Final Crossing

Posted by Ian Bramham (Manchester, United Kingdom) on 19 January 2009 in Cityscape & Urban and Portfolio.

I'm trying to improve my Photoshop skills a little.

This photo combines the texture from a photo of a painted wall with one of my photos from this Christmas in Paris of a lady crosssing one of the bridges over the Seine in the freezing cold and snow around dawn.

The original photo was processed in B&W, then I added the texture layer but uncovered the bridge and lady back to the original photo with a layer mask leaving the background covered by the texture. I then added two layers of solid colour tone in soft red and green - so weak that you can barely see them.

I know that many of you here on Aminus3 are experts in Photoshop but this level of processing is a new departure for me.

14th June 2009 - Edit - Dan Lehman suggested renaming this photo. It used to be callled "Paris in the Snow" but Dan's new title is much better I think.

For purchasing high quality archival prints of any of these photos you can send me an email by clicking here or by going to MY NEW WEBSITE where prices are listed in the gallery sections under each individual photo.
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Links to the websites of other photographers whose work I love and who have all helped me enormously over a long period of time. I find the work of all 3 to be inspirational.

Hugo Poon
John Leech
Ian Smith

vfxy Photoblogs | Listed on Photoblogs.org

Comments (26)

ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States

Photoshop is simply the interface to a black hole. You might try duplicating the background layer, then put the texture layer below the background copy layer. You can fiddle the opacity, layer mode, and apply mask to retain detail where you wish. best...jerry

19 Jan 2009 6:50am

Frida from Sweden

It turned up really good I like it. It's a beautiful picture!

19 Jan 2009 7:48am

GJC from Kyoto, Japan

I like this, but something about the first one you posted inspires me more. It's cleaner, more about the image than the effect. I think at times Photoshop can be an intrusion into a good photograph, making the developing the centerpiece, rather than what the photographer took. Obviously Photoshop can work wonders, but the original that you posted was so fine I don't quite know why you need to keep working it over.

19 Jan 2009 8:03am

Marie LC from Voiron, France

Under Pont des Arts I presume ? interesting composition and treatment.

19 Jan 2009 8:21am

Jim (365,000 words) from Hunnebostrand, Sweden

I like it. If you were aiming for that old, weathered photograph look, this nailed it.

19 Jan 2009 9:01am

IanSmith from London, United Kingdom

Ian... Though I certainly agree that every photographer should know the capabilities of Photoshop, and at least be capable of turning an ok shot into a good one - I would, however, draw the line at this technique and say you're entering the world of digital art. Though impressive (it would be a great poster/postcard), I personally thought the original photowas already perfect, and didn't need anything more doing to it. This technique usually works best on more urban scenes IMO.

19 Jan 2009 9:06am

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

That looks very promising - go on that way!

19 Jan 2009 9:51am

Batkoï from Salon de Provence, France

nice effect, seems to be an old photo, i'm found of it

19 Jan 2009 10:23am

Anna.C from LA ROCHELLE, France

great work Ian ! I love photo with texture, I do that sometimes but I have not photoshop and a good technique, I just superpose one photo of an old wall, by exemple, with the photo I choose, nevertheless I like my result :o) I like the mood in your realization.

19 Jan 2009 12:14pm

Rui from Leiria, Portugal

Brilliantly executed. The original one was already excellent and this image has a vintage look.
But after reading IanSmith's comment, this remembered me a question that I always place myself: Where does the frontier between a photo and an image starts? What is a photo and what is an image?

19 Jan 2009 12:19pm

Polydactyle from Montreal, Canada

This photo in b/w. is so nice! Excellent frame and treatment.

19 Jan 2009 1:06pm

Cheryl from Texas, United States

it's good to experiment in PS, but like the others said, this was perfect to start with. This version is very nice also. good work

19 Jan 2009 2:02pm

zOOm from Paris, France

That's a great image indeed ! One of my prefered here. Lots, lots of poetry and a real and true tribute to Paris. Thanks for this image.

19 Jan 2009 7:29pm

Ted from South Wales, United Kingdom

Both images are excellent in their own right with one at the 'photographic' end of the spectrum and the other at 'digi-art'. Purists may/would criticise. I understand Ian's view. I have a wife who criticises me if my PP oversteps the line and it looks 'messed about' but I would happily have either up on my wall. Good job Ian!

19 Jan 2009 7:52pm

Daryl from Amagasaki, Japan

I think it's very effective, your Photoshop work is tasteful and restrained.

19 Jan 2009 11:55pm

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

I don't do very much with photoshop beyond curves adjustments with rare exceptions, but this looks like it worked well. Has the appeal of an old post card.

20 Jan 2009 12:49am

Suzanne from Huntington Bch, United States

Great image to begin with and the texture adds even more.

20 Jan 2009 2:03am

amy from Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Well. A few nay-sayers... but not me!! I fully appreciate both images.. and to me both are images. I absolutely LOVE how you changed this one. It was exemplary in it's "original" form but it is as well in this form. Both stand on their own. This proves how you can change an image and the feel of it.... not try to cover up an image that isn't great. I do have to admit my Irish gets up a titch when people say that using the texturing/layering technique is just covering up an inadequate image.... art/photography is so subjective and you like what you like for what ever reason but don't pass judgement on an artists' technique and qualify it as an "opinion". Ok, I'll get off my soapbox LOL!! I truly think you did an incredible job and this image has become something different and just as evocative!

20 Jan 2009 4:51am