Photoshop Portrait trick

I've got a favorite trick for making portraits pop: I run this Lomo action (by Addicted to Design) in Photoshop, copy the result, and then paste it over the original with either an Overlay, Soft Light, or Hard Light blending mode of between 20 - 35%. Check out the photos below for an example of the effect:


Original photo
Nikon D70; 85mm prime lens; 1/1600s at f/4.5; ISO 200


Photoshopped version
sky detail burned in with alternate exposure from RAW format; Lomo action; basic retouching on the face, particularly around the eyes

Occasionally the skin tones come out a little too yellow, but that can be managed by taking the blending mode down a notch or masking out the skin (either a little or completely) on the Lomo layer.

I just love how it makes the colors sing. :-)


~RCH~