Faking it: Who needs a $1900 lens?

[inTempus]

If you can't afford a $1900 Canon 85mm f/1.2L lens, just fake it.

Example:

I decided that it might look better with a little bokeh.

Man I love digital and Photoshop.

 

[PhotoXopher]

Odd how the close clouds are blurred but the distant ones are in focus, kind of

 

[loopy]

Great job!

 

[Village Idiot]

Gradient map I'm guessing? Try two. One up and one down.

 

[gsgary]

I'm glad i don't get bokeh like that

 

[Overread]

This is always triky to do though - for websize as the sizes posted its rather easy, but for large images and certainly for images with a very detailed dividing boarder between in focus and out of focus its very time consuming to do right.

I have read of methods like this, though most people consider it best that you have the good bokeh before you start - eg here (scroll down to base for the background section).
Juza Nature Photography

I think its because its very easy to overdo it (and to mess up the dividing line on something like the grass in your shot and have it as a hard boundary rather than diffuse) and get a very unnatural look

 

[xiangji]

doesn't quite look right to me...

 

[itznfb]

I like the first one better.

 

[manaheim]

Wow, you rock man.



*headdesk*

 

[inTempus]

The dividing line is actually down around her ankles.

 

[HeY iTs ScOTtY]

no fake clouds in this one??

 

[::trainwreck::]

doesn't quite look right to me...

I dunno, there's just something about it I can't put my finger on. I guess it works, but as soon as I saw it I knew it was photoshopped. There's just something about it...

 

[JerryPH]

Well, it was a valiant effort, and if you showed it to someone a little less experienced, they may even think it was done by an 85 1.2, but I've seen some shots from that lens, and it would be darn hard to match.

I am guessing Alien Skin Bokeh PS plug-in?

 

[inTempus]

Well, it was a valiant effort, and if you showed it to someone a little less experienced, they may even think it was done by an 85 1.2, but I've seen some shots from that lens, and it would be darn hard to match.

I am guessing Alien Skin Bokeh PS plug-in?

You're right, yes... Alien Skin Bokeh plug in and about 5 minutes of masking off the area I wanted blurred. I'm sure if I applied myself I could do far better.

Here's another example I did. Just learning the tool really.

Before:

After:

Again, a very quick edit.

 

[JerryPH]

Again, very nice... but you forgot to blur the area visible through the left rear window.

I think a combination of Mask Pro 4 and this plug-in could do some very interesting things.