Painted Duck
Uploaded: August 21, 2007
Free-flying male Wood Duck at the Rio Grand Zoo, New Mexico
One of my friends has one of my Wood Duck photos hanging on her wall, and people always ask if it's painted.
This work was inspired by that question. See discussion for detail of PS work and original photo
ISO 100, f/3.2, 1/400sec, @61mm
Feedback greatly Appreciated!
Pamela K August 21, 2007
Here’s the original photo plus a series of steps leading to the final product (all done using Photoshop 7.0).Step #1: I cropped and enhanced the photo slightly to create the Background layer. I then created two duplicates of this layer (Layers #2 and 3).
Step #2: For Layer #2, I set the Layer Style: Blending Options to Blend Mode = Color Dodge, Opacity = 20%. This enhanced the quality and brightness of the colors (as would be seen in a painting).
Step #3: For Layer #3, I set the Layer Style: Blending Options to Blend Mode = Overlay, Opacity = 20%. This enhanced the contrast without losing the luminosity of the colors.
Step #4: I then created the painting style by applying the Dry Brush Artistic Filter on the background layer only. The settings for Dry Brush were: Brush Size = 0, Brush Detail = 10, Texture = 2. I then increased the detail in the duck’s eye by using the History Brush set at an opacity of 60% to remove some of the paint effect. I also changed the color of the water using the Magic Wand and Lasso to select around the duck then applying the following changes under Color Balance, Midtones: Red/Cyan = -50, Magenta/Green = +50, Yellow/Blue = +100.
Step #5: Finally, I added the paper texture by using the Texturizer Filter. I applied both the Sandstone texture followed by the Canvas texture (both with light from the same direction as the photo) to create a look similar to watercolor paper. I then did a slight curves adjustment to the Merged Layers to enhance the colors a bit more.
Whew!
Pam
#719432
Melissa Malisia August 21, 2007
Wonderful job Pam!! #4678752Pamela K August 21, 2007
Thank you, Melissa!!!Pam #4680476
Phil Sauvey August 22, 2007
Wood Ducks are my favorite! I have a print by Harold Roe in our living room and it is of just that, Woody's! Great to see you back at the camera again!!! Wow, I see I have some catching up to do on your gallery. Love those outdoor wildlife photos! #4686102Pamela K August 22, 2007
Thank you, Phil!!! I love the Wood Ducks too... They're so gorgeous! I didn't have to do much to make him look painted.:-)
Pam #4686170
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