Over-exaggeration!

[Japaslavian]

So I was bored just now, and decided to go through all the un-used photos from a trip I took a while back with a bunch of architecture shots taken in San Francisco, several of which I've posted here
Anyway, to cure my boredom, I decided I was going to go all out in Photoshop and get some crazy looking picture. Here's what I started with.
Just a basic shot (not in RAW unfortunately) taken with my lovely 10-22mm.
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure:0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture:f/5.6
Focal Length:10 mm
ISO Speed:100



Then I went crazy.
-First I used a lomo action I found linked on this forum somewhere, I can't seem to find it again. I'll edit if I come across it.
-Anyways, I thought it was a little too saturated so I made a duplicate layer and desaturated it. To get some nicer tones, I took the desaturated layer opacity down to about 80 and the fill to about 60.
-It was looking a little bright in the sky, especially the top right corner, so I made another duplicate layer and used the Apply Image adjustment and masked in different parts across the image.
-Lastly, the pillars were looking a bit bland so I took the dodge brush on Highlights at hardness 0 and opacity 50, and brushed on different parts.
-To add contrast to them I took the burn tool on shadows at 20% and 0 hardness and darkened the edges and some other places.

I'm almost certain I've forgotten a few steps, but that's the gist of it.

Here's the results:



Pretty ridiculous as far as traditionalism huh?

I hope you guys enjoy this is much as I did!

[xxpinballxx]

WOW! I was reading your description of the process without realizing I was still looking at the before. I thought it was the reworked and was going to say you have a VERY VERY light touch...i didn't see any of those edits done..HAHA!
I think its a cool shot on its own but really like the rework over all. A bit on the blue side for me but still a good final effect. Thats the fun part about this hobby.....
You can be stuck inside bored playing around with your shots and get something totally different...a whole new shot.

[windrider86]

I really like what you have done here. Great work!

[Murtasma]

really cool perspective and what a great lens I want a 10-22 so bad but I can't justify the cost since it won't work on a 5D which I plan on upgrading to sometime in the future I don't want ot have a great wide angle lens that cost big bucks that can be only used on one of my bodies.

[Haeretik]

Aye, nice work... I love "saving" photos with photoshop

[prince]

Great shot and beautiful post processing work.. Thanks for the detail step by step explanation

[Saralonde]

Nice job. I love the depth it gav e the shot.

[FrankenPengie]

I disagree regarding the "Over-exaggeration" tag. It certainly doesn't fall under "minimalist", but sure is sweet!

[Manda]

Great job.

I especially like the apply image route - I'm trying to learn how / when to use this command and your example helps me think about it more.

[miles]

Great work, I love it!