From time to time I plan to describe some of the Photoshop techniques I like to use to make my photography look the best it can. Probably the one I use most is called the Orton technique, one I heard about from some friends on BetterPhoto.com and greatly enhances the look of an image.
All of the images I use here are available at 1800×1200 resolution by clicking on the image. Here is the starting image that came from the camera:
The first step is to duplicate the background layer twice. You can do this by pressing Ctrl-J twice on the PC. Then change the blend mode of the first new layer to Screen. If you turn off the display of the top layer it should look like this:
Now change the blend mode of the top layer to Multiply (turn the display back on if you turned it off in the step above) and you’re done. This is the result:
For an extra effect, add a Gaussian blur to the top (Multiply) layer. I usually use about 7-10px on my 8.2 megapixel original images, but you should play around with it until you get the look you want. This will add a soft focus look:
If it looks too dark, you can reduce the opacity of the Multiply layer, but this will tend to also reduce the contrast and overall effect of the technique. Instead, I prefer to lighten the image using Curves before I apply the Orton technique. It takes some trial-and-error to get the right amount, but a good rule is to drag the curve upward until the highlights of the image look about right, since the highlights will remain nearly the same after applying the Orton technique. Here is the same image after applying Curves before Orton:
One final recommendation is to turn this technique into a Photoshop action. Then you can apply this to any photo in a single click. I have one action for no blur on the top layer and another to apply the blur, leaving the option to select the amount of blur during the action.
1 Comment | PermalinkTags: cactus, nature, Photoshop, plants, tutorial
My dream camera
December 26, 2007 | Category: Cameras | Leave a Comment
After my last post (well, after using the 1Ds Mark II), I’ve done some looking into Canon’s EOS-1D line of cameras and come to the conclusion that the one for me is the EOS-1D Mark III.
I know it’s not the latest/biggest/most of the “ests” you can think of, but I think it fits my photography and here’s why:
* Resolution — 10.1 megapixel sensor compared to the 1Ds Mark II’s 16.7 MP or the 1Ds Mark III’s 21.1 MP. The extra resolution would be nice to have in some situations, but 10.1 MP is all I would really need. Even the 8.2 MP on my 30D is more than adequate most of the time. It also has automatic dust cleaning which the 1Ds Mark III has but the Mark II does not. File size and storage is also another big consideration.
* Price — $4400 compared to $7000 for the 1Ds Mark II or the unannounced ludicrous price of the 1Ds Mark III when it is released. I know that’s not something I’ll be spending anytime in the foreseeable future, but it’s at least not a complete pipe dream like the 1Ds’s. That way I’ll have money left over for L-series lenses 
* Shooting speed — 10 frames-per-second compared to 4 FPS for the 1Ds Mark II and 5 FPS for the 1Ds Mark III. It’s the fastest DSLR on the market, and can hold that speed for 110 JPG or 30 RAW images. That’s just incredible! Since children and animals are two of my favorite subjects, I’m sure I would use the speed and probably still miss some photos — those boogers are fast (and the animals too)!
* Overall aesthetics — now there’s not much difference in the design between all of the 1D series, but I like the details of the 1D Mark III.
Well, that’s my say. Like I said before I know it’s not going to happen, but it’s a nice thought. Maybe I can find a nice used one a few years from now…
Leave a Comment | PermalinkBig cats and a great camera
December 24, 2007 | Category: Animals, Cameras | Leave a Comment
For my inaugural post, I have the distinct pleasure of showing you a photo of a tiger I captured with a borrowed Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II. This image doesn’t do justice at all to the jaw-dropping image quality you get with this camera, but let’s just say I’m even more determined to own some type of EOS-1 someday. Now I just have to convince my wife…
Tags: Cameras, Canon, cats, tiger, zoo
