This photoart image is one of a series of poppy art pictures that I have done. Originally, this was a more formal composition involving a fuller view including the china vase in which the poppies are standing. However, a more minimalist approach seemed more effective and so the image was considerably cropped to produce this simpler, but I think, more effective image. The loss of resolution and definition by such severe cropping does not adversely affect an art effect picture, and indeed may enhance it by increasing the art effect. Warmth is essential to this image and the original weas a little cold in colour, so the whole image was 'warmed up' in photoshop in Images/Adjust/Variations. More yellow and red were added to create the necessary summer warmth.
Civil war art effect
Civil war re-enactment by Sealed Knot Society. The Sealed Knot is a group that stages re-enactments of English Civil War battles, like this one at Nantwich in Cheshire, held every year on a weekend at about mid January. One technique for these kinds of images is getting rid of modern objects in the background such as cars, pylons or modern buildings, so choosing your vantage point and framing is very important. This image was slightly cropped to get rid of a spectator barrier in the foreground. It was then further cropped for artistic balance, to create a sense of momentum and movement again using the rule of thirds. I felt that this image was further enhanced by using the art effects described elsewhere on this blog.
Composition and perception - examples of problems
Here are some examples of poor composition or similar problems. 1) This composition is not bad - a little cropping at the bottom would lower the horizon and improve the picture, but there is no main element of interest. 2) The castle is cropped on the right. 3) The people are looking the wrong way, out of the picture to the right. It would be much better if they were looking in the picture to the castle on the left. 4) The light coming through the trees is in the right position, about one third in from the right, but there is no real strong focal point of interest. 5) The people are too far to the left.Wedgwood Hall - retouching photoshop tutorial
The Georgian Hall of the Wedgwood family at Barlaston in Staffordshire is given an art effect trestment using Photoshop filters. The original image had a great big 4x4 car parked in front of the hall which of course completely ruined the shot. Turning ithe image into an art effect print made retouching the image a little easier. Getting in close using Photoshop by zooming in to a detail of the problem area and using the Pixel Cloning/Stamp tool, I was able to pick part of the image to the side of the car and stamp it over the car itself, thus replacing the car gradually, bit by bit, with the path and the wall of the hall. The secret is not to try and do too big an area at once.
Mediterranean village
This pretty Spanish village is made even more picturesque by the use of art effect filters in Photoshop. This was a spur of the moment shot. I was on holiday in Spain and visiting this village which was a local tourist spot. Fortunately I had my camera in hand and as I was walking along, I turned to my right and saw this image, which I took within a second. Sometimes, when I am out with a camera, I manage to get into that state of mind that is just receptive to images around me and find myself taking a flurry of shots. It is a nice state of mind to be able to acheive for a photographer.
Little Moreton Hall
Art effect treatment of the Elizabethan Little Moreton hall, in South Cheshire, England. I like the formal composition of this photograph - looking square on to the building. Notice the rule of thirds with the path and tower/chimney of the building being about one third in from the right. I also like the colour saturation of this image, acheived by taking the photo on a sunny day and making sure that the sun was largely behind me and shining onto the subject.
BELMONT POOL
Art effect treatment of Belmont Pool near Leek, Staffordshire, England. Originally taken on 35mm, this photograph was scanned in to the computer and given an art effect treatment using Photoshop. I have recently had a 30 x 20 inch canvas print made of this, and because it is in effect a downgraded image because of the art effect treatment, it has come out very well despite its origins as a low resolution scan from a 6 x 4 photo.
MOW COP CASTLE FOLLY
Art effect treatment using Photoshop and the pastel filter effect of Mow Cop folly on the Staffordshire/Cheshire border. Originally this was a 35mm photograph, which has been scanned into the computer and given the art effect treatment on Photoshop.
Luggage at Bewdley Station
Art effect treatment of luggage on the platform at Bewdley railway station. This nostalgic scene is added to by the art effect treatment that gives it a vague 1930's poster style atmosphere.
Milk churns on Bewdley railway Station
Art effect treament of milk churns on Bewdley railway station in Shropshire on the Severn Valley Railway. The art effect is reminiscent of the nostalgic railway posters of the 1940's and 1950's.
Manor class steam locomotive at night Night shot tutorial
Art effect treatment of a GWR Manor Class Steam locomotive in the sidings at Cheddleton on the Churnet valley railway. This photo was taken using a digital camera. The night mode was used and the flash setting turned to off. Flas usually only works to a range of about 15 ft or about 5 metres so for this kind of shot is a waste of time: not only is its range too short to reach the subject, it also may play havoc with the light meter reading and give a poor exposure. In addition, any flash from the camera is coming from a 'false' direction and would light the subject inappropriately. This means that the photographer has to rely on available light and fortunately for this shot, there were a number of floodlights lighting up the scene. A tripod is pretty essential for this kind of shot as the shutter speed is so slow: any movement will blur the image. Failure to have a tripod means having to rely on any handy flat surfaces such as fences, walls, litter bins...anything to rest the camera on. Unfortunately, this severely restricts your ability to choose a good viewpoint. After the shot was taken, it was given an art treatment effect. (See tutorials elsewhere). This kind of subject lends itself very well to the art effect treatment as steam locomotives are quite difficult to paint. This kind of image captures the sheer weight of these locomotives: they are in excess of fifty tons weight!
Poppy
Art effect treatment using photoshop filters. The simple, warm background adds to the art effect. What I like about this image is the pianting-like effect that has been obtained, and it's sheer simplicity of shape combined with boldness of colour.
TRENT AND MERSEY CANAL AND POTTERY FACTORY
Creating a painting or art effect image like this from a photo can be quite evocative. From the original image, converging verticals were corrected as described in a tutorial on the blog. ArcSoft PhotoImpression software was used to create the painting effect using the Median, Painting and Wrinkle effects as described in the ArcSoft tutorial on this blog.
Three Shire Heads, near Buxton, Derbyshire - Painting from photo
Here is another art effect image using ArcSoft PhotoImpression 3.0 and the method described in the image of the Trent and Mersey canal at Stone.
Tutorial - Creating a painting from your digital photos - Trent and Mersey Canal, Stone, Staffordshire, England
Art effect images like this can be created reasonably simply from your photos and digital images. Quite modest software can sometimes be used...you do not need high-end programs like Photoshop. One program that I like is ArcSoft PhotoImpression. It is image manipulation software that came free with my Epson scanner. I use ArcSoft PhotoImpression 3.0. If you have this software, try this:
Get Photo: Click on From File and click on Browse. A box will open with your folders so you can click on the approproate folder and image. When the image is selected, click on Open and your image will appear. (The images I use are 4mega pixel images. The higher the resolution, then the intensity of the effects need to be stronger). As a rule of thumb, I tend to pick a detail in the image that I do not want to lose if I create too strong an effect. Each picture varies in the strength of effects applied - the ones below are a rough guide.
In the side menu, click on Edit. In the menu at the bottom of the window, click on Effects. At the bottom you will see a series of images of an eye, illustrating the effects. Find the effect labeled Median, and then set the Intesity level to about 15. This will create an effect halfway between a painting and a photo. When you are happy with the intensity of the effect, Click on Apply. Hint: Do not use this effect with too strong an intensity - keep subtle! Then find the effect called Painting. Use the Intensity between 40-80. If you have a smooth blue sky, this will create a posterised-like stepped effect, which may or may not be desirable. When you are happy, Click on Apply. Then find the effect called Wrinkle. Set the Intensity between 10 and 20. When you are happy with the effect, Click on Apply.
On the side menu, Click on Save, then Save As. Select File type: JPEG, give the file a name and Save. This whole process took me about two minutes, and can create the sort of image you see above.