Photoshop - Making images better contrast/adding "pop", share tips?

[Paul]

About 99% of the photographs I take and publish are not edited in Photoshop in any way. I use RAW format, so Photoshop spits out the jpegs, but I try to keep them "pure" and original.

However, sometimes I think maybe I'm missing a trick or two. I wanted to give advice, and hopefully get some back about making images "pop" a little more. Sometimes you see photos and the contrast and spectrum of colour is amazing, and you just now a lot is done in "post production" (or "they cheated" as some might put it).

Here's a few attempts at making the original image here stand out a bit, without looking too 'fake'.

Original:

Attachment 136975

Adjusting levels in Photoshop:

Attachment 136976

Using the "unsharp mask" in Photoshop:

Attachment 136977

Both images also use the vignette effect I discussed elsewhere on here.

Any other tips?

For "unsharp mask", just google "unsharp mask" photoshop pop and you should find hints and tips (eg: Digital Horizons: Sharpening Techniques | Outdoorphotographer.com), also use "adjust levels" photoshop pop to find hints on that. Far better advice out there than I can give here.

[:: Jon ::]

I have a few up my sleeve so will sort it out and post them up

[Paul]

Go on then....

[Beastmaster]

I think the most effective use of Photoshop on the example you give Paul would be to use it to remove the unsightly and distracting aerial mast from the picture.

[Paul]

That's OT, but I actually liked that. Was just waiting for some lightning to hit it to make the perfect dramatic shot! Maybe that could be 'shopped in to add some "pop".

[Pamlico]

Adjusting Levels can be very effective, but try this as well:

Make a duplicate layer of the image
Apply a Gaussian blur (say 3 to 5 pixels)
Set layer type to Overlay
Adjust Opacity until satisfied

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pamlico (original)

Adjusting Levels can be very effective, but try this as well:

Make a duplicate layer of the image
Apply a Gaussian blur (say 3 to 5 pixels)
Set layer type to Overlay
Adjust Opacity until satisfied

Not tried that, but I have used something similar in the past.

Duplicate layer, desaturate, apply a large Gaussian blur (50 or so pixels), invert selection, set layer type to overlay. You can then also "cut out" the area you want to highlight.

See example:

[Beastmaster]

I think I misunderstood the precise point of adding "pop". To give it pop then I would remove any distractions and then enhance the car with an omni light and finally give it a small sharpen. (Aerial very hastily and crudely removed I might add)

[humph]

Thanks for the tips guys. Sharpening in Photoshop is not something I have mastered yet. Will have a fiddle with some of the tips above.

I have to agree with Beastmaster though. For me I would have to remove the aerial, and the chimney/trees in the background. Attached is one I had a fiddle with.

Aerial and other distractions removed. Also removed the tax disk as this was drawing the eye. This is done very crudely as the original shot used is quite low resolution (it is the unsharp mask, pic three in post 1)

Have cropped and rotated so that the car is a little larger in frame and the angles are a little stronger.

Then a simple very quick border added as I think this always finishes off a shot nicely. Although it has to be the right border for the shot.

Did you use any sort of filter Paul? Just wondering if a circular polarising filter would have reduced/eliminated the reflection in the side of the car.

Really liked this picture set in your Flickr Paul.

[Juno]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

Any other tips?

All above plus try out the dodge and burn tools - especially good on sky and clouds!

Pete

[Pamlico]

You can also try playing around with High Dynamic Range imaging. You can get some stunning effects with this technique. It's incorporated in Photoshop beginning with CS2. There is also dedicated software available as well.

[adam_Randell]

I personally would make the car abit righter; leave the dark clouds in there. ITs a very good picture, nice angle maybe you could work with that.

OR, another way you could make the car stand out would be to do a motion blur on the backgroud - however that would be makeing the image look 'photoshoped'