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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My Friend Jessica Part 2 Conceptual Images

Contact

I enjoy creating story with my photography, during  the first session with Jessica I worked on different themes, even if it was our first session together it went very well and I was able to create storyteller images.  We had nothing planned and not a lot to work with, but we managed to get some great shots, I was very fortunate to work with such an amazing woman.

For all of the images except the falling one, I extended the frame, what I mean is that I started by getting a perfect shot of my subject and after I took some shots of the surrounding keeping the same settings including same focus, very important to have everything the same for a seamless darkroom process.

To do the stitching I used 2 different methods, for "Contact and Levitation" I did them manually, only 6 to 8 images to stitch.

To do "Hope I used Photoshop Panorama stitching, I had 28 images, Photoshop didn't do a perfect job but it was almost impossible to do it manually, I also tried Kolor Autopano an amazing and very expensive software, did the job perfectly but because I don't own it the result was covered with water marks and I wasn't able to use it.
Falling was a collage using 3 images, a completely different process, many hours, but sometimes it's the only way to get what you want to illustrate. I also used a small collage for contact just adding the butterfly.

For all of the images except "Hope", I used Photoshop curve, hue/saturation, replace color, liquify, and many layers.
Hope was different as I wanted to create a comic book image, I always wanted to create a series with this kind of images, if I had the resources, I would have a skyscraper, a back alley, a dark figure, a super hero, to add to this image to create a real story, one day I will have the resources to do it.
To create this image I used Photoshop cutout filter, and added some black lines using Corel Painter 2015 ink brush, after what I plaid with Photoshop curve, hue/saturation, replace color, etc...

Levitation

Falling

Hope

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Texture

Texture for flower and fine art, Canon 5D Markii, Lensbaby double glass optic at f4, 1/2500sec, ISO200

Using texture is a big trend in post production, depending of what you want to achieve, vintage look, adding mood, fine art, it’s all depend of what you want to communicate.

Texture to add mood and grunge, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 24mm, f8, 1/800sec, ISO200

Texture to add mood and grunge, Canon Rebel Xsi Infra Red, Canon 24-105 at 105mm, f8, 1/80sec, ISO200

 This one is a composite of many images, adding texture to add mood.

Canon 5D Markii, Lensbaby pinhole optik, using Chinese Paper Texture onOne Perfect Effect software

Another composite image, adding texture to add softness to the mood, and to isolate the subject.

First of all you need to get the textures, most program, like onOne already have textures, I also shoot my own, get free one on line and buy from texture provider like Florabella and Flypaper, I also use a texture plug in for Photoshop “Totally Rad” Dirty Pictures, the plug in comes with 21 textures, and it is easy to add to it, I added my favorite textures from Florabella and Flypaper without any problem, I am not sure how many textures that can be input to the program, but right now I probably have around 200 that's quite enough for my needs, I am also using onOne program, they add bonus texture all the time, and it's very easy to use, probably one of the best program on the market that is a plug in and also a stand alone.

Using texture with portrait, to add color uniformity to the scene, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 105mm, f4, 1/125 sec, ISO200

Adding texture to isolate the subject,  Canon 5D Markii, Canon 70-200 at 200mm, f11, 1/25sec, ISO200

Adding bokeh texture to add mood, and isolate the subject, Canon 5D Markiii, Canon 85mm Prime Lens, f1.8, 1/500sec, ISO200

  Texture to add story, and drama, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 40mm, f4, 1/15sec, ISO200

Composite image, using many layers of textures and paint brush, to create a story

To use texture without plug ins, follow this link, http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-textures-to-enhance-your-photographs/.

For me there is no good or bad method on applying textures, the only thing that is important is to get the effect or mood that I am looking for, that why I writing this post, to show you different subject and different result using all kind of textures. 

Texture to add contrast and isolate the subject, Canon 5D Markii, Lensbaby double glass optic, f5.6, 1/80sec, ISO200

Texture to add texture, contrast and isolate the subject, Canon 5D Markii, Lensbaby double glass optic, f2.8, 1/320sec, ISO200

 Using texture for vintage, I used onOne perfect BW preset 19th Century Process daguerreotype hand color,  Canon 5D Markii, Canon 50mm prime lens, f9, 1/250sec, ISO200

 Vintage texture using Alien Skin Exposure 5, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 105mm, f10, 1/200sec, ISO200

Texture for painterly, effect Canon 5D Markii, Canon 24-105 at 65mm, f10, 1/80sec, ISO200

Texture for graphic imagery,  Canon Rebel Xsi, Canon17-55 at 55mm, f10, 1/125sec, ISO200

Composite image, adding texture for contrast and to isolate subject

 

Adding texture to change the color for a vintage look, landing in Vancouver, Canon 5D Markii, Canon 50mm prime lens, f11, 1/320sec, ISO320

 

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