Before the Nokia N82 (five megapixels), even before the Samsung U700 (three megapixels), I used to carry around the then schmexy Motorola V3X, 2 megapixel snapper of a clamshell-type mobile phone. At times when I would get the urge to just point and shoot at people, the camphone is instrumental in curing the creative itch. The down side is, although the composition would almost always be impeccable (wink wink), the image output leaves much to be desired in terms of colors, depth, and contrast to name a few. Hell, it’s the general problem that plague users of mere point and shoot cameras.
Two years after I took Rochelle’s (my good friend’s) portrait, two years after I’ve tried editing the photo firsthand by only adjusting contrast and hues, would my newfound Photoshop killer skillz do more with an otherwise already great photo? Another challenge is would said skillz work with an image taken using a two megapixel camphone? The result may make or break Scott Kelby’s reputation, author of the book The Photoshop CS2® Book for Digital Photographers so I better represent, ho!
I used similar, time consuming techniques on both photographs. Think of this ambitious undertaking as my revalida, combining several chapters in the book until I got the desired effect. For me to show both the edited and raw versions of the images with skin blemishes and all, I asked the permission of these fabulous ladies and, believe me, it did not take a lot of coaxing to get a thumbs-up signal from both. And quite surprisingly, too. The pensive lady with sunglasses is Rochelle and the other one is Joan. Both of them are currently single. And free for dates. Or so I’ve heard.
Without further ado, I present to you the portraits. You know what to do to see the “before” image, right? Hover on an image until another one appears in its place. Nifty script, I noes!
Nothing to it. Piece of cake. Magnificent results, too. So, yes folks, it is possible. Next task, to edit a VGA photo. Kidding. I HATE VGA photos. LOL. If you have questions about a specific technique I used, leave me a note.
Twitter Updates
30 May 2008 at 12:31 pm
Cool! I hope I can do that too on my ^*#)&) photos lol, you should give a little tutorial with that magic photoshop skill.
30 May 2008 at 12:33 pm
Impressive, your PS skills are. That’s too much work tho; esp. putting the background out of focus post-prod if you have to do it on every pic. I don’t think Moto puts anything other than fixed focus lenses on their phones
30 May 2008 at 1:08 pm
Great work young padawan. I see you fought the urge to over airbrush and FHM’ize the image, do not fall into that “dark side”.
30 May 2008 at 1:33 pm
Glad to have made you proud, sensei. LOL I think I’ve overdone with Rochelle but the “after” photo looks just right left alone without having to compare it with the original. Thanks man! Thanks a LOT
30 May 2008 at 1:34 pm
Patience and practice (epal advise) LOL The book works. Get yourself a copy. Available only in Fully Booked, so far XD
30 May 2008 at 1:36 pm
Unless I the use macro mode (a feature present in all the camphones I mentioned), I won’t get the desired DOF. I also don’t intend to edit all my photos like a madman LOL
30 May 2008 at 2:40 pm
you, fritz, are even better than dr. belo and frank provost combined! :P
30 May 2008 at 2:48 pm
Validation from one of the models! LOL Glad you liked it, Roch :D
30 May 2008 at 4:40 pm
Gee, I wonder why you hate VGA photos. I bow down to your skillz.
30 May 2008 at 4:46 pm
Uuuuuy, issue! Wahahahahaha! Isa pa, wahahahahaha! Hay, nins. Anyway hahahahaha, sorry, di ko mapigil katatawa LOLOLOLOLOLOL. Eto na, serious. Thanks nina! XD
30 May 2008 at 11:00 pm
how bout ze picture from ate ains’s wedding? i know you took an amazing one using your v3x!
30 May 2008 at 11:11 pm
No need to Photoshop na kasi yun! LOL ongano. Will look for that later.
31 May 2008 at 1:18 am
you got mad skills!!!!!
i love the second photo!
ganda!
31 May 2008 at 1:26 am
A validation from two great photographers! Wow, I haz it! Yep, second photo was all out. Corrected colors, whitened eyes, evened out skin tone, made skin glow, removed dark eye circles, blurred out background, enhanced details. The workz! Kahirap. Tyaga lang talaga. Thanks Irvin, o step-son LOL
31 May 2008 at 3:35 pm
HWOAH. I wanted to say more but… WOOOAAAAHHH. Yun na!
1 June 2008 at 5:53 am
Salamat sa WHOA, JM-san. XD
2 June 2008 at 6:45 pm
magaling magaling magaling!
3 June 2008 at 2:34 am
Summady’s getting SKILLZED!!!!
6 June 2008 at 7:11 pm
What happened to the photos? I couldn’t view them anymore.
6 June 2008 at 11:03 pm
@midori, graphic designer extraordinaire and @helga, queen of great point and shoot compositions, I’m most honored with your words of praise. Nakakataba ng buto, este, puso. Salamat. Salamat. XD
@dementia I can see them fine.
9 June 2008 at 12:51 am
were these taken from your camphone? i love how you brightened up the second picture!
9 June 2008 at 6:22 pm
nahaaaiz. Great skills you has. I love the output of both photos! Kudos to you Fritz
9 June 2008 at 6:30 pm
@glenville yep, from my old Motorola V3X phone
9 June 2008 at 6:38 pm
@joiz awww, thanks thanks naman :D
9 June 2008 at 10:10 pm
ZOMG yah skillez wtef!
Bathalang Fritz, I dunno if you’re aware of it but Photoshop Lightroom makes every professional photoediting easier po. Pramis. :)
10 June 2008 at 4:16 am
Kala ko kung ano lang yung Lightroom. Nakikita ko na to eh. I’ll give the trial version a go first before getting the full install. Thanks Neil!