I am always looking for beautiful backgrounds and beautiful locations for the costumed models I photograph during carnival in Venice. Just before I left for Venice, my wife and I were in St. Petersburg, Russia, and we photographed the facade of St. Nicholas Church. I was captivated by the baby blue color, and I envisioned a model on the balcony. One of my favorite models during carnival is Solange Meren because her costumes are always amazing, and I thought her lavender motif would fit perfectly with the blue church. I used the selection tools in Photoshop (the magic wand tool plus the lasso tool) to allow Solange's costume to show through the intricate wrought iron railing, and then I used Edit > transform > scale to size her to fit into the new environment. I photographed the church at night, but it was illuminated evenly. I captured Solange in diffused daylight. I thought I could get away with this composite even though there were two different types of light because both elements were lit with frontal, diffused illumination.
3 Comments
Feb 12, 2018, 9:49:05 AM
ed - Thanks for the reply The issue is the front of the building is indeed lit with artificial light including the balcony, and this is a harsh light, not a diffused light. Therefore, the model is standing in harsh light if she is standing on the balcony that you composited. That's the error and that's where the mismatch occurs Since the balcony is casting shadows your model should also be casting shadows. Also, this is complex Photoshop; you left out steps in your blog, and this work takes years to learn. In perusing your website, your PS workshop at your house: good luck to the participants. It takes years to learn Photoshop, and they undoubtedly will not walk out of there with anything close to your overly optimistic prediction of learning or huge jumps with newly acquired expertise. Also, one person said you comp someone if you like them
Feb 11, 2018, 4:16:36 PM
Jim - Ed, Actually, the model WAS taken in diffused light. I took it; I should know. You say 'look at her shadows' -- but, in fact, there are no shadows on her because she was taken in diffused light as I said. The shadows on the building are seen because those columns are up against the facade of the church and the artificial lights are coming from somewhere in front but off to the side. The face of the columns have, in essence, no shadows. Hence, the face of the columns match the model with respect to light. It's not exactly the same, but look at the light on the window frame. Flat lighting, just like the light on the model.
Regarding the model not making sense in St. Petersburg, that is entirely an artistic decision on my part. If you don't share that vision, that's perfectly fine.
Feb 11, 2018, 12:08:24 PM
ed - This is off base
The model is not in diffused light Look at her shadows v the building The select tool is easier here--the magic wand is limited to colors. The move tool would have been easier. The character makes no sense in St Petersburg. Steps were left out This is advanced Photoshop and nor for the faint of heart; it seems it was offered to tempt you to take a workshop to discover how to do it(fat chance) v years of struggles in Photoshop to be able to understand it It's very difficult, and incapable of learning over a weekend or a quick blog Perhaps a You Tube with a full explanation would be better