Vintage Digital




I love film. I wish I was better at shooting with it. More than resolution, highlight transition and contrast latitude, film just has a feel to it. I'm always trying to make my digital pictures feel like photos from another era. Jen Kroll (who's on the fancy pants grace ormonde list if you need wedding pictures in michigan) suggested kubota tools and I've been messing with that a bit along with Briana's suggestion of Photo Filters by Karl S. (free). I should probably turn all my tweaking into a PS action, but that's too easy, so here's my typical post technique.

1. Process the RAW.
I usually make three jpegs, typically one under, one over and one as I shot it. Photoshop, Bibble or Iphoto depending on what I'm feeling.

2. Layer
I use the 3 jpegs as layers in the camera and using the eraser paint the light where I want it. I'll use the darker one a lot to make the background fall out. Sometimes I make an HDR. Having all the dynamic range really helps.

3. Selective focus.
While I shoot very tight focus to start, typically an aperture of 2.8 or less, I'll frequently blur the background out even more. Photoshop has a lens blur plug-in that works great for this. I copy a layer, blur it and then using the eraser paint in the areas I want in focus.

4. Vignette
I love my holga. Well I loved it until zito left it on a tourbus. They don't make the polaroid back for it anymore, so if you want to see my holga photos, the only way you can is to get a copy of Beauty from Pain. Of course, it's not in stores anymore, so I guess if you already have that album you're the only people who can see them. Anyways, I usually pay homage to my holga by using the dodge tool (or is it burn?) to darken the corners. Sometimes if I really want to light the subject I'll use the photoshop render/lighting effects plug in. I copy the original layer, run the plug in and then paint in the parts I want.

5. Colorcast
I'm not real concerned with accurate color. Usually I just mess with the colors till I get something I like. Plug-ins are good here.

And that's how I breathe some vibe into my clean clean digital pictures.
Don't get me wrong, I love digital. I just can't wait till it looks more like film.

BTW that's tricia's dog sofie. Elle est tres belle n'est-ce pas?

Posted: Wed - October 4, 2006 at 01:12 AM          

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