Into The Light

[Kerry Perkins]

This image started as a simple in-camera pan blur and soon took on a life of its own. I was intending to post it as just that, but the more I looked at it the more ideas I got and I ended up doing quite a few things with it.

First I took the base image and applied a subtle layer of Topaz Impression to enhance the painterly look. I then inverted the colors to create a more interesting color scheme. I then inverted the image itself, flipping it vertically. I used Alien Skin Exposure 7 to get the colors even more outside the box. I also used a pencil outline filter and three textures. Once I had the background the way I wanted it, I took the three cranes from another image and used Alien Skin Eye Candy 7 to turn the cranes into chrome. I used the background image as a custom reflection map so the reflections in the chrome birds would match the scene.

All the elements in this image were captured at Bosque.

[Dennis Bishop]

Wow, I'm impressed not only with the image but what you did to get there. The complementary colors pop without being overpowering. I tried unsuccessfully to find something about reflection maps. The blue you got on the bottom of the cranes with it is a great touch.

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks Dennis! There really isn't much information about the reflection maps, but I noticed an option in the filter GUI that said "import custom reflection map" so I gave it a try. I went back to the manual and found this. It is quite simple to import your own images for reflection maps, and what better way to use them than to have the map come from the original image?

[Dennis Bishop]

Thanks very much, Kerry. I didn't realize it was part of Eye Candy. No wonder I couldn't find anything when I searched online. It's good to know about the reflection maps. One of these days, I'm going to have to sit down with Eye Candy and see what else is there that I've been missing.

[Kerry Perkins]

Eye Candy is an extremely deep plugin, and there is lots to be learned there. A lot of people dismiss it because it requires extra work and preparation on the part of the artist, as many of the effects only work on a selection or separate layer. It is used a lot in web design. You may also find that Alien Skin Exposure is very deep and has some amazing customization capabilities. Did you know that you can apply textures in Exposure?

[Steve Adkins]

Wonderful and artistic image, Kerry. What a pleasure when an image takes on a life of its own. Your work really paid off in a unique piece.

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks everyone! Here's the original image as it came from the camera.

[Dennis Bishop]

Eye Candy is an extremely deep plugin, and there is lots to be learned there. A lot of people dismiss it because it requires extra work and preparation on the part of the artist, as many of the effects only work on a selection or separate layer. It is used a lot in web design. You may also find that Alien Skin Exposure is very deep and has some amazing customization capabilities. Did you know that you can apply textures in Exposure?

The folks at Alien Skin have produced some great products. I use Snap Art on every image I process but Exposure and Eye Candy infrequently. I did know about Exposure and textures, but I'm sure I should delve into the program further and learn more.

Thanks for posting the original shot. It was a large step from it to your final image!

[Paul Lagasi]

OOTB images, great when they work out....nice work

I'll be down in Southern Cal in August, maybe I can stay in that trailer I've heard so much about....lolol

[Cheryl Slechta]

Kerry, this turned out great and I'm glad you posted the "before" image so that we can see how great art starts.

[Diane Miller]

Geez, I would have been happy enough with the original to quit there! Great exploratory vision!!

The BG is so strong, I wonder how an alternate version would look with silhouetted cranes.

[Anita Bower]

Love the colors! Love the texture of the bg. Thanks for posting the original bg, which shows us what is possible with imagination and skill. The cranes fit nicely, and I like that their color mimic the bg. I wish the cranes stood out a bit more. Very creative work!

[Nancy Bell]

Completely and totally love the bkgd you created! I think it could stand alone and be printed huge. Diane has an interesting suggestion about making the cranes silhouettes.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Love the colours and the embossed look of the cranes. A different take on the Bosque Fire in the Mist shot

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks for comments, much appreciated. I didn't use the original crane image, which was silhouettes, because I wanted to show some dimensionality to them and add the reflections. I do like the idea though, and here's what it looks like. What I was attempting to show with the cranes was the idea of them blending into the light, so I didn't really want them to stand out that much and wanted the lead bird to seem to be blending in. To my eye, the silhouettes make them stand out too much and not fit in with the bg, but that's just me.

[Anita Bower]

Yes, I see your point, Kerry.