ABOUTCLICKS

June 1, 2012

Farm Storm Shower

I remember helping Grandpa in the hay fields when getting caught in a summer storm shower.  Rain poured down, hail pelted our jeep shelter... then the rainbow came out.  It was magnificent! Soon the sun was out again, hot and sticky. This photo reminds me of that day!  Putting on the rain effect was rather fun...  here's a tutorial.

The original photo is from Sarah from The Stiles Files, from St. Paul, Minnesota.  Love your photo, Sarah!

Here's a bit about her:
My name is Sarah and I live in St. Paul, MN with my husband, Jeff, and our two kiddos, Miles and Stella. I am fairly sure that I was passed over when they were handing out any sort of domestic skills, but my husband picks up the slack and we make it through most days with the kids intact. :) It's been a little over a year since I got bit by the photography bug and I got bit hard. I love being a mom more than anything in the world, but I desperately needed a creative outlet that was just.for.me.so.I.wouldn't.go.too.(make.that.any.more.) crazy. I absolutely love taking and editing pictures and, while I have a long way to go, the process of learning has been absolutely wonderful.
Sarah's SOOC


Here's my entry:






























What is in the edit:
  • Slightly straightened the photo
  • Several adjustment layers - levels, curves, contrast - to bring out detail and color
  • Sponge tool, dodge, and burn tools to selectively bring out color and highlights
  • Imported a tree on its own layer - under the barn layer - carefully masking to reveal the tree using a round brush and a spatter brush
  • Rendered an omni light effect and a solar filter - to set up the light in the sky versus the dark stormy clouds
  • Worked at the rain effect - see link above for a tutorial
  • Added a burnt edge, masking off the lighter corners.
  • Curves inverted layer - brushing on light and darkness as needed
  • Resized for web
It was nice reminiscing about Grandpa. Thank you, Sarah!

22 comments:

  1. Wow! The new photo captures the memory you described, just perfectly! What a neat picture - love the colors - and the rain - too.
    I'm really enjoying seeing all of your edits!!
    Hope you guys have a great weekend!
    Love,
    Collette

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    Replies
    1. Miss Grandpa's farm! This was a fun edit :>) I think Aunt Karen needs a kid fix...

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  2. I like the addition of the tree. It looks like it belongs there.

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    1. Now that I think about it... I should have put a wooden swing hanging from the tree. Grandpa had one in the big old tree in his front yard!

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  3. Oh my, the tree, the rain! You are so talented! Lovely edit!!

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    Replies
    1. Amazing that a photo can bring back a memory :>) This was a fun edit for me!

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  4. Oh my! this is so fantastic!! I'm sure this is my favorite edit I've seen!! Wowzers! which editing program do you use? I'm still learning.

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    Replies
    1. Aw, man! I usually put down that I work in Photoshop CS4. Sorry! I'm still learning photoshop... it has so many different applications!

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  5. Replies
    1. The main rain idea is to add a noise filter on its own layer... then apply a motion filter to that... then a gaussian blur... and a few more tweaks to get it look right on the photo you're working on. Here's a good tutorial link if you'd like - http://photoshoptutorials.ws/photoshop-tutorials/photo-effects/rain/all-pages.html
      I think it also helped that I put on some lighting effects first, to get the look I wanted: omni (Under filter > render > lighting effects > omni, then play with adjustments) and also solarize (filter > stylize > solarize)

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  6. Love the addition of the big old tree :-)

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    Replies
    1. I used to swing away on the big old tree on the farm :>)

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  7. Absolutely AMAZING! What a beautiful edit!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Amanda. It was fun recreating a moment from long ago!

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  8. Replies
    1. It's been fun and a great learning experience at the Edit Me Challenge! I liked this one - it came attached with some sweet recollections :>)

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  9. You know? You are the first that called some of my art for art/PopArt, I thank you so much for that :D one more is that I thank you for walking by my place otherwise I haven't see your amazing art too and how you did it. You made your contribution into a vigorous place to look at. Wonderful how it is done.

    It gives me an idea of how to tell the process next time. I marked your place to make it easier for me to find you again. Once again A BIG thank you :-D

    It was my contribution from here:
    http://www.starone.dk/b4/?page_id=783

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    Replies
    1. I just had a amazing visit to your photo gallery... your photos are remarkable; they make you stop and look at them a little longer. Your capture of light and shadow are incredible!
      So good to meet you!

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  10. Oh i so so so so so so love your own girl :P Its fabulous!

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    Replies
    1. lol! it is a bit different... yet I enjoyed working on it :>)

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  11. This has a collage/mixed media feel to it. Well done making it your own!

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