Creative Photography Techniques

Creative Photography Techniques

Episode 107 with Bernie Hynes

“The best thing that ever happened to my photography was retirement.”

Creative Composites

1. Start by coming up with a concept. Browse the web for ideas:
   Pinterest - search creative photography

DaggerBay.com - look through contest entries on the “Effects Deck”

2. Search for images to create your concept.
Start with generic, free-to-download images or images from your own files.
Create a general paste-up of your idea to see if the concept will work.

3. Find your own images for the final creation. (Looking for something that you wouldn’t see in nature, like a dinosaur, a fairy or a spaceship? Even gift shops and toy stores have great pieces to work with!)

“When you’re out photographing, learn to see all of the possible pieces in a scene.”

Images for a Composite

• Lighting needs to be consistent for each image within the collage.
• Shoot all of the separate parts of the collage with the same lens.
• Use the same focal length and angle of view for your subjects and the background.
• Pay attention to the backgrounds. Simpler backgrounds make it easier to select and remove your image.

“When I find a subject, I shoot it from every possible angle.”

• Be a keyword fanatic. Create files of images that are easy to locate when you need them.
• Save some cut out images on a transparent layer for later use.

“One of the qualities of an image is it’s storytelling power.”

Tools and Techniques

• Bernie creates all of his composites with PhotoShop.
• A tablet is highly recommended. (Bernie uses a Wacom)
• Enlarge your image and use the pen tool to carefully outline down to the pixel level and select each piece for your final image.
• Layer your images, mask and blend (Multiply is Bernie’s favorite blending tool.)

- Look at all of the different blending modes. Dabble, play, and get creative!

• Edit and Transform tools such as warp or skew can work for minor changes in angle or point of view.
• All of the rules of composition still apply for composites.

“An authentic, believable looking composite is totally different than a more artistic and creative composite.”

Finding Bernie

Email - [email protected]

Flickr Album - Composites