Topaz Impression, reflection

I wanted to try Topaz Impression adding my own parameters, I picked an image from Buenos Aires, traffic commotion, such a busy city!

Using Photoshop, I cleaned the image from unwanted cars and trucks added a bit more taxis using the clone tool. Next I added a bit of saturation saved it as tiff "base image", before opening Topaz impression.
I did 2 images the first one using Pencil Sketch 11, changed the parameters to add saturation till I was happy with the result about .60, added smudge .20 and saved the preset for next time, saved that new image as Tiff " color draw"

Re opened Topaz Impression with my saved Tiff, and this time I used Da Vinci 11, only changed the coverage to .70 saved that second image as Tiff too "Da Vinci Draw".

To get the final result I used Da Vinci Draw, changed the canvas size to add canvas only to the bottom of the the image, next I used Flood a software from Flaming Pear to get the reflection I was looking for. Saved that new image as Da Vinci Reflection.

Re opened the color draw image select all from the select top menu, copy from the top edit menu, and paste it on my Da Vinci Reflection image layer to cover the top of the image leaving only the reflection view, did a bit of clean up to mix the 2 layers, added some tone and framed it.

After playing with Topaz Impression the last few days, I really like this new software, easy to use and flexible.

To get Perfect Effect 4 for Free click on the link on the right of the page

Flaming Pear Flood Plug In for Photoshop

This work was done using an original image that I took of the sky and birds, first I duplicated my layer & added Flood, and then Potoshop filter- distort- polar coodinates-rectangle to polar, after a lot of tweaking using layer masks, I was able to get this result.

This work was done using Photoshop 3D cube, & Flood

Flaming Pear  Flood plug in
is an interesting and creative tool,
I used it a lot to create fine art

 Using Onone Rain Texture filter,  & Flood

and  for a lot of different application, when I need reflection or water.

Very easy to use, you can try it for free. To add Flood, first duplicate your layer, go to Photoshop image tab, canvas size, add 1/3 of the length of the size of your image to the bottom only of the canvas by clicking on the anchor middle top arrow, don't worry about the color Flood will cover it. Next go to filter, Flaming Pear-Flood, and play with it till you get the desired effect.

5D Markii, 24-105 at 32mm, f7, 1/20sec, ISO200, Onone Rain Filter and Flood for the reflection

Canon 5D Markii, Lensbaby double Glass f4, 1/1250sec, ISO200, & Flood

Canon 5D Markii, Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic, added grain texture & Flood

Canon 5D Markii, 100-400 at 285mm, f18, 1/4sec, ISO200 &  Flood

 This work is part of my Fiction Abstract Gallery,  later on this year I will publish a book on how to do this kind of abstract, stay tune for the announcement on my blog and website.

Composition following or breaking the rules

Composition “Rule of Thirds".

The idea is to mentally separate the image in the view finder into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. This gives you  a total of nine rectangles and 4 main element points.

Using the horizontal lines can improve the placement of the horizon and prevent the image being cut in half.  Deciding which of the tow lines to use depends on the subject. If the sky were the main impact point you would use the lower of the two lines, giving more emphasis to the sky.  On the other hand if the sky is bland and the scene is awash with colors or shapes; put the horizon on the upper line giving more emphasis to the foreground detail.       

f5.6, 1/20 sec, ISO 500, 70mm

 f5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 200, 24mm

 Using the vertical lines; one main point to using them is to avoid placing the subject dead centre, it can be more beneficial visually to place the subject off center on one of the two vertical lines.

Using the intersecting points, any one of these intersections is a good place to position important elements of your photograph. Placing strong elements on one of these four points give a more dynamic balance and helps to create impact.  The horse head is directly on one intersection

point and the frame is well divided in third, same 

for the little angel the frame is well divided and

his and the cat head are close to the intersection 

point, both images are well balance.

 

f10, 1/125sec, ISO 200, 105mm

 f22, 1/20, ISO 100, 28mm, HDR 5 shots combined

I learned that way, and I am used to it. I am always doing it first when doing a composition, it's a second nature, but great or not all rules should be broken to add impact, and tension, for me the best way to improve composition is too practice the rule of third till you get very good at it, and after go out and brake the rule, I put down some example of both, following the rule the horses and angel top images, and broking it, the boats and farm land images, the boats are place very high on the frame, on an angle, anchored by the reflection lines, the lines and angle make this image, same for the farm land image, the angle of the fence the sun of the top left corner the vanishing point close to the edge of the frame all elements of strong impact,not exactly following the rule of third. but still following design rules, I will write a post on design next week.