How to get this effect?

[EP2005]

$10 to whoever figures out how this kid gets his photos to look like they do.


http://www.kirkmcgirt.com/


I LOVE how they look kinda like paintings. And I've been messing around with photoshop all day and still cant get close. He's using a Canon 30D....

 

[Jeremy Ordan]

His style is pretty similar to Joey Lawrences (www.joeyl.com). In fact it almost looks like a complete rip off... BUT Joey offers some classes through his website available on DVD that you can check out (I think it will cost you 30x what you were willing to invest into an answer)

It also looks pretty similar to Bryan Niven

Essentially you are looking for what is known as the 'illustrated' look.

There are a couple of different ways to make this happen, but the best method is a combination of these methods:
1. Tone mapping through HDR (google 'single image HDR')
2. Burning and dodging (this will highlight your highs and darken your lows)
3. Light your subject dynamically (learn to light better)
4. Use photoshops shadow and highlight filters
5. Use the high pass filter for sharpening effects
6. Learn the impossible art of LucisArt plugin manipulation
7. Start with the Dragen effects (search on dpreview.com) and then smooth things out or google a similar search

That's all I can come up with. While you need a good subject and a nicely lit location this is really more post processing than anything else.

 

[jsvideoworx]

shoot in camera RAW, open in a photoshop Raw, then turn up the recovery, fill light, blacks, contrast, adjust the saturation, and exposure to however you like it.

 

[egproductions]

Wow..joey lawrence has really built quit a repertoire since he posted on this forum. G-unit, panic at the disco!

The photoshoping/dragen effect is cool looking, especially to someone who hasen't seen it before. a lot of times it hides mediocre lighting and boring content. But I think joey is successful because he really knows what content it works well with. When he looks through the viewfinder, I'm sure he is thinking about how it will look when I give it that HDR look.

 

[Jeremy Ordan]

Regarding the tutorial he has available for sale (since I posted it earlier) I suggest you read the official review at Strobist and then the actual user reviews before you invest money...

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/10/joey-lawrence-tutorial-review.html


By the way, youtube Bryan Niven and he has a tutorial showing exactly how he does his images.... That sort of answers your question and I'll take my $10

 

[alwayslearning]

This is pretty thorough and well laid out too.

http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/HDR_ps/hdr-ps.htm

Larry

 

[Matt Grunau]

http://www.bechbox.dk/pwl/

 

[Jeremy Ordan]

http://www.bechbox.dk/pwl/

I hate paint with light, but I am not one for slow tedious photoshop adjustments, which is the thing that unites the above photographers... To get these styles you need to be patient and willing to spend a lot of time in front of the computer.

 

[stinkpot]

Here's one... http://www.nill.cz/index.php?set=tu1

and another... http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/general/basics/hdr-photos-and-photoshop.htmlhttp://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/general/basics/hdr-photos-and-photoshop.html

 

[Rick Meyer]

His style is pretty similar to Joey Lawrences (www.joeyl.com). In fact it almost looks like a complete rip off...

Wow! You ain't kidding. Looks just like his stuff. For what its worth, I'm a HUGE fan of this style. When done right, looks incredible. Joey Lawrence is my hero.