I have to admit, up until about a day and a half ago, I had no idea how I was going to approach this week's theme. I thought about actually going out and shooting at night, but we live in the land of rain, which seems to come at night, so that idea was crossed out. I thought about setting up a very dark shoot in the studio, but didn't feel that was what I wanted either. I was about to hit my "be in a funk" button, when I attended a lecture on fantasy imagery at my local photo club meeting. Sometimes you need inspiration, and I remembered I had some stock images, plus some past shots of my own that remained unedited, and suddenly the creative juices started flowing again. (Thank goodness!)
So here is how I interpreted this week's theme, and put the wheels in motion for a night time fantasy photo.
A number of blogs back, I had taken Billie to a local park that has a beautiful boardwalk-like pathway. If you remember that raise your hand. (If not, just look to the right.)
While I was there I took some extra photos that were both under and overexposed. Some were test photos, and others were on purpose.
I found about three unedited photos where Billie was looking for chipmunks while sitting on this path, and had just the expression I was looking for in the picture in my head. I pulled my choice into Photoshop Elements to work some digital magic and turn it into night.
I needed a moon, so searching stock photos I have been saving up, I found the one below. It had to be a moon that was small and peeking through trees. Who knows what I was thinking when I originally saved this stock photo, but apparently it was a wise choice. Both of the photos (above and below) are much larger, but I've resized them here.
So here is how I interpreted this week's theme, and put the wheels in motion for a night time fantasy photo.
A number of blogs back, I had taken Billie to a local park that has a beautiful boardwalk-like pathway. If you remember that raise your hand. (If not, just look to the right.)
While I was there I took some extra photos that were both under and overexposed. Some were test photos, and others were on purpose.
I found about three unedited photos where Billie was looking for chipmunks while sitting on this path, and had just the expression I was looking for in the picture in my head. I pulled my choice into Photoshop Elements to work some digital magic and turn it into night.
I needed a moon, so searching stock photos I have been saving up, I found the one below. It had to be a moon that was small and peeking through trees. Who knows what I was thinking when I originally saved this stock photo, but apparently it was a wise choice. Both of the photos (above and below) are much larger, but I've resized them here.
I searched the web and found some firefly overlays. I looked for a free one, but ended up purchasing a little group of them, at relatively low cost, on Etsy. I thought they might be nice to have around as well.
Overlays are pretty easy to use and you can get many different effects by changing the blending mode in Photoshop until you find the right "feel" for the image.
There were a number of other things I did as well. I used this step-by-step approach in creating the image.
(1) Edit the over all image of Billie on the path by using levels, hue, saturation and brightness on the environment around her to darken the areas that were too bright. (I masked her off in some of this editing work.)
(2) Burn additional images areas that needed selective darkening.
(3) Add the moon as a layer, revealing the original trees and blending the addition into the image.
(4) Use a Moonbeam action to simulate moonlight.
(5) Add the firefly overlay.
(6) Cue the fog.
And Voila!
Overlays are pretty easy to use and you can get many different effects by changing the blending mode in Photoshop until you find the right "feel" for the image.
There were a number of other things I did as well. I used this step-by-step approach in creating the image.
(1) Edit the over all image of Billie on the path by using levels, hue, saturation and brightness on the environment around her to darken the areas that were too bright. (I masked her off in some of this editing work.)
(2) Burn additional images areas that needed selective darkening.
(3) Add the moon as a layer, revealing the original trees and blending the addition into the image.
(4) Use a Moonbeam action to simulate moonlight.
(5) Add the firefly overlay.
(6) Cue the fog.
And Voila!
So, what do you think?
I think Billie is the perfect color for night time photos, real or imagined.
Have a great end of the week and enjoy your weekend. For more Night interpretations, the blog circle is waiting. Start with Darlene Dykas Woodward of Pant the Town Pet Photography serving Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
I think Billie is the perfect color for night time photos, real or imagined.
Have a great end of the week and enjoy your weekend. For more Night interpretations, the blog circle is waiting. Start with Darlene Dykas Woodward of Pant the Town Pet Photography serving Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
RSS Feed