h00kemh0rns · 10-27-2005, 12:49 PM

Allen & Robin...thx I have a new appreciation for their works and skills. Have to check out those videos from home though. Damn work security admins.

Gordon · 10-27-2005, 01:20 PM

I think a lot of it is having the idea in the first place.

Print the shot out. Look at it. Work out what you'd like to change - and I mean really work it out. Write down what things you'd change. Pre-visualise how you'd like it to end up. - scribble on the print, change this, adjust that.

Then start realising your vision in whatever tools you have to hand, photoshop etc.

The hard part isn't the photoshop skills, its knowing where you want to go with them.
After a while you can probably work this out just looking at the base image, but to start with it helps to really carefully think about where you want to go.

Then you can go learn how to do each of those things well in photoshop.

dbphotos · 10-29-2005, 08:48 PM

I agree with Gordon, its coming up with the idea and making a plan to attain it. The shots are basic studio shots with gray paper backgrounds and lighting, from there its the monkey and cleaning it up in Photoshop. I think if you had access to trained monkeys who would sit long enough to shoot, you could come up with some great images as well. Not taking away from her work, she's done a great job, but so many photographers just use each other's techniques with their own "spin".

Joe L. has some great PS skills and reall makes his images pop. Maybe he should put on a PS class. Go to his site and look at some of the images he has, they have beautiful colors and are really sharp. A great combination of a very good photographer and someone with PS skills.

Allen · 10-29-2005, 11:04 PM

In the article she mentions how she likes to use mostly natural light, but it seems most of the images on her site are with studio lighting.

Here's another I like:

Trey Neal · 10-30-2005, 07:06 PM

Definitely studio lighting - you can see the ringlight in the last image of the first post in this thread. Her images do pop, no question, but getting that sort of pop without the studio lights is gonna be a challenge.

sbug_adam · 10-31-2005, 12:34 AM

big article about her in the recent issue of Digital Photo Pro. She saturates with colors and creates just some simply awesome work.

Adam

Allen · 10-31-2005, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbug_adam

big article about her in the recent issue of Digital Photo Pro. She saturates with colors and creates just some simply awesome work.

Adam

Yeah...I mentioned that in my first post. I was hoping to get more insight into her PS techniques. I really like the photo of Lisa Marie Presley from that article.

sbug_adam · 10-31-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen

Yeah...I mentioned that in my first post. I was hoping to get more insight into her PS techniques. I really like the photo of Lisa Marie Presley from that article.

i just NOW read that, LOL.. sorry. but I dont know man, her technique is very unique thats for sure.. I havent checked out her site yet but maybe theres some info there on it..

Adam

Charloto · 10-31-2005, 10:37 AM

I don't know her technique but I do love her work.. As for making colors 'pop', instead of saturation I use color burn. I use the eyedropper tool to grab whatever color I want to enhance and set the brush to color burn and 'paint' the areas I want to enhance. It gives you more control than just upping your saturation. Of course, this could be common knowledge..lol, but something I find very helpful.

engstrom · 10-31-2005, 11:00 AM

Sorry for the dumb question but I'm unfamiliar with color burn. What brush do you use (any of them?) and how do you set it to a color burn mode?

Charloto · 10-31-2005, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engstrom

Sorry for the dumb question but I'm unfamiliar with color burn. What brush do you use (any of them?) and how do you set it to a color burn mode?

Just click on the paintbrush tool icon. At the top where you set your opacity, brush size, etc.. there is a drop down menu where you can change it from 'normal' to the various effects like color burn, etc. Hope this helps! :)

engstrom · 10-31-2005, 11:09 AM

Thanks Charloto - I'll try that when I get home tonight!

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How do I make my images pop like these?