Q: Sports Illustrated Post Processing // What did they do, how and why?

[S.Horton]

Thumbing through SI last night, and noticed how they're apparently doing serious PP on their photos.

Many seem to have the following things done, but I cannot be sure of it:

1. The athelete was pulled from the background
2. A funky shadow effect was added around the athlete
3. The background I cannot be sure, but some look like a blur boost was applied
4. The athlete was put back in

..more or less

Does anyone happen to know what they're doing and why?

My NOOB guess: The athlete PP is different from the background to get a 'look'.

Now on the controversial end of this, what PP is too much PP? Or, is that an artistic and editorial judgement?

[dshootist]

Could you show (or tell) which issue/article you're referring to? I'd like to think that the only PP SI does is the occasional color balance and sharpen, but subject removal sounds a bit over the top unless they are doing an ESPN-type editorial. Of course, when even the longest-running publications have their staff photogs get busted for PP, it makes us all suspect.

[Don Julio Anejo]

This sais it all:

http://web.mac.com/aaronandpatty/iWeb/What%20the%20Duck/THE%20VAULT_files/WTD25.jpg

[<AkulA>]

Check the cutline - you have a lot more leeway with PP if you call it a "photo illustration" instead of just a photo.

[S.Horton]

VERY intersting - the effect cannot be seen on SI.COM readily.

It could be a print-only PP item. The reason I ask is that it looks great.

Pick up an SI in print sometime, start looking at the photos inside the magazine, paying particular attention to the shadow-like halo around some athletes, which tends to lift them from the background.

Very cool.

[csm328]

VERY intersting - the effect cannot be seen on SI.COM readily.

It could be a print-only PP item. The reason I ask is that it looks great.

Pick up an SI in print sometime, start looking at the photos inside the magazine, paying particular attention to the shadow-like halo around some athletes, which tends to lift them from the background.

Very cool.

Don't do it! Once you figure out how to 'notice' PP, you'll never look at a magazine picture the same way again. My fiance just graduated with a degree in graphic arts and showed me what to look for. Now I'm ruined :(

The truth: most magazine pics are severely edited.

[cosworth]

This thread is useless without pics.

[GeoffSobering]

This thread is useless without pics.

Agreed!

A "shadow like halo" sounds a lot like overzealous use of the PS "Shadow/Highlight" tool.

Cheers,

Geoff S.

[zoti]

Example please.

[S.Horton]

This thread is useless without pics.

Absolutely, but I cannot scan a picture from an SI issue and post it. ;)

And I sure can't post on sportsshooter.com, but I could search it (off to search tonight.........)

I was hoping someone already knew on POTN.

@poster about graphic artists -- That's basically what happened to me as well. I asked about that pop, they told me to look very closely, vwoilla.

I love SI -- Absolutely the best sports images I see.

[S.Horton]

Got one, and nobody, even if this guy's a member here, misinterpret this -- great shot, I'm curious about the more subtle application of this technique I see in print SI.

http://www.sportsshooter.com/port_popup.html?mem_id=3967&i_id=593235

[cosworth]

that's shutter drag and not software related at all.

[Gatorboy]

that's shutter drag and not software related at all.

I agree -- I don't see any "magical PP" in this image.

[MaxPhoto]

that's shutter drag and not software related at all.

I have never herded of shutter drag, what is it?

[csm328]

There has definitely been some PP done to the sky and background (easyily done in LR).

[dmwierz]

May be OT, but here is an article detailing what SI used to do (a few years ago - it might have changed a bit since then) following a large sporting event:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6453-6821

[S.Horton]

^^ Cool article.

From the POTN archive via GOOGLE, cosworth may be spot on based upon it, as the technique is designed to provide that impact:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-43926.html

It definitely falls to me to find an online image which demonstrates this -- As for the print images, they were outdoors, good light, no flash.

Maybe I'm just seeing things. Again. :eek: :lol:

[blinktwice]

May be OT, but here is an article detailing what SI used to do (a few years ago - it might have changed a bit since then) following a large sporting event:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6453-6821

Thats a very good article, their workflow is mind-boggling, the servers the cds, the mail. Am going to look for a more a recent article, ill post back if i find it

[LBaldwin]

Ok I guess you need to know a few things about the type of story it is. If it is NEWS, then other than cropping, NO alteration is allowed. No if's ands or buts. Anything that would lower the factual content of the image or story is not allowed.

However if it is a non editorial feature story - shot in studio or on location then PP is allowed. SI has very high standards in it's images, both sports news and featrues. So if you see an action image from a game you can pretty much bet that it has not been doctered other than minor cropping and contrast or color correction.

Not a few PJ photographers have been raked over the coals by their brethern and the public at large for overstepping this rule. This oftens leads to a very public dismissal.

In the skateboarding shot that is an in camera effect by dragging the shutter. While not exactly news it is probably an allowable creative effect. But again it would be shown in a feature story about skating not the outcome of an individual event.

To get a good idea of the ethics that all worthy PJ's adhere to go here

http://nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/best_practices/photojournalist_practices.html

Les

[dpurslow]

May be OT, but here is an article detailing what SI used to do (a few years ago - it might have changed a bit since then) following a large sporting event:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6453-6821

Great article, thanks for sharing.

[S.Horton]

Ok I guess you need to know a few things about the type of story it is. If it is NEWS, then other than cropping, NO alteration is allowed. No if's ands or buts. Anything that would lower the factual content of the image or story is not allowed.

However if it is a non editorial feature story - shot in studio or on location then PP is allowed. SI has very high standards in it's images, both sports news and featrues. So if you see an action image from a game you can pretty much bet that it has not been doctered other than minor cropping and contrast or color correction.

Not a few PJ photographers have been raked over the coals by their brethern and the public at large for overstepping this rule. This oftens leads to a very public dismissal.

In the skateboarding shot that is an in camera effect by dragging the shutter. While not exactly news it is probably an allowable creative effect. But again it would be shown in a feature story about skating not the outcome of an individual event.

To get a good idea of the ethics that all worthy PJ's adhere to go here

http://nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/best_practices/photojournalist_practices.html

Les

I don't think that they're altering the photos, not at all, other than really making the athlete lift off that page.

SI, in print, look inside, very carefully, around what should be a sharp edge between the player and the background.

[pat.kane]

There are some really good links in this thread. Thanks everyone for sharing.

[grego]

They do a lot of highlight/shadow effect that you can find in adjustments. They actually overdo it a lot.And yes, this comes from photographers who work for them, since the photogs don't have the last say.

[S.Horton]

^^ I see.

I've noticed they end up with a very similar 'look' as well -- very consistent, generally.

[dmwierz]

From my limited experience with SI, they normally will ask for a RAW file is one is available, and if not, they'll ask for the original JPEG. When I post to the online Web galleries of my wire services (where the SI and other PE's go "shopping" for images), I do my own PP and cropping prior to posting - more or less to dress up the image to try and get their attention.

Once they select an image, though, they want to do all their own editing. It's a little scary, but they sorta know what they're doing.;)

Dennis