What makes photos "POP"

I was recently looking at some photos a friend took at a party. They all seem to have a "POP" to them that I've been unable to accomplish on a regular basis. Is it the camera, lens, white balance? I'm fairly certain these were shot in "Green Box" mode, which is why its so frustrating. I have no idea what kind of lens she is shooting and I believe its a Nikon camera. Either way, is it the lens, the white balance, or maybe even the exposure? Its just frustrating when someone runs around a party, and I have a hard time getting shots like this while I'm working at it so hard. I'm not looking for a magical answer, I'm just wondering if a better lens is the reason, better lighting, or if the glass is all the difference here. I'm going to contact her and find out what exactly she's shooting. I realize I've got a bottom of the barrel Rebel XS, but there have been some good shots taken with those cameras in the past.

Here is a link to the photos, hopefully it works.

http://www.kodakgaller​y.com …rue&sourceId=98​4136008703

No photos are showing up in the link. Usually the "Pop" you describe is rich color, saturation and high contrast in the photo. If these settings are turned up in the camera you can achieve the "Pop" It doesn't always look good though...it can be overdone. A good quality lens can also naturally achieve this effect as well without fiddling with in-camera settings to much.

Your Rebel XS is plenty capable. "Pop" is about good lighting, creative use of depth of field and appropriate post-processing.

I cannot get your link to work either but based on what you and others have stated all I can add is that the images will have more POP when using wider apertures also. Wider apertures create a thinner depth of field and will allow you subject to be in focus and distinctly separate from the background IF you are also using the correct lighting, focal length, and the subject is many feet from the background.

Also, Why not just talk to your friend and find out what combination/settings they are using?

versedmb wrote in post #10489447
Your Rebel XS is plenty capable. "Pop" is about good lighting, creative use of depth of field and appropriate post-processing.

+1

It always starts with good lighting. Although I've seen plenty of straight out-of camera jpegs with no post processing that had plenty of "Pop" Canons default jpeg color, sat , are quite rich to start with in most of the cameras I have used. I usually have to back them off on a sunny day when shooting sports because they are a bit much for my taste. But when shooting flowers or fall colors they look great just tweaked up a notch

I've posted this link here before. Most of these were taken wtih a 300D and the 18-55 kit lens or a cheap Olympus C-4000 point and shoot...

http://robertmekis.dev​iantart.com/gallery/

Also, if you can't make an image pop for some reason.... try adding a background to it. Usually an image will pop a lot more if its on a black background. It makes the black background part of the image hence increasing the contrast ratio if you don't already have a black at that level on your image.

Also, adding dimension to an image will make it pop. Usually this can be done/accomplished with lighting.

light light light

light light light and pshop pshop pshop

One little tip I got from a fellow photographer for Lightroom- increase fill light, and increase black level. Not too much just a little, works nice! Increasing the contrast is a simple thing to do as well, and maybe a little sharpening.

The person is actually a friend of a friend and I doubt she does any Pp. Maybe this link will work.
http://www.kodakgaller​y.com …g%2FALB%2F.jpg%​3Fp%3D5300

Doesn't really seem like anything special. Just has some subject/background separation. They all seem to be exposed good for the most part. Seems like typical shots that are properly exposed and a pretty fast lens or tele zoom

I think these days pop is largely about post processing. Every time I post a photo on here for feedback I'm told it lacks pop It's good feedback (I mean that sincerely) but I don't like just going into photoshop or DPP and blasting up the color saturation.

I guess that's just partly the reality of digital photography. It's both an advantage and disadvantage IMHO.

There's really not what I consider tons of "pop" in the images in your second link, but I think what you're talking about is decent subject-to-background separation. I don't see any way to extract EXIF in that gallery, but she's most likely shooting an f/2.8 zoom, or a prime.

There are reasons beyond light gathering ability that people choose fast zooms and primes. The ability to separate subjects from distracting backgrounds is definitely high on that list. For me, it's one of the main reasons I'm willing to lug around a relatively huge DSLR and lenses.

She also has a fair bit of talent in framing and composition.

Buchinger wrote in post #10489868
The person is actually a friend of a friend and I doubt she does any Pp. Maybe this link will work.
http://www.kodakgaller​y.com …g%2FALB%2F.jpg%​3Fp%3D5300

I don't think all those images really do "pop"...

However, if that's all you're looking for, it's a simple matter of defocusing the background.