saxman71 wrote:
Nicely done. I could not tell if you had not told me. I've been shooting some backgrounds as well and using masks to do composites. I think a lot of photographers do it. One fellow I follow always has a nicely shot bird on a great perch with an extremely clean background. There's no way that happens in nature as much as it happens to him.
I like to composite to practice my photoshop skills. Keeps me up to date with various techniques.
Birds can be difficult for the reason you mentioned.
Thanks for the comment.
While traipsing around the panhandle of Nebraska we (my wife and I) found a field to shoot. So I shot it. Then a day or so later we found this cow. So I shot it.
So I decided to put them together and came up with this composite.
Thanks!
Linda From Maine wrote:
A highly engaging result! Thanks so much for your time in putting this together, Claud.
My Pleasure!
The color-grading process is elaborate, so to save time for the next image I created a Lightroom develop preset and three brush presets.
I'd be happy to share those with anyone who might be interested.
Thanks!
This image spawned from my participation in the Use of Light and Dark Challenge in the Post-Processing Digital Images section.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-587279-1.html
I had not heard of chiaroscuro (Italian for light-dark), but I am aware of the strength or even importance of using shadows and highlights or whites and blacks to create strong contrast. So I snooped around YouTube and found a tutorial on using Lightroom to create a moody style Color-grade. In the past I’ve dodged and burned and used luminosity masks to create image drama, but watching this tutorial I became aware of using color-grading and brushes as well.
The tutorial was entitled “To Edit Like Dylan Fursty On Instagram.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeCE7Zw7_jU&list=PLgBEIQRS9aBK2_8WXytnXsPmq2768Zf-e&index=13&t=0s
This is my first attempt at that process. I used Lightroom’s basic panel to desaturate green and color-grade the image, split toning to increase the blues, calibration for more effect, HSL for color adjustment, and curves to add some contrast. Selected brightening in the image was created using the elliptical tool and brushes; and finally Photoshop for fine tuning.
I’m offering this an example of chiaroscuro, spawned from the Use of Light and Dark Challenge in the Post-Processing Digital Images section.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-587279-1.html
I added a dark and moody desaturated green color-grade using the basic panel, split toning, calibration, HSL, and curves in Lightroom. Selected brightening was created by way of the elliptical tool and brushes.
I also used Photoshop for some fine tuning.
Yes! Thank you!
This should be fun!
Linda From Maine wrote:
Claud, since you and Vince chose the same photo, I will address another of my favorite discussion topics: color vs. black and white
Vince's interpretation is about light, shadows and textures - not the literal subjects within the frame. I don't see a bed, I see all those fascinating details created by the shadows
on the bed and pillows, as well as gray tones of the curtains that make that area a more subtle study of lines and light.
With your color version, I feel a more personal connection. I have always loved getting up at dawn and watching the sun rise, so despite the strong light and shadows that you've kept for this challenge theme, I'm attracted to your photo in a totally different way.
Many thanks for your time and interest!
Claud, since you and Vince chose the same photo, I... (
show quote)
My pleasure!
Great study and practice on light!
Thanks!
Hi!
I also imported the image into Lightroom for basic editing, and then exported to Photoshop for the heavy lifting.
In Photoshop I used a series of luminosity masks in conjunction with curves to manipulate the darks and the lights and add a bit of warmth to the light. I also did a little dodging and burning, sharpening, added a light vignette, and then finished by cropping to the 16 x 10 perspective.
Thanks for letting my play!
Claud