How did THEY take it?

[C2H5OH]

I tried to find the best place to post this question and this was the best section I could pick.If it belongs in a better section,please let me know.

I have always loved the real gritty black and white pictures with tons of close up detail.I always try to search for them,but never get any results.I was browsing Flickr and came across one.How is this done? I viewed the EXIF data,but what Photoshopping is going on here?

[SusanH1970]

Looks like a contrast boost after BW conversion and lots of over-sharpening.

ETA: after viewing the larger image, I believe the open eye was dodged and burned as well.

[Nicole]

I just moved this to the post-processing section where it is a bit better suited.

My first thought was that it very much reminds me of the Dragan effect, based on the photos of Ajdrzej Dragan: Andrzej Dragan PHOTOGRAPHY If you check his personal portfolio you should see some similar shots. Searching for Dragan effect or Draganizer should get you started with tutorials on it.

[C2H5OH]

Thank you Nicole.Sorry if I posted in the wrong section.

[Nicole]

Don't worry about it

[BigFuzzy]

Agree with Susan, lots of post processing sharpening going on, especially on that open eye.

One way to try going about this (mind you it's the way I do it, not the only way) is to first off shoot with lots of side lighting as that brings out detail.
Convert to b/w and use a combination or sharpening, boosting both fill light and blacks (kind of a Dragan effect), boosting clarity, unsharpmask to do Local Contrast Enhancement...

But mind you, the lighting has a LOT to do with this image, so you have to start with a well lit (for the purposes of this goal) image.

Here's one I feel I did simlarly but in color. Had I converted into b&w it would have been similar.. but I thought "f it, everyone does it in b&w" so I cross processed it which also helps with contrast.



Also, I used a shallowerd DoF... most who try shots like this will have a wider DoF to get more detail in.. again, wanted to be different.

[GlynT]

Hi,

Have a go with using a high pass filter.....

Make a copy layer, select high pass filter from the filter 'other' menu, and blend it as an overlay. You can add several layers to increase the effect or reduce the opacity to decrease...

Hope that's useful!


Cheers,


Glyn