Photoshop Projects Volume 14

PROFILE
ANTHONY PUGH
THEMONEY
Creative digital retoucher Anthony Pugh
transforms everyday images into something
extra special. Lisa Perkovic goes behind the
scenes in the advertising world and finds out
what Anthony does to create the money shot.
How did you get started in the
industry?
I started my career in a pre-press studio
in England as a scanner operator, where
I formed a strong knowledge base for
tone and colour values.
After four years I was given the
opportunity to learn retouching on what
was then state-of-the-art retouching
high-end stations from companies such as
Hell, Dainippon and Scitex. I went from
strength to strength and was soon
leading the entire department.
When Apple Mac computers first came
on the scene with a little-known program
called Photoshop, I relished the
environment. When layers came along
in version 3, my world changed. I taught
myself through video tutorials.
After 10 years of retouching I was
introduced to web development, where
I developed online image libraries. The
work was interesting but after looking at
code all day, every day, I was glad to get
back into retouching.
I migrated to Australia where I worked
in one of the first digital photographic
studios in the country. I was involved
directly with photographers, creative
directors, art directors and the end
clients. The work was far more creative
as it was agency work with higher
budgets. Before long I was freelancing
– I’d built up a great network and wanted
the challenge of working for myself.
I created my own website,
anthonypugh.com, and started to learn
Internet marketing. I continue to network
and to build strong relationships with
photographers, art directors, Studio/
IN DETAIL
Title: Sewed Lips
Brief: To sew up lips using a cotton thread. Funny story – I was on my
way to Byron Bay when a client called with this brief. I really wanted
to do the job and didn’t want to let down the client. Luckily I had my
laptop and Canon 5D with me, which left me needing a Wacom, so I
bought one en route. Unfortunately I was camping so I had to do the
entire job from my powered tent site using my mobile to upload and
download the images. I think the client would have been horrified to
know their work was being produced in a tent. I bought some cooking
string from the local supermarket and coloured it with a red marker.
I then traced the outline of the lips on white paper directly from my
screen and sewed across the mouth. I shot this and etched it onto the
stock shot and added shading and bruising for effect.
Agency: Cabana Boys
Photographer: Stock Image
Client: Mission Australia
28 | PHOTOSHOP PROJECTS