Adjustment layer and smart filter


 

I tried out the adjustment layer first. I used a picture from Mesa Falls and added a new adjustment layer. I then used the screen blending mode to lighten the background. I changed the opacity to 50% then copied the adjustment layer. I then used the black paintbrush to hide the blending mode in the foreground on the foilage.
1. Mesa Falls: f/5.3, shutter speed not listed, Ashton, 10/20/08, 2:00 p.m.

Next, I created a smart filter. I changed the picture to a smart object and then used the dry brush filter. I didn't edit after the filter.
2. China Town: f/4.8, shutter speed not listed, London, 10/6/08, 3:15 p.m.

Flora and Fauna






















I didn't think I'd be able to find any flora or fauna in Idaho during this time of year! I brightened all the photos since it was a cloudy day, and I also added a little contrast on a few of them. The flora were shot in macro mode while the fauna where shot with aperture priority. 

1. red branches: Olympus E-300, f/5.6, shutter speed not listed, Rexburg, 1/23/10, 4:00 p.m.
2. brown leaf: Olympus E-300, f/5.6, shutter speed not listed, Rexburg, 1/23/10, 4:00 p.m.
3. duck: Olympus E-300, f/6.3, shutter speed not listed, Rexburg, 1/23/10, 4:10 p.m.
4. horse: Olympus E-300, f/8.0, shutter speed not listed, Rexburg, 1/23/10, 4:30 p.m.

Blending and Type Edit










stonehenge: f/5.9, shutter speed not listed, 10/5/08, England
water: f/6.3, shutter speed not listed, 1/17/10, Saint Anthony, Idaho

I layered the water on top of stonehenge. I then used the overlay blending mode and changed the opacity to 95%. Next, I added a new adjustment layer using levels, but kept the levels the same. I used the overlay blending mode once again and changed the opacity to 60%. I copied the levels layer and placed it on top of the other. For the text. I placed it in between the water and levels layers. I changed the text color to white and changed the font. Then I added the overlay blending mode to the text and kept the opacity at 100%. So basically I just played around with the overlay blending mode.

Landscape and Still Images






































I didn't want to have all winter pictures, so I chose two I took last year. I enjoyed taking the still like pictures. The landscape pictures were a challenge. I really had to focus on where I was metering the light; thus, I brightened the haunted mill picture because it was so dark. I also made the swing picture black and white.
1. haunted mill: f/8.0, no shutter speed listed, 1/17/10, 4:15 p.m.,Teton, Idaho
2. beach: f/4.2, no shutter speed listed, 2/13/09, 3:45 p.m., Malaga, Spain
3. swings:  f/ 7.1, no shutter speed listed, 1/17/10, 3:30 p.m., Saint Anthony, Idaho
4. fruit: f/3.6, no shutter speed listed, 10/20/09, 12:45 p.m., Rexburg, Idaho

Cutout











For my cutout I did a cat. I had difficulty at first because I couldn't figure out how to use the lasso tool. After trial and error, I finally created my cutout!

1. Cat: Casio Exilim, Malaga, Spain, February 2009, afternoon
2. Cat cutout: complete cutout with quick selection tool and lasso tool. Refined and feathered edges. Added contrast for shadowing.

Study in Color: Brown





I chose brown because it's a rich, earthy color which can be found even in the dead of winter. I shot the park restroom, branches and dumpster in the late afternoon while the sun was setting. The art was taken inside my house with natural light. The only change I made to any of the photographs was the park restroom. I added a brown photo filter and cropped it just a bit. I didn't touch the others. I shot most of them with aperture priority. I really don't know how to use my camera yet, but hopefully I'll get the hang of it. Also, the file information in Photoshop didn't tell me my shutter speed. I have no idea why.
1. modern art: f 4.8, no shutter speed listed, 1/12/10, 2:30 p.m.
2. park restroom: f 8.0, no shutter speed listed, 1/11/10, 4:30 p.m.
3. branches: f 8.0, no shutter speed listed, 1/11/10, 4:20 p.m.
4. dumpster: f 8.0, no shutter speed listed, 1/11/10, 4:15 p.m