Digital Diversity

I previously wrote an article on basic exposure blending. This was a basic guide on how to create multiple exposures using either exposure bracketing or a single RAW file and then blending them together. This tutorial is a more advanced version of this technique where you take one RAW shot that is exposed correctly for the land and then sky is recovered afterwards and saved as a second file. These 2 files can then be blended together using masks. To finish off, this tutorial will show you how to use photo filters to alter the light in your image.

For this tutorial it will help if you already now the following:
• Layers and Masks
• Photo Filters

This shot was taken from the top of the Scottish history museum. Its just a throw away shot really, not sharp and not that interesting but will be a good example to show off this technique.

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My latest creation “Eat with caution” was created using Photoshop CS4. It is possible to create this image in Photoshop Elements as well, you will just have to use the alternative masking method which you can learn on the layers and their masks tutorial on this website.

Other tutorials that may help you are cloning and healing, Texture blending, The liquify filter (contained within the tutorial linked) and adjustment layers (contained within the tutorial linked).

If you already have an understanding of these tools / techniques then carry on reading.

I have seen images created using food and giving then mouths before but I wanted a slight twist. I wanted to have someone actually holding the food. This would make it more of a challenge to find the right starting image but would give the image more impact. The final image has 2 ravenous cherries being held a safe distance at arms length. You wouldn’t want to get to close to these guys after all.

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A common question I get seen asked is about how to adjust skin tones in a photo. This can be anything from someone coming out looking a bit overly red to hiding a rash that isn’t normally there.

There are many ways to fix these things but the method I will show you is simple and fast. A few adjustment layers with some masking can fix all sorts of issues like these in no time at all.

The most common people to ask this question are people photographing newborns. The Reason for this is that newborns often have bruising or skin discolouration when they first arrive in the world. While some people happily include such things in there photographs, others prefer to hide them. Because of this, this tutorial will use a new born picture to demonstrate this technique. The picture is owned by ‘New Beginnings Photography’ and you can find her on Flickr here.

For this tutorial you will already need to understand:
• Layers and masks
• Adjustment layers

In this picture the baby has had some bruising to the face during delivery. This has caused it to go very red and also dark in comparison to the rest of its skin tones. The idea here is to use adjustment layers and masks to make the face match the rest of the body.

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