The Sphinx

My first trip to Egypt was in 1997, and my traveling companion had a connection with a well-known Egyptian Egyptologist who arranged for us to photograph at the feet of the Sphinx. Tourists are not allowed here, so it was a very special treat to be able to capture this particular post of view. It allowed me to capture this wide angle shot from just a few feet away. I've done a lot of Photoshop work over the years to add artistry to this unique perspective, and this is my latest. It is a composite of five images: the Sphinx, the dunes (from Morocco), and two shots of lightning I photographed in Arizona and Tennessee, and sunset clouds. Once I decided on the components, the Photoshop work took me about one or two minutes. I made the selections with the quick selection tool, and I blended the two shots of lighting with the blend mode, 'color dodge.'