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through_the_lens | all galleries >> Galleries >> Cindy Flood, USA > Looking out
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05-DEC-2009 Cindy Flood

Looking out

Arizona

Bleach Bypass

Pete asked for an explanation. Here it is:
Bleach Bypass is a technique originally referring to film. More info is discussed in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleach_bypass
Basically, silver is retained along with color dyes giving reduced saturation and exposure latitude, increased contrast and graininess.
I used a digital technique. There is a plugin for Photoshop (Windows only) available free if you Google Bleach Bypass. I am running a Mac, so I found a Lightroom preset and went from there.
You can pretty much get there with just Photoshop by doing this:
Load color image in Photoshop
Copy Layer and turn the visibility OFF
Select bottom color layer and add a black and white adjustment layer. Click auto. Set opacity of b&w layer to 50%. You can check the tint box at this point to add the sepia effect, but I like to make a separate fill layer so that I can control the sepia effect with the opacity slider.¬¬¬
Turn visibility back on on the copy layer. Change blend mode of this layer to Multiply. Adjust opacity to somewhere between 40-70%.
Now re-adjust opacities of layers to achieve the desired effect.
Add Curves adjustment layer on top if desired (to balance dark tones).
Add grain if desired. I added a lot.
Just play with it!!!

Leica M8
1/1000s f/1.0 iso160 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Cindi 25-Jun-2010 02:36
Oh yeah....I'm loving this. And, I'm going to try this technique out. Thanks!
Guest 24-Jun-2010 13:34
Love the photo and thanks for the description of your process.
hal 22-Jun-2010 23:02
A very pleasant photo of very pleasant-looking gal
Pete Hemington22-Jun-2010 15:55
Many thanks for detailed explanation, I'll give it a try sometime soon.
Terry 22-Jun-2010 15:25
What a nice image to look at to start my day! I think this is
terrific, Cindy. A bird in a gilded cage - She is not only
beautiful but looks like she would be a very fun person to
know - and Oh, by the way, nice processing :). I'll save
your words and someday try it out. Thanks!
Michael Edwards22-Jun-2010 15:03
Whew!
There's PS work, then there's "over Michael's head".
I am going to give this a shot by your instructions, Professor Flood.
If I can discern the subject matter, I'll post.
If not....well maybe it'll become black and white.
I love the feel of the shot itself.
Relaxed, comfortable with the photographer...