Anatomy of...Princess On The Steps

Thank You Thank You Thank You!!
I am so grateful for all the great insights into my free canvas Dilemma!


This photo...

...was the overwhelming choice for me to have printed to a 16x20 canvas from Canvas on Demand.


Your comments really made me think about my choice though...and this is why...
My first instinct was to use this photo because of the great use of texture and because the kids are older, most of my samples are younger children...

...but then I thought I'd display something completely different and use this photo showcasing my first "Glam Experience" model... ~more on that to come later~

...but then when I realized that the majority of people were drawn to the Princess photo I figured I should stick with what I do best ~which is unique children's portraits~ and show off that...with the major bonus being that I can display the canvas in my home if I decide it's not needed as a sample anymore!

BUT....all those comments encouraging me to showcase something new weren't in vain!  I've decided to order the above photo of my rockin' girlfriend RainDog on the metal print that I've been dying to get!  I think the color and intense texture will really make the best use of the metal.  I'll be sure to do a full review when I get both prints back soon~

And in case you were wondering how Princess On The Steps was created, I just happen to have a few screen shots for you.  It's so funny that this photo is so popular because I really, really, really hacked it to death in the editing process:)  You'll see what I'm talking about...read on!

1. I opened my original photo in photoshop elements 6 for mac:

2.  I wanted to tilt the photo to the right for a better composition so I put it on a new file and arranged it how I wanted.  Here's what it looked like...

3.  As you can see, now I have quite a problem...in order to get the composition I want I've lost the whole left side of my photo and now I have no steps!  

     I'm sure there's a fabulous, technical way to add more of those steps to my canvas...but I was in a hurry and didn't feel like looking it up so....I had some fun with the clone stamp and created this mess...

4. This is definitely not how I would recommend to others to edit! My cloning skills have a lot to be desired ~ but I knew I was going to layer on some textures so I wasn't real worried about getting it perfect, just wanted it to look like there were more steps:)

Here's what my layers palette looked like when I duplicated the first layer then cloned the steps on the second layer:

5. I flattened my image after the steps were done then did some basic Levels adjustments to brighten the photo.  Also I used Coffeeshop Powder Room 2 for skin softening.  Now it's time for textures!  I added Reverie warm & Sugar n Spice warm from FloraBella and erased a just a tiny bit around her head and shoes. 

Here's the layers palette showing the textures and layer masks:

6.  I flattened my layer when textures were set and it looked good, the textures really helped conceal my horrible cloning job!  I wanted to soften the concrete though and draw more attention to that sweet little face so I duplicated my layer, added a Gaussian Blur to the top layer, then masked out specifically on her face and a little less on her body. 

Here's the layers palette:

7.  Here is a prime opportunity for you to learn from my mistake!!  Because I'm a hacker I didn't change my brush size when I got to her feet to erase the blur from the tennis shoes.  Which means the brush was larger than the shoe area and also erased some of the blur from the concrete around her.  This bugs me.   But it didn't bug me enough to go back and re-do it!  I haven't decided yet if I will re-do it for the canvas...but if this was for a paying client I would certainly make sure that little detail was done correctly!

8.  After I added the blur I flattened my layer and experimented with some actions...I really couldn't decide which I liked best but finally chose to run 2 Coffeeshop actions....

first I ran Faded Daydreams

then I ran Vivid 2 and chose the "Bright" option

Don't be afraid to layer up actions just like you layer textures...the possibilities are endless~

  

So this is my final creation...

...and for a different take on the photo I cropped in real close for this lovely shot...

I used Coffeeshop Pink Glow on this...it's just so darned girly!

Thanks again for all your helpful comments...

I've got lots more stuff in the works....a fun new design I'll be debuting soon and even a discount just for wayoutnumbered readers on some *fab* camera bags!

Stay tuned....