Spotts
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Senior Member
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Posts: 1,143
How to get the "Look" of my photos.
Nov 26, 2005
This came from another thread going on, but I thought it might be of use in a new thread. Dig in, these actions are great... to see them in use, check out:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=16015774
So, here it is: HOW TO GET THE "LOOK" OF MY PHOTOS.
Thank you for the compliments and for visiting my site. A lot of it is very contrasty and saturated, as you said, but the key, as you pointed out, is subtlety when necessary.
The most important of all Photoshop tricks that I've ever learned is this:
if you can tell what filter or effect was used, you've gone too far.
The second most important is layer masking. In case you aren't familiar, a Layer Mask hides a layer without deleting it. White or Black paint then hides or reveals that layer, allowing you to make countless adjustments to the image and reveal important details on a separate layer. If you don't understand, I urge you to figure it out; it is invaluable knowledge.
What I'm implying is that my images are all composites of maybe five or as much as twenty layers, each one edited to bring out specific details. The photo of the couple on the roof had a layer for the cement wall, another for the bricks, and another for them; one for the sky, one for the buildings, because everything had different values of brightness and detail.
Be an artist! Paint it up!
Oh, I use two actions ALL THE TIME.
The first action is a Velvia action, which I got from my friend Bob Butler (www.bobbutlerphotography.com) It is by far the best I've used...
Make this an action!!!! Slide the opacity to match your needs.

The other is a Gradient Mapping action for Black and White photos. Experiment with Gradient Maps, they're awesome. These are the action details:

My B&W's are usually made of 3 Layers. I take the final color image and convert it to grayscale and then immediately back to RGB (so I don't forget later).
Then I duplicate the layer and raise the middle levels by 30% or there about. This compensates for the gradient map (which I do next) because gradient mapping over darkens but greatly deepens the sense of inky tone. It also raises contrast without blowing highlights!
I then paste another layer and do the gradient map without raising the mid-levels. Finally I use layer masks to reveal the best of each of these layers. (Are you lost yet?)
Again, the key is subtle details and layers. The other trick is (no kidding) my Wacom tablet. I value it more than any lens I own, as far as business goes, because what used to take ten hours now takes two or less. I'm telling the truth about that. I have the 9x12 intuos II. Saves a lot of time adjusting flow.
Hope this helps.
By the grace of God I'll be successful (which means changing lives).