Depth through Isolation...

Often times, especially under natural light condistions, it can be difficult to add emphasis to your subject matter. The below examples have the subject isolated in the initial photograph. I then added a touch of step blurring and two gradations to darken the top portion, and blend down towards the bottom of the frame. There are several ways to make the isolation. I always prefer selections for this, and I used the Pen Tool for the selection process. The Magnetic Lasso Tool is another that could be used, but with the form of the female figure the flowing curves of the Pen Tool is better suited.

I make the path with as few points as possible. Remember the Pen Tool is specifically designed for flowing compound & complex curves. It does make a very crisp edge as well, and often needs to be softened to match the photographic edge of the model. A technique that I use is to turn the path into a selection, then contract 1 or 2 pixels, depending on the softness of the edge you are matching. Feather this a 1/2 or 1 pixel, select inverse and this will create a trap for you to work with on the layer of the isolated subject. Just erase along the edge to match the feel of the photographic edge.




On this photograph I have added an additional sky. I made certain that the light source in the sky matched the light source and direction of the photograph. This is essential, and will always make the work look realistic, and natural. Combining layers on seperate layers and applying these layers as a combination of Screen and Multiply blending modes will allow you to maintin some of the fine details in the image, such as hair.
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Be sure to check out our Influences of Form sections and blogs.

GrfxDziner.com | Influences of Form • Robert Mapplethorpe...

GrfxDziner.com | Influences of Form • Herb Ritts...

GrfxDziner.com | Influences of Form • Bruce Weber...

GrfxDziner.com | Influences of Form • Annie Leibovitz...

Those may help you with capturing nice tonal qualities and better develop your compositions. The curves and structure of the human anatomy will allow for some wonderful opportunities to work with lighting and shadows. In natural light situations it is often helpful to have the sun lower in the sky, and possibly a bit overcast so the light is filtered and softer.



Some tutorials from the Deanna Cremin Memorial Foundation specifically for the Pen Tool and Magnetic Lasso Tool. Remember if you are blurring the background some, you will need to use the Smudge Tool to tuck the resulting halo under the isolated subject.

Lesson 2C: the Magnetic Lasso Tool:


Automatic Download of 6-Page tutorial in .PDF format:
Lesson 2C: the Magnetic Lasso Tool | PDF file • GrfxDziner.com
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Lesson 4A: Introduction to the Pen Tool:

Lesson 4B: Mastering the Pen Tool:

Automatic Download of 3-Page tutorial in .PDF format:
Lesson4A: Pen Tool Introduction | PDF file • GrfxDziner.com
Automatic Download of 4-Page tutorial in .PDF format:
Lesson4B: Mastering the Pen Tool | PDF file • GrfxDziner.com
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Stairway to Heaven GrfxDziner.com
| Articles on Deanna Cremin... Somerville, MA

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Justice for Deanna Cremin
the UnSolved Murder of Deanna Cremin...
aired on Fox25 News
by, Investigator/Reporter Bob Ward...


flickr HiveMind | MyFoxBoston(recent uploads)
http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/MyFoxBoston/Recent

flickr HiveMind | 4Deanna(recent uploads)
http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/4Deanna/Recent