Cutouts

 Squirrel; 9.23.2010; 3:17 p.m.; Rexburg, ID; f/4.0; 1/640; Canon PowerShot SX120 IS

 

For this cutout I first edited the photo in Camera Raw and slightly adjusted vibrance and blacks. I then brought the image into Photoshop and adjusted levels slightly. I used the QuickSelect tool to select that part of the image I wanted to remove. I created a new layer (Shift Command N) and filled it with white by hitting option delete. I deselected and then hid that layer. I then switched to the image layer and used the QuickSelect tool again to select the squirrel. I made sure to zoom in a great deal to clean up the selection. Next I went to Select-Refine Edge. I added some feathering to soften the edges and the selection a bit. Once it was refined, I copied the selection to a new layer (Command J) and revealed the hidden layer to get the final result.

 Mickey Balloon; 9.18.2010; 2:28 p.m.; Richland, WA; f/3.5; 1/400; Canon PowerShot SX120 IS

For this cutout I used the QuickSelect tool in Photoshop to select the balloon. I then went to Select Inverse, to select everything except what I had  manually selected. I pressed delete to leave just the image of the balloon and then refilled the background with this solid blue color. I refined the edges of the balloon by going to Select, Refine Edge and adjusting the feathering of the image. I also added a slight shadow to help the edges blend better.

Night & Light

 

Moving Light Capture; 11.9.2010; 8:28 p.m.; Rexburg, ID; f/22.0; shutter 10.0; Canon Rebel T1i

Moving Light Capture

For this image, I knelt on my bed and shot out my window. With TacoTime and a big yellow crosswalk sign, I thought this would be a good place to have a night shot. Cars traveling on the road also added light streams on the road. I rested my camera on my window sill to prevent shaking and to get a clear image. A 10 second exposure was a good amount of time to caure these traveling lights and soak in the light from the building and sign as well.  

Light Painting; 11.9.2010; 8:29 p.m.; Rexburg, ID; f/5.0; shutter 10.0 second exposure; Canon Rebel T1i

 

Light Painting

For this image I sat the camera on a book to use as a tripod. I set the camera to shutter priority and set the exposure time to 10 seconds. With the shutter open this long I was able to get the above effect using my cell phone as a light. The reddish tint you see in the corner is the light that leaked through the closed door coming from the hallway. I really liked the effect this technique gave.

 

 

I Love You; 11.9.2010; 11:08 p.m.; Rexburg, ID; f/29.0; 8 second exposure; Canon Rebel T1i

For this image I had someone help me while I held the camera. I wanted to try another one of these light painting shots, so I had the person stand a fair distance away from me. Using a small flashlight they painted with light. I especially love the little "star" looking sections where the light was held a little longer. I loved the way the image looked and the fun feel that it has.

Camera Motion Painting; 11.9.2010; 8:35 p.m.; Rexburg, ID; f/11.0; 6 second exposure; Canon Rebel T1i

Camera Motion Painting

For this particular technique I set my camera to Shutter priority and used a 6 second exposure. I sat on my bed and pointed my camera out the window to capture the street lights, car lights, and building lights. I also had the blinds down for this shot, and that is how I achieved the dotted look in some of the lines, along with the shorter lines. I moved my camera quickly while pointing the lens at the lights and created this camera motion painting, 

 

Green & Orange; 11.9.2010; 8:46 p.m.; Rexburg, ID; f/16.0; 10.0 second exposure; Canon Rebel T1i

 

I chose to include another camera motion picture, because I loved the colors in this one. The image was created from the two smallest lights I could find. I shut off all the lights in my apartment and walked out of my room. The green light was coming from the clothes dryer, so I wanted to try something with that. I then took my computer charger and placed it on top of the dryer, to ge the tiny orange light. I set my camera to shutter priority and gave it a 10 second exposure. I moved the camera quickly to create this colorful effect.

Poster

1. Title: The Window

2. Date, Time, Location: 9.29.2010, 1:34 p.m.; Bannack, MT
3. Camera, F-stop, Shutter Speed: Sony DSC-HX1, Exposure Normal, f/8.0, 1/40

4. Edits: Camera Raw-slightly increased exposure, added fill light, and blacks, boosted clarity a bit and increased saturation and vibrancy. In Photoshop I added two different adjustment layers of hue/saturation to bring out certain areas where I really liked the color. I masked out parts of the photo (mainly the window) to keep them closer to the original colors. I also adjusted levels a bit to get the contrast just right. Originally the photo looked way too "sharp" and it appeared pixely. After some adjusting and even hiding one of my layers I was able to fix the problem and was even happier with the way the photograph looked.

5. Process, why you chose this image(s), and explain your photographic and editing techniques. I chose this image because it is one that I will love hanging in my own apartment/house someday. I love the feel of the photograph and the different colors. I especially loved the outside look and the composition of the photo with the interesting angle. When taking the photograph, I absolutely loved this little blue room and the checkered floor that accented it. I wanted to capture that, and I was pleased with the way the edited photo turned out. To be honest the final outcome kind of just happened. I started with the basic edits like I always do and then tried different filters etc. I didn't like any of the filters that I tried, so then I began adding/playing with the saturation and colors a little bit to make them "pop" more. I have been asked several times if this is an HDR shot, and it is not. It was taken with just a single exposure, but I did love that the final outcome gave it an HDR kind of effect--only I did it all on my own:) The photo has also been mistaken for a painting, and I love that as well because that is kind of my "style" for what I will hang in my home.

Photolusion

 

Baking Bread; 10.24.2010; 1:15 p.m.; Rexburg, ID; f/3.1; 1/60; Canon Rebel T1i

Water Droplet; 10.19.2010; 5:44 p.m.; Rexburg, ID; f/5.0; 1/640; Canon Rebel T1i

 This is an example of a Photolusion. A Photolusion is a photo that creates an illusion of something it is not. The image in this blog post is an example of a photolusion blend, which is when two or more images are blended together in Photoshop to create an illusion. 

I took these two images on different days, and had completely different things in mind when I took them. However, when I heard about the Photolusion, these two images came to mind and I wanted to blend them together. I opened both images in Photoshop and made minimal adjustments to saturation to bring out some of the coloring. I then used the quick selection tool to select the girl out of the photo. I took that image and placed it as a new layer in the leaf image. Using the eraser tool and also the paintbrush I helped to smooth some of the edges to make the blend look more realistic and erase hard edges. Through all of these steps I feel I was able to make a successful Photolusion.

 

Daily Photo Journal

10.26.2010

 Pumpkin; 10.26.2010; 11:15 p.m.; Rexburg, ID; f/5.9; 1/2; Casio EX-Z75

Camera Raw: increased exposure and vibrance

This pumpkin was the sum of this night. My boyfriend and I carved "Howard" and this made for a traditional Halloween shot. The fake candle provided fairly poor lighting, but I believe the image still survived and managed a holiday feel. 

10.27.2010

 Freedom; 10.27.2010; 6:14 p.m.; Pocatello, ID; f/8.0; 1/250; Canon T1i

Camera Raw: Exposure, Brightness, Contrast, Clarity, Vibrance

Photoshop: Vignette

This flag shot was actually taken while I was sitting at a stoplight. The sky was too perfect to pass up the opportunity, and although the lighting was slightly dark, I knew that with editing I could bring out the appealing colors.

10.28.2010

 Cycle; 10.28.2010; 10:00 p.m.; Jerome, ID; f/3.5; 1/4; Canon T1i

Photoshop: Adjustment Layer-screen, Vignette

This cycle shot was taken at a hotel in the workout room. I

10.29.2010

 Bridge; 10.29.2010; 2:52 p.m.; Twin Falls, ID; f/16.0; 1/100; Canon T1i

Camera Raw: Exposure, Recovery, Contrast, Clarity, Vibrance

Photoshop: Vignette

This shot captured one of the highlight of this day. It was taken in Twin Falls, Idaho underneath a giant bridge. I love the repetition in the photo and the contrast the photo provides. With some slight edits I was able to bring out the clarity of the image to maximize the overall effect.

10.30.2010

 Teague; 10.30.2010; 11:51 a.m.; Pocatello, ID; f/13.0; 1/125; Canon Rebel T1i

Camera Raw: Clarity, Vibrance

Photoshop: Vignette, Sharpening

How can you look at that face and not be happy?! This is my nephew Teague and I captured this shot as my sister was walking with him. We were headed back to the car and I just happened to have my camera out when Teague pulled his cheezy face :)

 

10.31.2010

 Harvest Time; 10.31.10; 1:18 p.m.; Inkom, ID; f/4.0; 1/2; Canon Rebel T1i

Camera Raw: Exposure, Recovery, Fill light, Blacks, Contrast, Clarity, Vibrance

Photoshop: Vignette

This photo was taken on Halloween so I wanted to capture something festive. The focal point was the pumpkin and I felt that the wheat in the background makes for a nice shallow depth of field. The shot was taken with light coming from a window, which created more contrast in the shadows.

11.1.2010

 

Homework; 11.1.10; 10.24 p.m.; Rexburg, ID; f/5.6; 1/40; Canon Rebel T1i

Camera Raw: Fill Light, Clarity, Vibrance

Photoshop: Vignette

Monday is represented by homework. I was sprawled out on my floor in my apartment bedroom and needed to capture one last image for the week. My Mac, planner and jar of pens and pencils are a very accurate representation of a typical day for me. The angle of the photo and the shallow depth of field create interest in this image.

 

Original Template

 Using one of the templates provided, I created my two page photobook spread. I used a clipping mask to move my photos onto the template and was happy with the way it worked out. I did this by making sure I used the large, original sized image. I then clicked on the photo layer, placing it directly above the layer I wanted to clip it into. I dragged the image over the photo box and sized my image the way I wanted by dragging the corner and holding shift. Then in the Layers palette I right clicked and chose Create Clipping Mask. I moved the images around to position them just right. Throughout the rest of the template, I changed the color of one of the boxes, because I felt the colors fit nicely. I also added text on the right hand side to say "It's the little moments that make life big." I reduced the opacity on the text to make it less noticeable--I want it to be something that you just happen upon, rather than it jumping off the page at you.