If you can imagine it, you can create it. Gone are the days when the photographic medium restricted what you could achieve in your pictures. Now with the use of Corel Photopaint or Adobe Photoshop, even Photoshop Elements, the only limit is you.
In Faerie on a Hydrangea, the model was photographed in the studio against a plain background. Her wings were attached to a lighting stand and placed directly behind her. The Hydrangea was photographed later, outdoors. Then using layers and objects the picture was pieced together.
The Hydrangea was cut away from its background and used as the base layer. The model was separated from the background and placed above the first layer. The wings were masked and then solarized to add interest to them. Finally a dark sky was created in Photopaint and stars were added. One star was placed on the very tip of the wing and the transparency was adjusted to allow the Hydrangea to be seen through the wing.
Again in Spring Blossom the model was photographed in the studio and removed from the plain background. The flowers were photographed and used as the background picture. The cut out portrait of the model then became the next layer and finally a couple more flowers were added and blended in to the picture using feathering to soften the edge. The eraser tool to remove some unwanted areas and an adjustment to the transparency of the upper layer objects.
Layers and Objects take a while to master but it is well worth the effort. understanding those two concepts and how to create and use masks, will take you a long way on the path to becoming a truly creative photographer. Enjoy the journey.
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