June Image: "The Wishing Well"

How I did it -

This is an image from my recent trip to Keukenhof Gardens in April.  The image is a another variation for creating an image within an image and this method was found somewhere in Adobe tutorials where I made notes on how to do it but not a notation on the original creator.  I started with a processed image and made a copy of the background (Ctrl+J) and named it "Inside Photo".

          Then I held down Control and clicked on the new layer icon at the bottom of the layers palette so that it would go between the 2 layers showing.  Renamed it 'Clipping Mask'.

          I went to the toolbox and clicked on the rectangle tool just under the "T" and drew out the size on my image for the inside photo and tried to locate it accurately because the arrow keys did not move it for repositioning.  I knew I had a 2nd chance at the end when using Transform.

          Using the middle layer with the two thumbnails and I placed my cursor between them.  The cursor is showing a circle at this point and I clicked the mouse to set the point.

          I clicked on the right 'clipping mask' thumbnail to select it and clicked on the Layer Styles icon at the bottom of the Layers palette.  It looks like fx inside a circle.  Chose Stroke and I used these 3 settings:  49 px for edge size, set it for Inside and selected white for the color edge.

          Next, I clicked on Drop Shadow and used these settings:  134 degrees, and a distance of 9.

          I wanted to rotate the image so I used Ctrl+T to put it into Transform again and then I had to click and drag the mouse (outside of both images anywhere) to rotate it.  I used the check mark to accept the rotation.  I did consider the option of using Gaussian Blur on the outer image to set the small photo apart from the background but decided to leave well enough alone.

COMMENTS:
 

Aavo Koort	It is a lovely shot of the Keukenhof Gardens but I don't quite follow what your objective was. The two images seem to be identical except for the white frame in the final one.
Carol Weaver	I like that shot. The idea of a picture within a picture works well with this photo.
Skip Larue
Nellie Bretherick	I like this idea.  It is very effective but I think it would have been more so if you had followed through with the guassian blur.
Karen Mason	I think I might have liked it better if you would have blurred the outside image.  On my screen it just looks like a white frame in the middle of the picture.  It seems like it needs something to make the inner picture either pop out or recede in more than it does.
Norman Piper	I really like this idea.  It brings a sense of movement into an otherwise static image - as though you have put it on your desk and held a frame over it,  to decide how you want the final frames image to look.  I think you were absolutely right not to introduce any blur.  That would have made it look too false and contrived.

Member Bio

Nancy Sams, FPSA, EPSA, AFIAP - Biography I am a retired Art History teacher and College Dean at a private girl's school, and I have been involved with Camera Councils in Minnesota and Arizona, plus held many offices at the Camera Club level. I have been an active PSA member since 1987 but didn’t enter an International Exhibition until the fall of 1990.  During that time I have been very busy with PSA activities and duties and I am currently the Exhibitions Chairman for the Photojournalism Division for PSA.  I have competed in 5 PSA Divisions over the years and was probably on the edge of a burnout when I found PJ and EID where new realms were opened to me and returned excitement to competition.  My latest project is teaching and working with Adobe Photoshop that I find both fun and rewarding.  Having been in front of a classroom for so long, I do love to present interesting programs that I hope are both entertaining and informative.    This study group is a new challenge where I hope to learn more about creativity and be challenged to present something that I’m will be proud of.  My next steps will be small but I do love the challenge of learning something new. -- nhsams3@cox.net