How to get the merkley effect?

I'd like to create an over-saturated effect similar to what I have seen on flickr. I have tried over-saturating, increasing contrast, playing with hue etc in PS and come close but still cant seem to hit it quite right.

Does anyone know how I can achieve the effect similar to the deitada's in this guy Merkley's flickr: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/merkley/ or Sanchez flickr: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/threefourmedia/
***Warning, may be NSFW

His work looks like HDR.

bump

UWA lens, appears to be a ring flash, and some post processing.

I doubt its a ringflash. I know he uses a P&S camera but its the PP I'm after.

^He's using an olympus e-410. It's an SLR.

hmmn. I know for a fact he used to use a P&S digital. Whatever though it really doesnt matter a heck of a lot. Still looking for some PP help!

all of his photos appear have had a Levels layer and a curves layer implemented. Download some Curves cross processing actions and see where that gets you.

There is a lot more than just color shifts and saturation adjustments going on in these photos however.

try this:
duplicate layer
Run a luminosity mask (ctrl-alt-~)
past the mask
set the layer as overlay and set the opacity from 40-60%
Merge down image
duplicate layer
run on of these actions
set opacity to desired strength.
Run a Hue/Sat layer and tinker with that.

Like I said there are a lot more elements that color in his photos to get some of these looks. USM, Hi-pass Filters and dodge/burn layers to name a few.
And there is some ring flash most definitely being used in the more recent photos.

DavidPhoto wrote in post #5976402
hmmn. I know for a fact he used to use a P&S digital. Whatever though it really doesnt matter a heck of a lot. Still looking for some PP help!

Well if you look at the exif of the image you posted, you'll see he's moved on:

[Image]
Image Description = If you ain't a <a href="http://flickr.co​m">member</a> or you ain't <a href="http://flickr.co​m">signed in</a> with your <a href="http://www.flick​r.com/account/prefs/sa​fesearch/?from=privacy​">"Safe Search" OFF</a> , then you ain't seein what you oughtta. Take the appropriate measures or don't.

or you could just use this <a href="http://www.flick​r.com/gp/72738986@N00/​PU3469">Guest Pass</a>
Make = OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
Model = E-410
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 72
Y Resolution = 72
Resolution Unit = inch
Software = Adobe Photoshop CS3 Macintosh
Date Time = 2008-07-21 17:51:30
Artist = merkley???
YCbCr Positioning = co-sited
Copyright = merkley???
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 1232
PrintIM Data = 528 Byte

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/30"
F Number = F2.8
Exposure Program = Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings = 400
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2008-04-26 21:13:23
Date Time Digitized = 2008-04-26 21:13:23
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F2.8
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Flash fired, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 11mm
User Comment =
Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = Uncalibrated
Exif Image Width = 500
Exif Image Height = 385
File Source = DSC
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 1x
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = High gain up
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Soft

[Thumbnail Info]
Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail)
X Resolution = 72
Y Resolution = 72
Resolution Unit = inch
JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 1894
JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 9761

[Thumbnail]
Thumbnail = 160 x 123


Some of his other work appears to use the LucisArt filter.

m33p33 wrote in post #5976783
all of his photos appear have had a Levels layer and a curves layer implemented. Download some Curves cross processing actions and see where that gets you.

There is a lot more than just color shifts and saturation adjustments going on in these photos however.

try this:
duplicate layer
Run a luminosity mask (ctrl-alt-~)
past the mask
set the layer as overlay and set the opacity from 40-60%
Merge down image
duplicate layer
run on of these actions
set opacity to desired strength.
Run a Hue/Sat layer and tinker with that.

Like I said there are a lot more elements that color in his photos to get some of these looks. USM, Hi-pass Filters and dodge/burn layers to name a few.
And there is some ring flash most definitely being used in the more recent photos.

thanks m33p33 I'll try some of that.

Post some results. I'd like to see how far off I am.

Unfortunately I can't post results here - there is some nudity in the pic I am working with.
I have done quite a bit of PP on the image already though. The luminosity mask got me a little closer (but I'm still pretty far off). I've touched up the skin (though not to the degree merkley or sanchez do), gaussian blur, add noise, photo filter, hue/sat, curves, and vignette. Way more than I would normally do!

Try using the luminosity mask on two photo filters (play with colors)and inverting the mask on one. Make one multiply and one screen.