Draganizing effect

[carregwen]

OK, this is my first attempt at 'Draganizing' a portrait. This was shot in a studio with a single flash head. I took the cover off the softbox to get a harsher light. I used a standard lens but I think it might work better with a wide angle lens in order to get some distortion.

Dragan's website (the personal stuff is best under portfolio) Turn your PC sound up. http://andrzejdragan.com/ The shot on the home page is the director David Lynch, and several of the other shots are of actors.

If you want the Photoshop action file to do this, then download from here Robs Photoshop Actions

C+C welcome. Anyone else want to try it? Post them in this thread, if you wish.



EXIF DATA

VIEW IT ON BLACK





Here's another. This time I kept the effect more muted. This is Charles

C+C welcome

EXIF DATA

SEE IT ON BLACK

[Donald]

Rob
Both are superb. The 'mood' in the first is excellent. Can you explain 'draganizing' for the uninitiated?

[carregwen]

Rob
Both are superb. The 'mood' in the first is excellent. Can you explain 'draganizing' for the uninitiated?

I have added Dragan's website in post #1 (sorry, I thought I had done that) and here http://andrzejdragan.com/

It's a complex process of adding gaussian blur, contrast, hue changes etc. But the action in my action file does it all quite easily. I used it for the first time today, and it took me about an hour to produce the two images (I shot them in RAW some time ago). Have a go!

[carregwen]

On Dragan's website, I think No 22 on the personal section of the portfolio is the actor Mads Mikkelsen who played Le Chiffre (the baddie) in Casino Royale? This guy http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0586568/

Anyone recognise others? Good game, this.

Interview with Dragan (in two parts) His views on photography are very interesting.

Part 1

Part 2

When taking the initial shots I think it might work better if you use a subject that is 'interesting' rather than just pretty. And you need to get up close with a wide angle lens, preferably with some slight distortion.

[Donald]

I have added Dragan's website.... But the action in my action file does it all quite easily.

Another lesson learned today. Many thanks. Now, if you could just write that action for the GIMP ....!

[Antonio Correia]

This is a very interesting effect indeed.
I like your second picture very much.

[willgoss]

Donald..from my recipes for Gimp....Dragan Effect
You will note that this does increase orange which can be reduced in Colorize step and channel mixer.....or desaturate at end.....

* Open image.
* Duplicate layer – Mode = Overlay
* Colors > Desaturate.
* Gaussian blur: 45
* Colors > Invert
* Opacity to personal taste
* Flatten Image
* Add Black fade to Corners (Mask or Filters Unlimited Plugin)
* Dodge/Burn (Shadows & Highlights) or Paint with color script
* Duplicate layer – Mode = Soft Light
* Colorize. Set hue at about 20 to 30 and increase lightness, Saturation
* Flatten image.
* Duplicate layer – Mode = Hue
* Channel Mixer (increase reds and lower greens)
* Flatten image
* Smart Redux Sharpen (Default)
* Flatten image.

[Donald]

The knowledge on this site never ceases to leave me awestruck.

Willgoss - Thank you. Copied in to the 'Important Notes' list.

[carregwen]

Donald..from my recipes for Gimp....Dragan Effect

Willgoss - Thanks for adding that. I always assume that everyone has Photoshop!

Rob

[Wirefox]

No I use GIMP and many thanks for this insight Willgoss. Rob I just love the strength in these images and it is not down to some other photographers PP technique . You need to have to have the skill and forsight to get this quality of image in the first place. I am inspired and will certainly try this....although the issue with me will be to get a decent capture in the first place

Steve

[Donald]

....although the issue with me will be to get a decent capture in the first place

Ditto. And just to prove the point ...! This is not the right image. But it's one I had and I wanted to try it out. Today's learning has been about getting the right scripts into the GIMP and seeing what they do, and then following Willgoss's clearly explained workflow.

The process certainly has a dramatic impact on the image.

[carregwen]

... and will certainly try this....although the issue with me will be to get a decent capture in the first place

I think it might help to get in close with a wide angle, although I didn't do that with these shots. That will give you some distortion but that's probably what you need. And yes, you are quite right, it's important (as it always is) to get a really good shot to start with. I don't see this is a way of making a poor shot better, but of enhancing an already good shot.

The Action I listed has a step at the end which adds 'grunge'. If you don't want that you can either remove it or reduce it in Photoshop using the opacity slider on the layer.

[carregwen]

The process certainly has a dramatic impact on the image.

It does! The Action I use has a really dramatic effect, all down to a combination of sharpening, pushing contrast and brightness, changing hue/saturation, and several other steps.