How to do Abstract with Photoshop

The list of steps to use to do this kind of abstract.

1. Start with any photo doesn’t matter the subject, look at color you like
2. Filter > Pixelate > Mezzotint > Medium lines  
3. Filter > Blur > Radial blur (slider = 100, blur method = zoom, quality = best)
4. Repeat step 3 up to 5 times, as desired,
5. Duplicate layer
6. Remain on original layer. Filter > Distort > Twirl (angle value = +80 or as desired) I don’t go over 120, but you can do whatever you like, try different angle.
7. Select new layer. Filter > Distort > Twirl (angle value = -80 or opposite of step 6 angle value)
8. Alter new layer’s blending mode to lighten
9. Save a Psd,
10. Flatten image
11. Modify if needed, color, hue and saturation, cropping, whatever you want to do.

I normally use a large resolution file that way I can crop into it.

I learned it from this page, 

 https://panfilocastaldi.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/twirl-photography/

 

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Jan. no 2, Mendoza Fig Tree,

I have visited Mendoza many times, but never this time of the year.

We have a fig tree in our backyard, a beautiful tree, every time we staid here the tree had fruit, I look at it 2 weeks ago, and saw small buds, I was very excited as I never saw a fig tree blooming,

Few nights ago sitting on the balcony, I saw some flowers, at first I wasn't sure it was from the tree,
we have a lot of different plants in the backyard, but it was,  it amazed me how beautiful fig tree flowers are.

The next morning I decided to do some macro shooting using different lenses, "Canon 100mm macro lens, Lensbaby soft optic and Lensbaby double glass optic.

My fig tree

Canon 100mm Macro at f3.2, I like the crispness of this lens, at f3.2 it also have a beautiful blurry effect

Canon 100mm Macro, this time at f2.8 keeping only the front flower in focus.

Lensbaby soft focus at f4, everything is soft with this optic.

Lensbaby soft optic f4, I added texture to this one to add to this already dreamy look.

Lensbaby double glass optic, f4, keeping only part of the image in focus.

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Corel Painter 2015

Few months ago, when trying the new Corel Painter 2015, I found out that the new version had a lot of bugs,  brush pressure problems, most of the brush didn't respond to Wacom tablet stylus. I was very frustrated and continued to use my older version.

Corel Painter is an expensive and extensive program and the new version had a lot more creative tools, I sent an email to Corel about the problem and at that time they were working on a patch.

Yesterday I decided to check if the patch was ready and it was.

 The New Particle Brushes and Jitter Smooth tool create organic shape and it's excellent to create texture directly on the canvas.

During the next few months I will experiment with the new tools, a lot of tutorial to watch!!!

Experimenting with Corel Painter 2015,

Original Photo, Canon 5D Markiii and Lensbaby double glass optic.

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Mendoza Week 14,

Park San Martin in Mendoza, not the best time to shoot it was around noon and the sun was very strong but I couldn't resist such a beautiful place.

This week start like always, shopping, I also got some news from the immigration office for our visa extension, we are not illegal yet, we can go to the office till one week before our 6 months is up, we will go in a couple of weeks, we may have to start the residency paperwork if the law doesn’t allow us to get in and out every 3 months like it was before.

I also got my first prescription from the best Doctor in Town my friend Gisel, went to the drugs store with my passport, the pharmacist didn’t even look at it, she took a fast look at the prescription went in the back store to pick up the drug, and that was it I paid went back home with my passport, my prescription and my drug, half price compare to Canada and no hassle.

We took this week to relax, after the big party we had last Sunday, I did some of my class project, shadowing, multiplicity, and Droste effect.

Shadowing, a lot of fun,

Multiplicity, at San Martin Park

Droste effect "Time"

I decided to try an Osso Buco recipe, I couldn’t resist the sale at the butcher store “offerta Osso Buco 19.99pesos per kg, I had to buy some at that price why not, and it was amazing.

The ingredients, I used what I had in hand

Some of the ingredients

1 Kg of Osso Buco, 1/2 bottle of dry white wine, 2 cups of hot beef stock, 1 can of diced  tomatoes,  2 large onions chopped, 4 cloves of garlic chopped, 4 carrots, 2 large potatoes, half of a butternut squash, 1 green an 1 red pepper, 300g of asparagus,  200g of pastrami, 500g of spinach/Swiss Chard, olive oil,paprika, oregano, ground pepper etc… 

Fry the Osso Buco in Olive oil about 2 min. per side, set a side on a warm plate.

 In the same pan fry the onion and garlic for about 2 min.

Add the wine and reduce for about 5 min.

Add the tomatoes, cook for about 3 min.

Add the meat, cook gently for 2 more min.

This is my slow cooker system, put the gas low heat.

Transfer everything into a big pot, add the seasoning, paprika, oregano, what ever you like add the 2 cups of stock, or hot water.

Add the green and red pepper mix gently

Add the potatoes, carrots and squash cover and cook at low heat for about 3 hours.

Add the asparagus, spinach, Swiss Chard and pastrami and cook for another 30 min.

Very healthy, economical comfort meal.

I also had a meet up Saturday morning, macro and multiplicity, we did it at the San Martin Park, one of the best place to relax in Mendoza. 

Macro Photography at San Martin Park

Macro Photography at San Martin Park

Macro Photography at San Martin Park

Macro Photography at San Martin Park, soft focus using Lensbaby soft focus optic.

Macro Photography at San Martin Park

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