Sunglasses?

I was the photographer for this little 'photo shoot'.  This picture is a combination of three pictures.  I am practicing selecting objects and realistically combining them together. 

Finishing Touches

I normally like to use Photoshop to save an otherwise hopeless photo, or change or combine photos so the result is something completely different.  But sometimes the photo is fine and all I think the photo needs are a few finishing touches.  Below are 3 techniques I frequently use.  All are used in the photo above.  

Browntone:

There are lots of ways to achieve this effect in Photoshop, but this one is my favorite.  

1. Duplicate the background layer, command-J (PC:Option-J)

2. Desaturate the layer, Shift-Command-U (PC: Shift-Option-U)

3. Colorize the layer with Hue/Saturation, press Command-U (PC: Shift-U) , check the Colorize Box, set the Hue Value  to 38 & Saturation Value to 15, click OK

Soften a Black & White or Browntone Photo:

1. Select the layer you want to soften

2. Press Command-L (PC: Option-L) to bring up the Levels Dialogue Box, move the middle slider value from 1.00 to 1.30

Glow

1. Duplicate the background layer, command-J (PC:Option-J)

2.  Go to the Filter menu and choose Blur>Gaussian Blur,  set the Radius to 20 pixles and press OK. 

3. In the Layers Palette change the layer from normal to overlay.  Then adjust the opacity.

I use this effect to bring back a little color after I have desaturated a photo.  It gives an old quality to the photo, which I like.   

*There are more ways to achieve the effects above in Photoshop, but what I have listed above are my main & favorite methods. 

Original Photo

Mansard Roof

I've been intrested in architecture since I was 10. Somewhere in the middle of college, most likely in History of Interiors, I learned what a Mansard Roof was and I've been in love with it ever since. The music clip comes from Mansard Roof by Vampire Weekend.
For the photos, I made the 'age progression' on different layers of the original photo, then used the export layer comps to files option in Photoshop.

Serious Hometown Glory

The title of this image is a combination of two song titles Serious by Duffy and Hometown Glory by ADELE. I found the image of the TV on iStock.com.
To the image of the TV & the people I applied some of my usual favorites: brown tones, HDR, glowing & threshold filters which where then blended together to my liking. Then I combined the two images together, added text and cropped the picture.

Orginal Photo

Orginal Photo

Hoping for a Strike

I like this photo because of the moment it captures. How many people sit down in front of their lane at a Bowling Alley? However the original photo (see below) was very yellow due to the lovely florescent lighting. So I went to work.
First for the background I applied a Split Toning process, then I applied the Paint Daubs Filter selecting the shinny brush.
For the main subject I used layers of split toning, sketching, threshold & Gaussian blur which I then blended together using layer options and opacity.

Original Photo

Floating

There's too much going on here to explain my entire process.  A few things that were used are the Lighting Effects filter (for the frame), Liner Burn blending modes & smart objects.  Sometimes I wonder if subconsciously I've banded minimalism from my work.  

Inagural Ball Polaroids

As part of the Inauguration Events this year, I was able to attend an Inaugural Ball at the Smithson American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery. Lots of pictures where taken. I really liked the contrasting colors in this photo and the 'stopped' action of the people walking. 

The original photo was slightly blurry, which I actually liked.  To play this up in Photoshop, I used three filters, HDR, Fresco & Film Grain and added a layer of Gradient Shading to focus the focal point of the photo.  Instead of just posting the photo, I wanted to do something more with it. I have had an image of image of blank Polaroids just waiting to be used.  I changed the background and 'cutout' the blank Polaroid so I could add my image.  To finish, I added text with a scripted handwritten typeface.  

Tracks

A little nod to my roots and something I use everyday.  This image is composed of 3 layers.  The bottom, the photo of the tracks with an HDR Filter process applied.  The next scan of an old sheet of paper, with the layer mode set to overlay.  On top, I've used a gradient to darken the corners and focus the viewers eye. 

Abstraction Number ?

In my option making an abstract work of art is a game of opposites.  For me there is often little methodical thought of composition, yet in the end the product is complex.  It's normally a process with lots of  experimentation and small output.  In this case, I was taking pictures at night during the Holiday Season.  It was hard to hold the little point & shoot camera still, and after a few blurry pictures, I started playing around with shaking the camera to see what would happen.  Fifteen pictures later, I have one I like.  

I've applied filters & techniques that I'm a fan of, which I have listed in previous postings.   

Complimentary Phone

This image combines two photos.  On each photo I copied the original layer, desaturated it, then colorized it with brown tones.  I then set the brown tone layer to multiply.  The color of the frame was changed with the Hue/Saturation sliders before the this process was applied. The photo of the phone has a texture filter applied to it, so it appears like canvas.  

Just incase you didn't notice there's a little color theory lesson going on here and I also happen to like red and teal tones together.   

Christmasness

This post builds upon the last post.  I've been working on Christmas stuff for work and not work.  These two pictures where the rejects from a card I was working on.  I happen to love them.  I was trying really hard to incorporate my recent obsession with faces in clothing forms into a Christmas card.  It didn't meet the approval of all parties, so instead I'm posting them here.  Who wouldn't want their face hanging off a clothesline in their Christmas card?

Outline Obsession

I am currently obsessed with object outlines, specifically clothing outlines.  I like the idea of framing objects with other objects.  In this picture it's a face within a jacket.  Why this appeals to me, I am not entirely sure.  But it most likely has to something with the fact that I like clothes.  

Recently I read an article in Photoshop user about using filters to design with.  Two of my favorite filters, Threshold and Cutouts where used.  I applied a couple of the steps in the article to my original photo with the face.  Then I copied and pasted an object from Illustrator, selected, inverted the selection, moved it to my liking and then deleted the rest of the image.  

As I mentioned, I'm currently obsessed with this idea.  I've been working hard, but haven't officially completed anything yet, too may ideas.  So to move past this, I'm posting this image in hopes that I'll have a deciding flash of creativity and finish the other projects.  In the meantime, I sure am having fun experimenting. 

Running Scroll

This image plays with repetition & size.  I would call this a digital version of my creating art from found object days.  The original files are illustrations from istock.   I compiled/edited the images together in Illustrator & applied gradient swatches.  

Fast?

This is purely fun and will most likely make you dizzy looking at it.  But I really liked the purple surrounding the oval.  

Walking Through My Picture

Lots of people, your sister is trying to take a picture of you in a mirror.  It's a fantastic idea, but people keep walking in front of us...true story.  

The original photo was blurry and grainy, so I applied a Chalk & Charcoal filter to it in Photoshop.  I purposely made the faces blurry to change the focus to shapes and patterns.

Under Foot

This image is a combination of two pictures I took.  Oddly enough one is from DC the other from LA.  I applied the Fresco Filter and Gaussian Blur Sketching to the photos.  In the end this image is all about the subtle texture details and the juxtaposition of different points of view.  To me it also portrays my two self claimed alter egos, Urban Ereen & Wilderness Ereen.  I hail from a place where cowboy boots are worn to church.  I however, refused to own a pair until I found some for $5 on the East Coast.  I now work in a city were I'm walking for a least a mile each way on my daily commute to work.  My heals live at my office and the snazzy purple shoe laced sneakers let me walk fast to catch my train and explore the city.  

What if anything, does this picture say to you?

Old Meets New

My History of Interiors class is responsible for my love of the furniture, motifs and patterns in this image.  

Extracting an object from the background of a photo is a well known action of Photoshop.  There are hundreds of ways to accomplish this, however it takes some practice and skill to make it look realistic.  I was recently practicing with a technique outlined in the October/November Photoshop User.  The end results where promising, so I decided to turn it into a bit more.  Filters where applied to a few of the objects, then arranged to my liking. 

The floral elements in the images are considered classic and keep reappearing in fashion, interiors & other assorted places over time.  

Halloween Bash

It seems like I excel at making invites, or at least I just enjoy making them.  The house image was created in Photoshop using sketching and desaturation.  Then pulling in a image of worn paper and playing with the opacity of the layers until I was satisfied.  The image was then placed in InDesign were I used LunacyMore and Grit Primer typefaces for the text and applied the gray background/border.  I should also mention that I chose this particular house image from istockphoto.com because of the Mansard Roof, a favorite of mine.  The finished invite size is 4"x6".  The invites were first printed on 8.5"x11" paper then torn down to size using a ruler as a guide, so the finished invite had a deckled edge.  

Playing with Shadows

Have you ever tried to take a picture directly into the sun?  It doesn't work well with your average amateur digital camera.  So instead, I turned around, noticed the cool shadows behind us and 'wow' we look really tall.  

I applied 3 filters to this photo, Film Grain, Poster Edges & Cutouts. I blended them together using the blending options under the Layer Styles Menu in Photoshop.  

Getty Shadows

I recently visited The Getty Center.  The architecture was fabulous.  Combined with the late afternoon sun, some great light vs. shadow pictures where taken.  I can't take credit for the original idea for this photo, but I did take this photo and then added a few layers (HDR Filter and a gaussian blur).  More pictures from this trip coming soon...

Pumpkins

My friend asked me to make an invite for her upcoming party.  I took this picture last fall with my old faithful Cannon Rebel G 35 mm SLR.  To make the words "Dinner in a Pumpkin" appear to be carved into the pumpkin, I simply added the bevel and emboss effects to the type layers.  The typeface used here is Grit Primer. 

 I simply love the vivid color contrast going on in this photo.  When my film was developed, I had it put on a CD.  The color seen here is the original, no hue/saturation has been added.  I knew this photo would came in handy later, glad I had a chance to use it.  

Stand Out

There are too many fun things going on here to list them all.  But first of all, this image is based on a "moment" caught on film, then taken for a creative rollercoaster ride.  Thanks L, for the original picture. 

Second the fonts Grit Primer and Lettersoupmainz where used. Thank you dafont.com.  

Third, I started with a photo, so naturally this image was created in Photoshop.  

Forth, layer, layers and grouping layers, is the key here.  

Fifth, some de-motivational posters where recently created, I'm not sure what category this falls into, really the text was just a reason to use type.  But I'll let you decide.

All The Pretty Flowers

Layers, layers, layers, is the key to this image.  You might begin to detect a few patterns in my methods.  Yes, I have a few favorite techniques.  The following, which may or may not be my favorites, were used in the image. 

Gaussian Blur Filter Sketching

HDR Simulation

Art History Brush

Split Toning

Thanks to KM for capturing the original image.  

Walking in St. Michael's

The original image was taken by a friend.  To create this digital painting I used the following techniques in Photoshop:

HDR Effect using Shadow/Highlight Adjustments

Art History Brush

Gaussian Blur Filter Sketching

Texture Filter

Then I adjusted the opacity of the layers to my liking. Ta-dah!

7 & H, How I love you and your craziness.

I was forced to take this photo-along with a least 20 others.  But after some artistic photoshop adjustments, I really like it.

Thoughts while taking this picture (and the 20 others):

How many do I have to take?

I'm hungry lets go eat.

Lets go before the guys who asked about a good Sushi restaurant come back.

Woah, there's a bus.

Hey that guy is in the picture.

This particular corner is also my crazy corner, named for so many interesting people and events that have happened in my presence.  I love this picture for its familiarity.