Thursday, January 20, 2011

I love my two boys.....and Goldie!!!!

I am super excited about what I learned this week.  I decided it was time to read a few different tutorials about how to best capture a silhouette.  Many of the blogs I follow have had at least one silhouette shot that I loved, so I was determined to have one of my own.  We went out to Davis Island with dinner and a blanket in tow.  We ate and I waited for the perfect time to capture the hubster and little B.  I don't know that it was the most technical way, but I did learn that the light needs to be directly behind the subject to achieve a black silhouette.  There may be another way to achieve it, but not at my skill level.

I think this one or one of the others I took will be my next canvas purchase.  I absolutely love it.


AFTER

Here are the steps I took using PSE8:

  • white balance correction
  • sharpened at 0.5
  • levels adjustment layer: increased my blacks and my whites a little
  • increased brightness
  • increased contrast
  • color curves adjustment: adjusting shadows, midtone brightness, and midtone contrast
  • duplicated my background layer (command J on MAC)
  • applied high pass filter to duplicated layer, then applied soft light blending mode
  • created a new adjustment layer-LEVELS: increased shadows to 8 and midtones to 1.45
  • used a layer mask to erase some of the adjustment from Goldie's face
  • created adjustment layer HUE/SATURATION: decreased saturation to -3
  • created adjustment layer-PHOTO FILTER: warming filter
  • used a layer mask to erase the adjustment from the background
  • duplicated background layer
  • used quick selection tool selecting background on the duplicated layer
  • used paint bucket tool to fill selected area white, then lowered opacity to 15%
  • flattened image and created a text box for fun
I have to say I usually do not edit with this many steps, but I am determined to learn how to use my editing software to the best of my (and it's) ability.  Therefore, I followed as many of Ashley's steps as I could.
BEFORE

37 comments:

Unknown said...

You rocked the silouhette shot! GORGEOUS!!!!

I was going to do a tutorial on it too but there are so many good ones out there...so I will just share my soft ones that I did of Lexi a few weeks ago soon. I have to wait until the spring to capture one like yours :-)

Although I do have many sunrise and sunset shots where the trees are all black and I love them!

Your edit is perfect - GREAT JOB!

Blessings,
Jill

Carrie said...

Love the silhouette!

- Jessi - said...

Wow, the silhouette is amazing! and a great edit :)

Mandy@ a sorta fairytale said...

The silhouette shot is gorgeous! I think you did a really great job!! I don't get nearly as many of those as I'd like!!

Discovery School at First Baptist Heath said...

YES! put that on canvas!! You rocked it! and love the edits...

Ashley Sisk said...

Amber...you are doing an incredible job...incredible. I LOVE the silhouette! AMAZING and your edit is perfection. You are a quick learn for sure!

koreen (aka: winn) said...

The silhouette is so beautiful. And your fish edit is super... so bright and alive. :)

Anonymous said...

The silhouette is absolutely beautiful, Amber. I am so inspired by your ability to capture simple, everyday, beautiful moments in life that are otherwise overlooked by some many of us. Definitely would look great on your photo wall. You are wonderful, lady.

Anonymous said...

What a difference between the two! Amazing edit! The colors, tones....just gorgeous! I love the text too, so cute!! xx

Mommy2Four said...

So, I came here for the before and after, but your Silhouette is AMAZING! What a job you did on that one!

Sarah Coggins said...

The silhouette is amazing! What a fabulous interaction and such perfect colors. Love it.

Great job on the edit of Goldie. I like the brightness and the fun text. :)

Rutalia said...

Amazing picture! Really love this

Heather said...

The silhouette shot is gorgeous and the edit is really cool!! I would have guessed you took that picture in a light tent!

Janell said...

that silhouette shot is simply stunning! LOVE it! and I love the edit on the 2nd picture. awesome!

Carla S said...

I came to check out your before and after, but am stuck ooohhhing and aaahhhhhing over your silhouette! Wow, just awesome!

Carla S said...

I came to check out your before and after, but am stuck ooohhhing and aaahhhhhing over your silhouette! Wow, just awesome!

Rebecca B said...

I know you've heard this a hundred times already, but that silhouette picture is absolutely stunning!! Wow...

Snapshotsofhappiness said...

Your silhouette is awesome! Stunning. YOur before and after is super sweet.

Anonymous said...

Your silhouette is breathtaking! It is going to look gorgeous as a canvas print! I can't wait for it to be warmer out to try my own silhouettes!

kebowman said...

That silhouette is AMAZING!

Tara said...

Love love that silhouette!!! Great job on the edits!

Kathleen said...

Your silhouette shot is just AMAZING!! Love your edit too...the text - what fun!

Amy H said...

Love the silhouette! That fish is adorable. :-D

Michelle R said...

Wow! Look at all that love! And I'll be joining in!

LOVE LOVE LOVE that first shot! Please do get that printed!! :)

And you did a great edit on the fish - the comments were cute and you really whitened the background up and made the fish just pop off the page!

Unknown said...

Your silhouette is gorgeous! And I love your fishy edit ... it turned out lovely.

Carlynn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carlynn said...

The silhouette is stunning. A definite canvas keeper.

Tiffany Franklin said...

I love the whole look of your blog first off, and the edit is amazing!

Mrs Missy said...

Beautiful!!!

Anonymous said...

Great after. Looks great. I love your silhouette. Wonderful job!

julie said...

Not only is the sillouette shot technically fantastic, more important, you captured a most precious moment. STUNNING! And the fish...gorgeous edit. Just like Ashley's!!

Courtney said...

Oh, Amber!! Love I mean LOVE the silhouette!! You nailed it! Great emotion as well at being technically correct!!! What a sweet moment you captured!! You will treasure this one for a long time!! I can't wait to do a tutorial on silhouettes...just waiting for the sun to come out for most of the US :O) GREAT JOB!

Courtney said...

That is one of the BEST silhouette shot's I've ever seen!!! It's incredible!!! Your edit is also really really good! Well done! :0)

emily said...

that silhouette is beautiful! And the edit of the fish is so fun!

Gretchen said...

Amazing job on the silhouette! A very sweet moment... captured beautifully!

faith ann raider said...

Really great edit!! You edited it just the right amount :) I love this style of photography.

Kindra said...

Ok, am I seriously the 37th comment??!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture of Sam and Bennett - you are so talented girl! You should be very proud of yourself!!! Can't wait to see the others!