Can someone Draganise my photo? The Andrzej Dragan effect.

I love Andrzej Dragan pics and wondered if anyone on ATS has tried the Dragan effect?

Andrzej Dragan Photography

Some Draganised pics.



Dragan effect - before and after




There's dozens of tutorials and videos on how to create this effect so I thought maybe some at ATS are giving it a go too.

I'm getting a print of this doggy photo framed for a b'day pressie to his owner in November, but if someone can Draganise it for me to look even better I might get that printed instead. I'm just looking for less background, (possibly darker) and an outstanding dog.

i193.photobucket.com...

reply to post by wigit


I looked at the website's portfolio,that is some creepy poop right there.
But I love the atmosphere. SnF OP, nice find.

reply to post by Farnhold


Haha, I agree, some of it does look creepy. I like the colouring and creases on the faces though. Very arty. Some of them old folk look like Capodimonte tramps come to life, or Bossons head plaques.


Here's a couple of how-to videos.

I love the photos at the end of this one.


No idea what this fella's saying but effects are good.

reply to post by wigit


It is a sort of HDR technique as i see it, as this is the kind of photography that i do 90% of the time (hobby).It creates this mood, this artistic atmosphere to every picture.

You could try uploading it to a place like Picnik and applying (as rhazer said above) the HDR effect and maybe a bit of Gritty.. You might achieve something close to that.

here you go
Click for full size

reply to post by davespanners


I just opened original and sat it next to your one. What a difference. He looks fantastic, and stands right out (if a bit green on my pc, lol) He's definitely Draganised.


What did you do exactly? I want to learn this stuff.

Yes, that is pure HDR (high dynamic range) effect.

What you need to do is take 3 exposures, of the same image, at different exposures, one over, one under and one normal exposure.

Then use an HDR program to mix the three pics, and create the HDR effect.

Over doing HDR is not cool though, but using it subtly is brilliant.

vvv

here you go
Click for full size

Now with less green

Hmm its not that hard to do, I agree with the others that the original pics are HDR, but I did my best to simulate it. Basically you increase the sharpness of the image take out a lot of the natural shadow and then hand draw your own shadows / highlights, then darken the background.

reply to post by davespanners


I think that's fantastic. Well done. He almost looks painted.

Thanks.

Is there a way to do that and make the background disappear altogether?

reply to post by wigit


I didnt look at the tutorial, but this is just youre basic "bleaching" of photographs in photoshop. fairly simple to do, navigate 3-4 tools and done.

reply to post by gostr


Thanks for that. I've been learning quite a bit since I posted this thread and I have a nice little programme now called photomatix pro for making hdr photos. (though I haven't made any breathtaking art yet)

My problem is I'm trying to learn too much at once. I started off from scratch wanting to do movie-making but then photography got in the way, so I'm trying to learn both now. I'm getting there.