i got the shot photography
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • PETS
  • PEOPLE
  • SESSION INFORMATION
  • PRODUCTS
    • Christmas Greetings
  • GIVING BACK
  • CONTACT INFORMATION
  • BLOG
Elaine Mueller Tweedy
           (570) 575-1705

Project 52 - Week 31: Wood

8/4/2017

8 Comments

 
The thing I love most about being a part of the blog circle, is that each week you are pushed to look at things and interpret them in your own style, to be creative, to learn something new, and of course to take back some great thoughts and perspectives of others.

This week I pondered "wood."  Should I do a pet in the woods?  A pet on something wooden?  Hmmmm...

I decided to use this week to learn something new.  So I made this.
Picture
This is a wood textured background.  I am so proud of myself I could scream!

I used two separate YouTube videos to learn how to make this.  The first is here.  The second is here.  I used what I could from each, because my version of Photoshop Elements is a bit different than what is discussed in the video, but I got the general idea from each video and then used the parts that worked for me to make this background.

To challenge myself even more, I decided to take an existing photo that I had previously left unedited, and pull the subject from it and place him/her on the background.  This is where things got real.
Picture
As anyone who edits can tell you, this is painstaking work.  Cutting the dog out of one image and placing them over a background in a realistic way means the use of shadow and light.  Everyone has their own way of getting there, but I typically use a "reveal all" layer to get rid of everything I don't want to see and bring out the background I have just placed the subject on.  I work at about 400% to blend the edges well.  I then use a dodge and burn tool to add shadow and light where needed, and where it would seem plausible if the dog were really sitting in front of a piece of wood planking.

This is not the type of image I would do for a regular pet portrait client.  This is a client dog, and one you have seen already in another blog post.  I felt he had the best coat color to use with the background I created.  This image would be good for commercial use.  So with that thought, I created this as my final rework of the image.
Picture
I "WOOD" encourage you to try it.  LOL!  I was happy to have tried something new this week.  You never stop learning where photography is concerned.

Check out the rest of the blog circle by starting with Danyel of Wag To My Heart serving the Portland Metro area, OR.  Enjoy the rest of your Friday, and have a wonderful weekend!  As my grandfather used to say:  "Don't take any wooden nickels."
8 Comments
Jodie Pholi
8/4/2017 04:38:33 am

This is great you did an amazing job, So many look pasted on this looks really good.

Reply
SamAdele
8/4/2017 05:31:58 am

Oh wow fab work! You did a great job with this - especially the shadows :)

Reply
Kim Hollis link
8/4/2017 07:45:23 am

Wow - this is a really great job of blending your subject with the new background.

Reply
Kathie Ono link
8/4/2017 10:15:47 am

Great job at compositing (is that the right word?) Love the dog's ear!!!

Reply
Danyel Rogers
8/4/2017 01:58:21 pm

Great job on the melding the two together. It's a lot of work.

Reply
Jessica link
8/4/2017 08:46:02 pm

Very nice job on creating that background and including the dog! That's so hard to do to make it look realistic with the lighting and coloring.

Reply
Darlene link
8/6/2017 04:44:02 pm

Elaine, this is beautiful! Gorgeous pup and great job with the editing - you've definitely inspired me!

Reply
Linda link
8/9/2017 04:51:14 pm

Wow - never thought about actually creating my own wood texture - thank you for the links and the ideas!!! I love what you did in your final photograph - great inspiration to try and get as good of a photo as you did.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    i got the shot

    What People Are Saying:

    "From start to finish I had a great experience with I Got The Shot Photography.  I highly recommend Elaine and her excellent work!"
                                ~Carol C.


    "I LOVE MY PHOTOS. Thank you so much for getting a beautiful portrait of my two babies together.  It is perfect!"
                               ~Melinda F.

    "Elaine’s photos capture the very spirit of her subject."
                               ~Tim S.

    Archives By month

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    September 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    RSS Feed

(c) Copyright  I Got the Shot Photography
 All Rights Reserved

Proudly powered by Weebly