PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

Finally sharing my attempts at a composite. It has taken me a while to wrap my head around this process, and I'm still painfully slow. I tend to get stuck, then I get impatient with myself...haha

I took the Growler pictures in the fall of 2016. The Cubs were in the World Series, and the Navy pilot (the son of a friend) is a lifelong Cubs fan. It was a thrill to see, hear, and feel him take off! He had gotten permission to buzz the tower, so he looped back and flew right over our heads...it was a "wow" moment for us!!

I've always had the thought in the back of my mind to do a composite with the jet and a flag. I just never knew how to do it. I can't say that I really know how to do it now, but I sort of stumbled through it. haha... I'm not sure which order is best for layering the two photos, as in which should be on top or bottom. I also tried doing a composite with an eagle and a flag. I decided that I needed a different flag picture, which I have since taken, but haven't retried that composite yet.

Photoshop has a steep learning curve for me, so I just need to start slow and learn how to do one thing, then build on that. Or, maybe there's a better approach to trying to learn Photoshop. I'm all ears! ;)

I sure would appreciate any and all of your constructive criticism, as it'll help me grow and learn. Fire away!
Thanks!
Patty

(Download)


(Download)

Ourspolair

Both great, the second is a cracker! I would just darken the aircraft a little (maybe use the "haze" adjustment?) You are already streets ahead of me with your layers and I have had PhotoShop since CS4 :(

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I do like the second one! Well, actually both of them.

Naval Aviators are the best! I still can't figure out why my wife married one. (grin!)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Very nice work, Patty. Patience is the key.
--Bob

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

You did good. Your shot of the jet against the stars and stripes caused me to wonder what would it look like if there were clouds in the white stripes.

bleirer

I think you got a nice result!

Your question about the order of layers: the one above takes precedence in normal layers. The opacity slider for that layer controls how much to allow what is below to show through. A layer mask lets you decide how much of the layer the mask is on to hide or to show. If you switch a layer to a blending mode then each mode has its own rules about what part of what is below to show.

PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

Thank you for your kind words, Ourspolair! I'll play with the haze adjustment and see what happens. I appreciate the advice!
Patty

PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

Thank you, Bill! Are you retired from the Navy, or still flying? The young man in my photo retired a couple years ago and is now a test pilot. Thank you for your service!!
Patty

PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

Thank you, Bob! I've decided that I shouldn't even sit down to begin working on a project, if I don't feel like I have the time to allow myself to be patient. It gets too frustrating, and I want to be able to enjoy what I'm learning.

Patty

PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

Thank you Fotoartist! I like your idea of the clouds showing through the white stripes. Not sure how I would do that, but it sounds cool!

Patty

PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

Aaahhh....blending modes! Thank you, bleirer! I don't know/understand that much about them, but I remember reading about them in some of the posts on this forum. I need to experiment with them!! I think I was mainly using the opacity slider. If you use a layer mask and blending mode, is that when you would use a brush to reveal what's beneath? Thank you for the advice!

Patty

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Keep the thought. If you want to do something in Photoshop you can. It is just a matter of time for you.

PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

Thank you. Good advice!

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Keep at it. You are doing just fine.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I was a Naval Aviator during the Vietnam thing. I got out and spent most of my work life as a light aircraft salesman and instructor. Float planes were my instruction specialty. I quit flying when I was 71.

Thank you for giving me great airplanes to fly, a fantastic crew and the chance to see a lot of Asia.