A couple experiments in photoshop grunge techniques

[Nik Nerburn]

I have no idea what I'm doing with this. Just messing around with different things and I manged to pull these three together. Any and all input is appreciated

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/7950/alexcopybg5.jpg
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8335/handsgrungeix0.jpg
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/2824/nikdrinkingjuicegrungelk9.jpg

[Jeremy Ordan]

I think the 2nd is ok, but the others look way overprocessed and without any realism at this point. Nice attempts though.

-Jeremy

[cheezweezl]

i'm a fan of this kind of processing and not at all a photo purist so thumbs up. i think most non photographer types would consider this more pro than something that is done in a more conservative manner. plus this look is very "in" right now. good work. how did you make those hands so ripped up? do tell.

[MalcolmOng]

It looks intriguing to say the least

[MattinSTL]

Those hands aren't real hands... ;-) I think that's how he did it... they ARE ripped up.

I really like these, but the one thing you should do is be sure to NOT blow the highlights in these shots. Even if at the time you snap the photo the picture looks dark or drab... you can bring it up in photoshop. If you check out Joey Lawrence's most recent thread you'll see that the girl in the first shot is totally dark... Also I think with most of his work he protects the highlights... then you can make them appear to be almost blown in the final product... and give it that extra grungy look, but you still have detail in the highlights... which I think is important for these types of pictures to maintain their impact.

I think these are very good... but if you hadn't blown the highlights in them they would have been GREAT. Just my .02

Also if you want to kick it up another notch then plan a shot like this out... you don't have to stage every photo, but just get your clothing and props to support the final product. You kind of got that result anyway... but I'm just sayin' for future referrence...

Well that's all I can say about it in a critical sense... so other then those niggles I gotta' say I love these... I hope I can get this stuff figured out... because I absolutely love this look for any shot that seems bleak or emotional... the other Joey L. trick that I like is to put a beautiful girl (or make a girl LOOK beautiful) by putting her in a grungy environment and then process that environment the way you have, but process the girl to be flattered within that environment... the blemishes of the photo can go right over the girl, but leave the eyes and face clean.

Nice touch with the filmstock borders too... I'm digging those.

[Nik Nerburn]

I really like these, but the one thing you should do is be sure to NOT blow the highlights in these shots. Even if at the time you snap the photo the picture looks dark or drab... you can bring it up in photoshop. If you check out Joey Lawrence's most recent thread you'll see that the girl in the first shot is totally dark... Also I think with most of his work he protects the highlights... then you can make them appear to be almost blown in the final product... and give it that extra grungy look, but you still have detail in the highlights... which I think is important for these types of pictures to maintain their impact.

I think these are very good... but if you hadn't blown the highlights in them they would have been GREAT. Just my .02



Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about the highlights. These photos were taken with a pretty basic point+shoot a long time ago, I was just playing with some processing techniques. Thanks for the info, though. I think I'm going to play with these ideas a little more

[Nik Nerburn]

how did you make those hands so ripped up? do tell.

the hands were made of cement

[chowchris13]

what kind of filters did you use? Great look

[saturnin]

looking good

[g0ldenb0y55]

I personally dig #3. Good work!

[g0ldenb0y55]

Here's something I came up with

http://www.stickypod.com/videos/data/506/nikdrinkingjuicegrungelk9_copy.jpg

[bomazing]

Very cool. Now the next step is to get on the most powerful machine you can find. Export some video footage from Premiere as a filmstrip. Open the filmstrip file in Photoshop and drop in all those filters you applied to the stills. You could also try mimicing in AfterEffects possibly.

What, a guy can dream...:)

[Phani Eggone]

My choice: 2 & 3. Cheers!