New Photoshop Techniques

Over the past few weeks I have been working on some new Photoshop techniques for post processing my images. I do my RAW image processing in Nikon Capture NX and then final post processing in Photoshop CS3. I have wanted to add some "pop" to certain commercial images and give them a desaturated, yet vibrant look. After much reading and studying, I processed this image of one of my favorite models, Crystal Peake, in a 1938 Ford Coupe built by Steve Cook in Oklahoma City.

I am not even sure I can replicate this look exactly. Each image is unique and requires custom processing to get the look I am after at the moment. I used a combination of HDR (high dynamic range) processing, multiple levels and masks, and several sharpening filters for certain areas of the picture.

I am looking forward to fine tuning these techniques to create some really cool, unique images. I am booked for several weeks on photo shoots so hopefully I can squeeze in a bit of time to do some more Photoshop experimentation!

Suzi Uzi

My daughter Emily Murray works with me as the designer for Ride Oklahoma Magazine. She is also a regular subject for my photography experiments and is also very involved in women's roller derby. Her skate name is "Suzi Uzi" and I always wanted to do a picture of her with a real Uzi submachine gun. She told me about a contest for a magazine so we decided to shoot this picture for her.

I scouted around and found an Uzi submachine gun at H&H Gun Range and a location at the Skky Bar in Bricktown. I provided a Kar K9 pistol for the leg holster.

To light this shoot, I used a large 72" softbox on a photogenic monolight to camera right. It basically provided the fill light and was NOT the key light. The key light was to camera left, a photogenic monolight with a 30% grid, focused on Emily' face. An SB-800 speedlight was beside it, zoomed to 105 mm and pointed at her skates to bring the light up on those.

Behind the bar I had to SB-800 speed lights. One aimed at the back wall with a purple gel, zomed out to 25mm or so. The other was pointed at Emily's back for a highlight and zoomed to about 50mm. All lights triggered via Pocket Wizards from my Nikon D2x mounted to a tripod.

Lots of fun but lots of work!

Ducati Test Ride

2007-0924-0066
Originally uploaded by jamest210

Thanks to BMW/Ducati of Oklahoma, I was able to test ride their new Ducati Hypermotard motorcycle recently. What a blast! Without a doubt this is the most fun motorycycle I have ever ridden. I will be doing a full review in an upcoming Ride Oklahoma Magazine issue.

I wanted to capture a picture of the Hypermotard that represented a gritty, urban feel, since this bike can be classified as a "street fighter". I also wanted a pretty girl to photograph with the bike, so I contacted one of my favorite models, Crystal Peake, for this shoot. She is always professional and on time, and is beautiful to boot!

To get the urban look I was after, I scouted downtown OKC and chose an alleyway right off Broadway & 4th street. As always I previsualized the photo in my mind before setting things up. After unloading the bike from the trailer, I set up three lights for this shot - one down the alleyway to give the shot some layered depth, one to camera left behind the bike, hidden by a wall, to backlight and edge light the picture, and then the key light to camera right with a 20" beauty dish. No softboxes or umbrellas in this photo, since I wanted a hard-edged look.

First shot from the camera was nearly spot on. I adjusted the light in the alleyway just a bit then when Crystal arrived we were ready to start shooting as the sun went down to camera right. We got several great pics from this shoot, one in a vertical format that will go on the cover of Ride Oklahoma.

I post processed this photo more than normal in Photoshop, since I wanted a gritty, hard edged look to the photo. It is oversharpened on purpose to get the "look" I was after.

NOTE: Sorry for the gap in postings, had the blog off-line for a while.