I just don't get it

[Skippy29]

How is he getting shots like this? The color, the sharpness...AMAZING! Do you think it's a lot of post processing? I consider myself a decent photographer with an ok eye for composition, etc. But these shot have so much "pop", like nothing I've ever seen.

I could take the exact same shot with a great camera and L glass and they wouldn't look anything like this, lol.
So what do you think?

All photos property of www.chromasia.com


http://www.chromasia.com/images/twin_seas_b.jpg
http://www.chromasia.com/images/fe2o3_2_b.jpg
http://www.chromasia.com/images/sg_blackpool_b.jpg
http://www.chromasia.com/images/at_play_on_the_beach_1_b.jpg

[ssim]

The link doesn't work for me.

[Citizensmith]

http://www.chromasia.com/iblog/archive.php#powered

has a description of what he used to take the photos. Hardware wise its a 20D and either 17-40 or 70-200 f/4. He does describe some post processing but not on every shot.

Basically a good example of how whats behind the camera is the most important part. Wish mine all turned out that good. :)

[SWPhotoImaging]

I don't have any shots of my own that equal the level of intensity of these, but the ones I have that are close are all shot with my best glass, and the majority of those with my 70-200 f2.8L, and the best of that group are from it's 90-125 focal length range. I have a couple from the short end of my 100-400F4.5-5.6L that also managed to capture a powerful clarity of color, in perfect lighting conditions.
I guess what I am saying is, this guy has awesome skills in both capture and post processing, and I would bet he also has excellent glass as well.

[ssim]

Now that I can see the images, wow, these are superb. I'm not sure exactly what he has done but I'd lay money that he spends a bunch of time on them in photoshop.

I took a quick glance at his site and couldn't find where he details any of his processing but I'd sure like to know.

[CyberPet]

Have you read his blog? He sometimes gives away what he's done. He's a brilliant photographer for sure!

[tubs]

I think he's got a great eye, a great lens AND is good with Photoshop. That final *pop* is achieved by sharpening, and I don't mean just twiddling the unsharp mask sliders. I think I can detect he uses one of the sharpening tricks I use.

[EricKonieczny]

I don't mean just twiddling the unsharp mask sliders. I think I can detect he uses one of the sharpening tricks I use.


and what would that be? Please share your secrets. I think I have a pretty good eye for composition and basic PS skills, but my sharpening skills and extra little things needs some major catching up.

[scottbergerphoto]

They are amazing photos. Wonderful color, composition and creative use of DOF. Some of what you are seeing looks to me like selective use of sharpening. If you do your shapening in Layers with layer Masks, you can selectively sharpen only certain areas of a photos. You can create as many layers as you want and apply different levels of sharpening to different areas. This not only creates sharpness but sets the selected areas apart form the softer areas. You can do this on your own or use something like Photokit Sharpener which sets up the layers and layer masks for you. You can also apply the same principles to Hue/Sat and levels.
If you look closely at the last picture-girl on sand, you can see a faint halo around her torso and arms. I believe that is from the selective sharpening via Layer Mask.
Just a guess. ;)

[tubs]

and what would that be? Please share your secrets. I think I have a pretty good eye for composition and basic PS skills, but my sharpening skills and extra little things needs some major catching up.

Scott has explained some of it. Any sharpening you use should be done on a separate layer and then blended selectively. Different degrees of sharpness can control the emphasis you place on parts of the image.

Do I tell you my trick ? This list has been a great help to me, so I guess its only fair.
Using PSCS:
1. Duplicate image layer (becomes 'Background Copy')
2. On Copy layer, run Filter/Other/High Pass
3. Set Radius slider. Depends on image size, but I increase it until I just start to see some colour in the preview and then pull it back slightly. Apply filter.
4. Change blend mode for filtered (top) layer to 'Overlay' and you get the effect. Other blend modes such as Soft/Hard/Vivid light give slightly different results.

You can then use a layer mask to apply the effect selectively.

Have fun!

[JMAS]

<Gulp!>

For sure that's some fine processing Job

[shiato storm]

wow, he knows how to make an image really stand out in terms of colour and sharpness...
very interesting reading his blog bits with each picture too...

[Skippy29]

The more I stare at these photos the more mesmerizing they become. I think I'll ask him directly and see if he will share his technique with me.

[blinking8s]

his is amazing with photoshop...ive followed his work for a long while now.

Read his comments on his blog for the photos, many tips and questions with anwers in there.

Id say its hard to share his direct photoshop techniques with you, because like with anything, each photo is different.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Amazing work..

And yes.. intense post processing...

I think he doing something Ive not seen done before but have considered... I'm thinking that rather than boosting saturation globally.. he is doing it individually in several layers.. 9maybe even several raw conversions) each layer boosting the saturations and adjusting the hues of specific color channels.. then blending them together in PS layers..

For instance.. for the little girl on the beach.. one RAW conversion would be done to get the absolute best richest blues for the sky.. and to hell with the girl..

then another conversion for just the girl.. and the sky be damned..

maybe even a separate conversion for those yellows in the plastic?

Anyway.. it's just a theory and something I have been considering trying.

Just a guess...

Oh that and a Polarizer!!!!!!! :lol: really

[Choderboy]

Pic 3 looks overdone to me. ( just my opinion.) It looks like one of those movies where they combine animation and conventional film. Just does not look real.
I like the others though.
Dave

[jaypie77]

Wow - these are great colors! I need to figure out how to do this this week.