Serenity on sand (2)
Copyright ©2006, Rob Smith HoF Win ♥ ¤ $
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Version 2 of a previously posted image. It addresses some issues raised by critics in the first version. Hope you like it.
TECHNIQUE
- Prepare original image and open in Photoshop. Make a copy of the Background as a new layer. We'll call this the main photo
- Increase the canvas size all around to give yourself plenty of room to play. Allow a fair amount of vertical space to accommodate the exploded segments of the main photo.
- Select the colour you want for the BG and fill the BG with it. This colour can easily be changed later if fine tuning required.
- Starting from the top of the main photo, use the pen tool to draw a path around the segment that you want to cut out and close the path (that is, finish where you started), forming a pleasingly curved loop around the image. It only needs to be accurate where the path crosses the main photo. Make sure the sides and top of the path are well clear of the main photo. Use the path node handles to achieve a pleasing curve.
- Convert the path to a selection. You now see the marching ants border around the selection.
- Create a new layer (via cut) using the selection [Ctrl-Shift-J]. This chops the first segment away from the main photo and makes it a separate layer that can be manipulated independently. Call it segment X to aid recognition among all the layers you'll end up with in the layer palette!
- Using the move tool, and holding down the shift key, move the new segment up and away from the remaining bit of the main photo.
- Repeat Steps 4-7 above to create the remaining segments of the main photo. Each time, you will be reducing the area remaining in the main photo until it becomes the final segment.
- Now you're ready to start manipulating....
- If desired, distort some of the segments using the Transform/Distort tool (or any similar tool you desire). I distorted segments 3 and 7 to give them a slight curl in the lower right corner.
- Use the Layer/Layer style toolbox to add desired layer styles to each segment. I simply used Drop shadow, varying the drop shadow controls for each segment to create a believable transition of shadows to make it look like the different segments were different distances from the BG.
- On the 3rd segment, I didn't want an even drop shadow across the whole width. I wanted it to look like the segment was stuck down to the BG at the left, and was starting to lift at the right bottom corner. To achieve this effect, I converted the drop-shadow for that segment to a layer. Then I masked off, with a soft brush in a layer mask, the bits I wanted to hide, leaving just a small shadow under the right bottom corner.
That's the basic technique. In order to get the rocks neatly excised, I duplicated small sections of the main photo (containing the cut rocks) and pasted them - as separate layers - over the cuts. Then I masked off the bits I wanted hidden, and cloned out the bits of rock tops that were present in the segments above them. A bit of fiddling around but I hope yoou get what I was doing.
I chose an odd number of segments because I like odd numbers in compositions.
Once I had the basic segments chopped out and suitably drop-shadowed, I moved them around on the canvas (BG) to achieve a pleasing transition of inter-segmental gaps. I also played with the canvas colour to get it how I wanted it (matching the pink of the sky). Then I blended the top left edge of segment 3 into the BG.
I hope this is not "clear as mud".
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| Photographer: |
Rob Smith
HoF Win ♥ ¤ $
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| Folder: |
SmithPix |
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| Uploaded: |
2006-Mar-16 07:38 EST |
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| Current Rating: |
9.40/5 (Weighted rating: 8.77)
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| Copying allowed: |
No
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| Camera: |
Olympus E-1 |
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| Lens: |
Olympus 11-22mm f2.8/3.5 |
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| Lens Adapter: |
None |
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| ISO: |
200 |
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| Aperture: |
11 |
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| Shutter Speed: |
1/180 |
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| Focal Length: |
11mm |
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| Flash: |
No |
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| Tripod/Monopod: |
No |
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| Critique Level: |
Dead Honest Critique |
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Comment/Rate
Critique Guideline
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The outer border on this one is bigger. I preferred the border size on the first image. BUT the other adjustments make this a more visually pleasing image.
Grant Mundell ♥ ¤ at 08:08 EST on 2006-Mar-16 [Reply]
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It looks really good Rob, I'm sure as a print it will look even better. The modifications made have definitely improved it. I'm not sure the slicing is exactly my cup of tea, but it's done with skill so who am I to have a whinge!! Nice image!
Andy
Andy Collin HoF Win ♥ ¤ $ at 10:39 EST on 2006-Mar-16 [Reply]
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The changes have definetely improved the already wonderful photo; I still think it's a great one!
vaggelis fragiadakis HoF Win ♥ ¤ $ $ at 10:57 EST on 2006-Mar-16 [Reply]
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I really liked the idea you presented with the first version of this, but the placement (cutting) of the rocks bothered me a bit. This is perfect! The rocks now add something great to the image, giving it a nice 3-D quality and helping to lead the eye from the foreground to the figure on the horizon. What a creative image, and I'm sure your friend will love it.
Elisabeth Spector HoF Win ♥ ¤ $ at 11:49 EST on 2006-Mar-16 [Reply]
Fantastic
Just love the idea and I agree with everything else that Elisabeth says. I am going to take scissors to all of my old photos. Great placement of the large rocks and the figure in the BG. Please tell us how you did it!
adrian tear HoF Win ♥ ¤ $ at 12:14 EST on 2006-Mar-16 [Reply]
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I also like this more than the previous one. Beautiful scene, very nice soft colors.
John Greenberg ♥ ¤ at 14:00 EST on 2006-Mar-16 [Reply]
Like this ....
more then your previous one, Rob, espec. the cut around the stone as Elisabeth has stated.
Best wishes,
Horst Schmier HoF Win ♥ ¤ $ at 14:09 EST on 2006-Mar-16 [Reply]
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Like this one better as well!
John Stankewitz ♥ ¤ $ $ at 18:35 EST on 2006-Mar-16 [Reply]
Thank you everyone
It's pleasing to know that the changes are generally seen as improvements. I eagerly await this image's return from the printing lab!
Rob Smith HoF Win ♥ ¤ $ at 21:16 EST on 2006-Mar-16 [Reply]