Classic Themes of Photography Editing Techniques

Dream-Like Image:

1. Create a copy of your background layer, name it channel mixer
2. At the bottom of your layers palette, click on the create a new fill/adjustment layer icon, which looks like a half black, half white circle
3. Click on channel mixer
4. Click on “Monochrome” in the channel mixer adjustment window (should appear right above your layers palette
5. Adjust the color meters so that the red and green source channels are adjusted high, and the blue and constant meters are adjusted low, you should have a pretty highly contrasted image, that is a little on the dark side
6. Merge this layer into the copy of the background layer by right clicking (or pressing “control” awhile clicking) and selecting “merge down”
7. Add a Gaussian Blur to this layer by clicking on filter > blur > Gaussian blur, and adjust it so that your photograph is a little out of focus, but not so much that you start to lose detail in the photo
8. Now we are ready to adjust the opacity of this layer, to make it somewhat transparent, bring the opacity (at the top of the layers palette) somewhere between 40%-60%

Example:

Antiqued Image

1. Create a copy of your background layer, name it Gaussian blur
2. Add a Gaussian blur to this layer by clicking filter > blur > Gaussian Blur, adjust the blur so that your photograph is a little out of focus, but not so much that you start to lose detail in the photo, click OK
3. Create a layer mask on this blurred layer by clicking on the icon on the layers palette that looks like a circle inside of a rectangle, you will notice that next to the thumbnail of this layer there is now a white box
4. Make sure that your background color is white, and your foreground color is black, and select the gradient tool
5. Make sure that in the tool options you have the “radial gradient” tool selected, this is a circular gradient
6. Click on your focal point of your photo, and drag so that you create a line from the focal point out, the longer line you drag, the more of your photograph will be in focus
7. To add a sepia tone to your photograph click layer > new adjustment layer > hue/saturation
8. Click the option to “colorize” the photograph
9. Adjust the “hue” meter to somewhere in between orange and yellow, so that your photo has the sepia look
10. Create a new blank layer, by clicking the create a new layer icon in the layers window
11. Using the rectangular marquee tool,  select the center of the photograph, leaving a border of about 1”-2” all the way around the edge of the photograph
12. Click the “q” button on the keyboard to make a quickmask appear, this will turn the border of the photo red
13. Add another Gaussian blur to this layer, the Gaussian blur should make the photo entirely out of focus this time, you may need to adjust this blur all the way up, click OK
14. Exit the quick mask mode by pressing “q” on the keyboard again
15. Select the inverse, so that your border is selected by clicking select > inverse
16. Using the brush tool, select a very large brush with an extremely soft edge by clicking up top in the tool options bar and bringing the size of the brush up, and the hardness of the brush completely down to zero
17. Once you have a large, soft edged brush, color in the border of your photograph so that it is darkened
18. Adjust the opacity of this layer to make a more subtle vignette

Example:

Links for Photoshop Tutorials:

http://www.thephotoargus.com/40-stunning-photo-effect-photoshop-tutorials-edit-like-pro/

https://creativemarket.com/blog/2014/04/21/20-photoshop-tutorials-that-you-never-knew-could-be-so-easy

http://design.tutsplus.com/articles/30-awesome-photo-effect-tutorials--psd-27718

Didn’t find something you liked?  Try doing a google search for “Photoshop Tutorials” or "Photoshop Editing Techniques".  There are literally thousands of youtube videos or step-by-step written tutorials for you to experiment with. 


Past Examples:

    

Double Exposure Images:

There are many different ways to do a double exposure, essentially, a double exposure is just combining two or more images into one.  Here are a few ideas:

1. Use the quick select tool to select a subject from one picture.  Refine the edge (on the options bar – adjust the radius, feather, and contrast, so you soften the edge, but create enough contrast to make it look realistic when pasted in another image.  Copy (cmnd+c) and paste (cmnd+v) the selected subject into another picture

Example:

2. Layer two pictures on top of one other.  Select an entire image (cmnd+a – select all), copy (cmnd+c), and paste (cmnd+v) over another picture.  Adjust the opacity of the top layer so that It’s somewhat transparent and the other picture shows through

Example: 

3. Layer two pictures on top of one another.  Select the subject in the image on the top layer using the quick select tool.  Refine the edge.  Erase the subject (press delete/backspace on the keyboard) so that the layer behind it shows through.  This makes for a more abstract, surrealist edit.  

Example:

Still Life Example Gallery (Classic Themes of Photography)

Still Life Examples:

Project 2: Classic Themes of Photography

Requirements

• For this project you will take 5 Photos for each Classic Theme – 25 photos total
• You will edit all 25 photos using the techniques listed below - we will be learning these techniques over the next week and a half

The 5 Classic Themes:

1. Portrait

• Take in Vertical Format
• Remember to use care in cropping – always crop in between two joints, never at a joint
• Help your model feel comfortable by taking candid photos or giving them clear direction on how they should be posing – you are the one seeing what the photograph looks like, tell them how they should move to make the best, most flattering portrait

2. Landscape

• Take in Horizontal Format
• Remember the rule of thirds – the horizon line should sit on either the thirds or two thirds mark – it depends on what your focal point is.
• If the subject is the sky (interesting clouds, sunset or sunrise) the sky should take up 2/3rds of the picture
• If the subject is the landscape, that should take up 2/3rds
• Avoid overly busy landscapes - if the land has busy texture - consider breaking it up by using close-up foreground objects, or by having the land only take up 1/3 of the photograph

3. Still Life

• Take in Horizontal Format
• You arrange objects on table or other flat surface – design your own composition
• Set up Lighting – either direct light source or diffused lighting work well.  You can use the sun as your light source, just make sure you think about how the light is hitting your subject – pay attention to shadows and highlights
• We will be going over some lighting techniques - consider using some of these lighting techniques for your still lives

4. Action

• Take in Vertical or Horizontal Format – It depends on what direction the moving object is going
• If the object is moving side to side – horizontal format
• If the object is moving up and down – vertical format
• Create active space – have a moving object going into the frame

5. Macro

• Take in vertical or horizontal format
• Up close picture focusing on textures and surface quality
• Subject should take up at least 2/3rds of the frame
• Little to no background noise – try to keep the background as simple as possible – blur it out when necessary

_________________________________________________

Editing: 

1 Dream-Like image for each CTOP*
1 Antiqued image for each CTOP*
1 Black and White image for each CTOP*
1 Double Exposure image for each CTOP*
1 Editing technique of your choice for each CTOP*, I will be posting a list of resources to search for your free choice editing techniques 

For example - you will have 1 portrait edited in the dream-like technique, 1 portrait edited in the antique technique, 1 portrait in B&W, 1 portrait as a double exposure, and 1 portrait edited in a technique of your choice. You will do the same for each of the other CTOPs as well.

*CTOP = Classic Theme of Photography

Background Blur Tutorial

Today we will be using the Quick Selection tool and learning all the possibilities of the tool.  We will be learning how to blur a background in a photograph, as well as using the tool to make image adjustments to just a part of our photographs.

Here is a photo you can practice on, or you can use one of your own. If you are using your own photograph, you should choose something with a clearly defined focal point and fairly simple edges for the sake of learning this tool. 

Practicing with Photoshop

Today, we will be beginning our work with Adobe Photoshop.  You may use one of the following images to practice adjusting levels and sharpening on Photoshop.  Click on the photo to make it larger, right click (or ctrl+click) on the image, and choose "Save Image As" and save it to your desktop.  Then, we'll drag the photo file into Photoshop and get started!

We will be learning about the interface of the program today.  We will also begin working with Photoshop to sharpen our image, and learn about adjustment layers, particularly levels adjustment layers. Here are some additional resources on these techniques:

Sharpening Photos

Levels Adjustment Layer

Straightening a Horizon 

Setting up your blog

Setting up your blog

• Go to blogger.com
• Sign in with your google account
• Create the title of your blog – name it by your full first and last name (how it appears on Illuminate).  For example, my blog would be called Lindsay Behr Photo, and the address would be: Lindsaybehrphoto.blogspot.com. 
• Post your blog link on google classroom on the assignment for your blog link
• Keep your login information – write it down and keep it somewhere important.  We will be posting our images on our blogs throughout the
• Your blog is now set up!  You can click on new post to create a post for your assignment

Project #1 - 20 Shoot Tips

Overview:

• Shoot a photograph that you feel best displays each one of the 20 shoot tips
• Edit each in Photoshop, making it the best photograph it can be
• All Photographs must be posted to your blog in order of the shoot tips.  Label each photograph by the number of the shoot tip, and the title of the shoot tip

1. Move in Close – Photograph objects from up close to focus on textures rather than getting too much unnecessary background noise
2. Use Care in Cropping – PORTRAIT - Do not cut a person off at a joint. Crop at a narrowing point - mid calf, mid thigh, mid forearm, or mid upper-arm
3. Close up foreground objects – LANDSCAPE - Use a close up foreground object to make the photograph more compositionally interesting, and it actually makes the photograph appear less busy or cluttered
4. C-Composition – An object in a c-shape as the focus of your composition is a great way to make an interesting photograph, it allows the eye to move across the picture
5. The Rule of Thirds – If you divide your composition into a grid of thirds, the most interesting place for your focal point is at the intersection of these lines
6. The Rule of Thirds #2 - Your subject should take up 2/3 of the composition, while the background takes up the other 1/3
7. Find an interesting angle – Shoot from extreme angles to create a stronger impact – get up close, down low, shoot from a bird’s eye view, etc.
8. Define your focal point – this can be done through the use of depth of field, the rule of thirds, using the elements of art (color, shape, line, value, texture, etc.).  Having a clearly defined subject or focal point allows the viewer to identify what you meant to accomplish as an artist.  If you do not have a clear focal point, the eye will not have a place to rest, which can confuse the viewer and make your shot appear too busy or cluttered.  Once you have identified a focal point ask yourself how you can enhance it or make it as interesting as possible.
9. Creating Active Space – Give a moving object space to move into in a photograph.  When your subject is moving in a direction, your eyes follow that path, this allows the eye to see the whole composition
10. Figure-Field Relationships - The relationship between your subject and background is important.  If you have a busy subject with a lot of detail, texture, or features that draw the eye in, consider having a simple background.  If your subject is more simple (a shillouette, a shadow, or something with simple edges and texture), you can get away with having a busier background.
11. Use diagonal lines – Use diagonal lines to point towards a subject. This can be an effective way to draw the eye across the photograph and to your subject
12. Use depth of field – By using a macro setting, a wide (small numbered) aperture, or in Photoshop, you can blur the background of an image to define your subject/focal point. Shallow depth of field means that what is close to the camera is in focus, and what is beyond that is out of focus.
13. Frame within a frame – use objects such as trees, doorways, etc. in a composition to help frame your subject
14. Focus on the details – When a scene is simply too big to fit in your picture without it getting uncomfortably close to the edge of the frame, focus instead on one of the details that makes it unique. An abstract crop can often have greater impact and give a more original view of a tired, over-used view we've all seen before.
15. Texture matters - Avoid overly busy textures in your photographs, especially in large quantities.  If your subject has heavy texture, make sure your background doesn't. You should not be overwhelmed by texture in a photograph, the goal is to have the eye move around the photograph, but to also have places to allow the eye to rest
16. Use Back Lighting – Lighting an object from behind gives a more dramatic lighting affect (just make sure you don’t actually photograph the light source, or it will wash out your picture)
17. Use Diffused Light – When possible, diffusing your light source will help prevent harsh contrast.  If you don’t have a professional light box (such as those we have in the studio) then a thin piece of paper such as tracing paper held over the light will give a similar effect
18. Get up early, stay out late - Photography is all about painting with light. Light is what gives your pictures contrast, shape and texture, and often the best light is that which appears at either end of the day when the sun is lower in the sky. At these times of day it casts longer, more extreme shadows, which in turn pick out small details, bumps and texture. By shooting early in the morning and late in the afternoon, you'll achieve far more interesting results than you would at noon when you'll spend more time controlling the light coming into your lens than you will manipulating your subjects to best exploit the shadows.
19. Reflect on things – Embrace the photo opportunities afforded by the puddles. Use reflections for a different take on otherwise well-known scenes.  Reflection shots also work well on bodies of water such as rivers, the ocean, lakes, or reservoirs, or other man made objects like windows, metal, and mirrors.
20. Break all the rules – Be truly original. Ignore the rule of thirds. Shoot at high noon. Shoot sports photos at slow shutter speeds for blurred results. Whatever you do, make your pictures stand out from the crowd; sometimes breaking the rules can give you interesting results. 

EDITING

• Crop it (All photos, when appropriate - no unnecessary information should be in the photographs
• Use Adjustment Layers - Adjust the levels, brightness/contrast, hue/saturation, etc. (ALL PHOTOS)
• Sharpen it (Try on all photos - keep change on ones that it enhances)
• Use the quick select tool to adjust levels of certain areas
• Use the quick select tool and filters to blur the background
• Straighten Horizon (all photos that need it - any photo that has strong line, make sure the most prominent lines are straight)
• Etc - experiment with photoshop!