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Remembering Summer
Started January 8, 2010 @ 7:00pm by Wib

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Wib

Posts: 163

Remembering Summer

January 8, 2010 @ 7:00pm

Objective:
This is not really a composite but a scaling project. I wanted to start with a simple subject, in this case a park bench, and try my hand at creating a nostalgia piece (remembering the hazy lazy dog days of summer on a day where there’s 20 cm of new snow at the door this AM).

Steps:
1.Created 2 new layers from background and labeled “bench 1” and “bench 2”.
2.Made a selection of the bench (not too close to bench top) and foreground paving stones from the “bench 2” layer and pasted into a new layer.
3.Created a layer mask on the scaling layer and then painting with black blended this into the “bench 2” layer.
4.Select the “bench 2” layer and scaling layer and merge the two.
5.Select the newly merged “bench 2” layer, then Select All, and then Filter – Blur – Lens Blur to blur the entire layer.
6.Place a layer mask on the “bench 2” layer and again painting with black begin bringing back some sharpness around the bench. I wanted to try and keep parts of the image soft and to come up with a kind of dreamy vision. I know this is rather subjective as to how much of this you might do.
7.I then brought the saturation up a bit and did a small crop at the top and right side of the image.
8.The last step was to introduce some vignetting to help keep the focus on the bench.

Please feel to offer your comments on whether or not I came near the ballpark with the objective. Thanks.

Here's the original:

Wib - PPY

“To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.”

Bug

Posts: 1,856

January 8, 2010 @ 10:47pm

I think you accomplished the dreamy effect beautifully. The colours are wonderful. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

Charlene
Dancing with my fears, flying my freak flag.

CurtOien

Posts: 578

January 8, 2010 @ 11:28pm

Quote

I think you accomplished the dreamy effect beautifully. The colours are wonderful. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

I can not say it better.

Yes, You did accomplish a hazy lazy dog days of summer look.

PPY
Comments and criticism of all kinds are welcome and appreciated.

Pablo

Posts: 240

January 9, 2010 @ 7:59am

I think it looks pretty well done Curt ... makes me want to set my cold butt on it and meditate on summer! Also thanks for the detailed steps that you took to create the image.

Your steps pointed out to me that I have been using the eraser tool and various brush selections to refine my selections rather than a layer mask like you, and I appreciate the reminder ..... for me refining the edges with the eraser tool feels more direct and correction of errors are quickly done by using the history panel. That being said, I am going to try using the layer mask technique again because there is more control.

pablo

Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in - Mark Twain

My website is: http://thephotoeclectic.com/thephotoeclectic/THEPHOTOECLECTIC.html

Flo

Posts: 17,472

January 9, 2010 @ 1:19pm

Curt, this is awesome! Your PS skills are way beyond mine! I sort of got lost in the midst of the directions, as I've never used some of the tools you have.

You did indeed capture with nostalgia our longings for summer - lazy hazy hot and humid - but right now I'll take that!

Flo - PPY

"May we live in peace without weeping. May our joy outline the lives we touch without ceasing. And may our love fill the world, angel wings beating." aziza

http://photos.tonebytone.com