The Things I See
Desert Reflections - Death Valley, Calif. - 2007
Posted by Craig (Vacaville, California, United States) on 14 February 2007 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.
This shot was inspired by Craig Persel's works.
Thank you for all your recent comments! Many people were wondering how far away I was from the coyote in yesterdays shot. I think I was about 20 feet away. I didn't have to worry about my safety with only one coyote around. Problems start when their buddies show up behind you!
Bronnie from Christchurch, New Zealand
Wow! what's the secret pp? Glad to hear you weren't tooooooo close...
14 Feb 2007 6:10am
@Bronnie: Using photoshop, I first selected just the coyote. I copied the selection to a new file and then duplicated the background layer. I called the new layer "origional coyote" layer. I then copied just the coyote again and moved the copy to a new layer above the origional coyote layer. Then I used the Edit/tranform feature of photoshop to flip the coyote on the new layer both horizontally and vertically to create the mirror image. Next I moved the transformed coyote image directly below the orional coyote image. Then I reduced the opacity of the transformed coyote layer. Next I applied a midnight sepia filter from a photoshop plug-in that Craig Persel taught me to use (Nic Color Efx Pro 2.0) to the origional coyote layer. Then I dodged the coyote's eyes to make them look much more omious. Then I used the sharpen filter on the coyotes head. I did some other burning and dodging as well. Let me know if you need more help. I'm always happy help if I can.
@Jen: Using photoshop, I first selected just the coyote. I copied the selection to a new file and then duplicated the background layer. I called the new layer "origional coyote" layer. I then copied just the coyote again and moved the copy to a new layer above the origional coyote layer. Then I used the Edit/tranform feature of photoshop to flip the coyote on the new layer both horizontally and vertically to create the mirror image. Next I moved the transformed coyote image directly below the orional coyote image. Then I reduced the opacity of the transformed coyote layer. Next I applied a midnight sepia filter from a photoshop plug-in that Craig Persel taught me to use (Nic Color Efx Pro 2.0) to the origional coyote layer. Then I dodged the coyote's eyes to make them look much more omious. Then I used the sharpen filter on the coyotes head. I did some other burning and dodging as well. Let me know if you need more help. I'm always happy help if I can.
Rene from Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada
Nice work on this, I agree one coyote is fine, however I tend to worry when the one is wearing a bib and is looking at a wine list. Nice of you to share the info on how you did it too. I tried the whole Nik thing but found it a bit more complicated than I liked. I might revisit it sometime.
14 Feb 2007 2:08pm
@Rene: Thanks for your comment. About sharing: If we can't help each other grow then what are we doing here. That's my feeling. You can find a lot of the techniques I use at this wonderful site created by my old photoshop instructor at LVS http://myjanee.home.insightbb.com/tutorials.htm#textures . I strongly recommend this site to anyone interested in using photoshop.
Addey Kehinde from London, United Kingdom
Very cool shot...interesting technique.
14 Feb 2007 2:33pm
Duncan Galbraith from kyoto, Japan
wonderful experimentation Craiger and many many thanks for the Processing rundown. applause all round!
14 Feb 2007 3:11pm
@Duncan Galbraith: Thanks Duncs! I think it was a poor selection for a post on Valentine's Day though! The image is a too dark for such a day of love. Wish I would have thought of that soon! :0(
Untitled from Kyoto, Japan
Um...I really love this! So many images spring to mind! This is just brilliant for me! Wow!
14 Feb 2007 3:11pm
@Untitled: You know something Untitled, what you just said triggered something in me. Maybe the reason the minimalist approach works so well is it doesn't jam the viewers mind with too much information to process. And, it allows the viewer to participate in the image by allowing other thoughts/images to spring to mind. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
jc from Ireland
excellent work craiger, really well done and cheers for giving us the info on how you achieved it.
14 Feb 2007 4:00pm
Craig Persel from Montreal, Canada
Wow. Amazingly creative and technically spot-on. Cracking image.
14 Feb 2007 4:49pm
Yvon from Meerkerk, Netherlands
Excellent. Well done! Thanks for all your info and links, One day I will use it.
14 Feb 2007 8:47pm
William from Sacramento, United States
makes me want to hone my photoshop skills-great work
14 Feb 2007 9:36pm
Evelyn from New Milford, United States
You've crossed the line from photography to graphic art! Well done. I'm not sure I'd have the patience (and skill!) to pull something like this off...
15 Feb 2007 2:33am
@Evelyn: It is all so easy when your having fun! Happy Valentine's Day to you and everyone on Aminus3!!! Enjoy your photography! I know you do!!!
M.E. from Encino, United States
that's so original! I've not seen anything like it. really wonderful. and thank you for sharin gyour pp secret.
15 Feb 2007 4:50am
Helen from Melbourne, Australia
Fabulous again! Death valley has been a very good stimulus for your creativity!
18 Feb 2007 9:26am
Sony DSC-H5
1/1000 second
F/6.3
ISO 80
72 mm