Editing Fun at Creative License Friday

It's that time of the week for Creative License Friday over at she who carries a camera. Last week I had the good fortune of discovering this fun edit challenge, and this week I have the honor of providing a photo for the challenge.  Thank you so much Jill for hosting this challenge, and giving me the opportunity to see what others can do with this photo!

 

I took this photo back in October at the shore of the Sutro Baths on Point Lobos Avenue in San Francisco. When I arrived, the sun was glaring overhead. I knew it wasn't the ideal condition for taking photos, but I was struck by the rock with the hollowed out heart and the view of the ocean through it. I decided I'd worry about the editing later. Well five months have passed, and until this challenge I was still without a clue how to edit the photo. Last week I discovered a new texture artist, Lenabem-Anna, from the participants in the Creative License Friday challenge. I thought her moon and sun textures were amazing, so I downloaded them. Once I submitted this photo for the challenge, I realized Anna's texture, Background-Night, would add the perfect touch.

I wanted to tone down the glaring sun, so I decided to turn it into a night scene. Here is what I did:

I first used Anne's Background Night at 81%
Then used the RHWest Levi texture at 52%
Brightened it a bit
RH West Denim texture at 74%
Pumped up the hue saturation a bit
RH West Robin texture at 8%
Defined and sharpened
Ran it through Topaz Simplify to soften and bring out the color
and that is it.

I couldn't stop at one edit, so I also ran the final edit through RadLab for a darker edit, and  Silver Efex for a black and white edit.

Now it's time to go see what amazing things have been done to my photo over at

Creative License Friday

Editing Fun

I discovered this fun edit challenge while reading a post by Deanna at Snippets From Springdale. I love editing photos, so I was excited to find "Creative License Friday" over at "she who carries a camera". Each week a photo is posted and anyone is allowed to edit and post their version of the photo.

Here is the original photo.

Here is my version. 

I thought this bird would look lovely resting on a branch full of spring blossoms. I think it adds the perfect touch to my photo : )

 

After seeing the fun edit from thesmittenimage, I decided to stray from my first try and go a bit out of the box to add it to a photo of my own. Here is what I did to achieve this edit:
 

1. I uploaded both photos and reduced my photo by 50% because it was too large in comparison to the bird photo.

2. I layered the bird photo onto my photo and brushed out all of the background.

3. I then used ctrl+T to transform by enlarging and placing the bird where I wanted it.

4. I added the texture Comfort by RHWest at 75% on soft light.
5. I then ran it through the Topaz Simplify plug-in
     -Painting => Painting IV =>Finishing Touches => Transparency at 45% => Global Adjustment => Adjust => Dynamics at 125% => Structural Boost 125%

 

And that was that.

Blue Skies

and magnolia blossoms are the subject of this weeks Texture Tuesday "Free & Easy" Challenge.
Everything is in bloom, and I am enjoying it because it won't be long before the summer drought comes and dries up all the plants.

Kim Klassen textures used: Isobel & Anna

 

 

Kim Klassen textures used: Grunged Up & Happy Heart

 

 

Kim Klassen textures used: Isobel & Sunkist

 

I'm heading over to see what everyone has posted this week at...