I’ve been working on my stock submission, preparing images in Lightroom, and after a while you just get stir crazy doing repetitive actions! Having to select and prepare images for an upcoming feature in Photoshop User magazine, I too, a few images a step further – something I’ve been wanted to do for a while – play!!
I have the Topaz series of plug-ins for Photoshop – Simplify, Detail, Adjust – and chose Adjust to apply to this image of ice. This program has the ability to create a similar effect to the now-infamous illustrative look you get from Photomatix HDR techniques, but it works with just a single image. That means the thousands of images I have in my files that were not captured with any specific artistic application in mind are now available for use in this program and others. I made this image back in March 2009 in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and was happy with the ‘real’ results, but I’ve wanted to do something more to it, t0 apply more texture to the scene and give it an artistic effect, yet one that wasn’t a watercolor, or oil, etc. Topaz Adjust proved the right solution for the effect I wanted.
For the ice abstract, I wanted to create a more metallic effect since the ice was already a steely gray with just a hint of teal showing through. This same program gave me something close to what I want, although this one is still a work in progress. It’s possible that I could have created both of these effects using Photoshop layers with filters, but not knowing what that would take, I was pleased to be able to get the effect I wanted with this easy to use program.
Thanks, Bob C- coming from you, an expert in PS, then I know that not going to spend hours trying to work it out there…
Bob T – thanks, and good question! It’s pretty funny, actually. The answer is yes and no! I did ask him if he would go over to that side of the street and walk past the building once or twice, because I thought I wanted some life in the scene. But I didn’t direct him beyond that, as I wanted a natural feeling to the image. After he walked back and forth once, I said ‘uno momento, por favor’ (one minute, please), while I checked the LCD, and he leaned against the wall to wait! At that moment I just pressed the shutter again and again – three or four times, before he dropped his leg and the moment was lost. Sometimes, the best pictures come when you aren’t staging things.
Wonderful shots! Was the guy actually just standing there and you happen to come by, or was he posing for you?
Glad you are having fun with Topaz. Bob.
Great images, Brenda! Nice to see how such different images can benefit from these plugins.
I’m not sure how possible it would be to recreate what topaz does in photoshop, at least some of the more “special” effects. I use Adjust alot and now that Detail has been made faster I’ll probably use it more as well. They can really create some interesting looks. And, as you say, you can apply them to any image!
very sci-fi. niiiiiiiiiice, emphasis on iiiiiiiiice 🙂
Yeah, I agree. Although I’m blown away by those that create such intricate and beautiful work with Photoshop. Perhaps if I stop teaching/tour leading long enough to really tackle Photoshop I could do it there, too. But it’s not gonna happen just yet…
Hi Brenda, I really like the ice with the Topaz Adjust plugin applied. I have Topaz Simplify which is fun as well. I agree that these plugins are much easier to use than trying to figure out the right formula in Photoshop. I hesitated to buy plugins given I could always create similar images with Photoshop until I really tried a couple. It is just easier to get what you visualize.