Lighthouse Photo Manipulation

Resouces:

Lighthouse Image from sxc

Sea Image from sxc

Sky Image from sxc

______________________________________________________

This will be the finished result:

Click on the image for full size view

___________________________________________________

Open a new file, 1500 x 1250, 72px resolution, white background

Open the lighthouse image

Image>Image Size – set the width to 800 set the mode to Bicubic Sharpener, click OK

Using the pen tool or your preferred method, isolate the lighthouse and it’s surrounding paving from the background

Copy the isolated lighthouse and paste it into your new canvas

Ctrl + T to transform the object, and rotate the lighthouse slightly to straighten it.

Place it at the bottom centre of the canvas

Image>Adjustments>Selective Color – apply the following settings:

Image>Adjustments>Levels – apply the following settings:

Select the Burn tool, set to Highlights and darken down some of the brighter areas of the lighthouse

Open the sea image

Image>Image Size – set the width to 1500, auto height, mode Bicubic Sharpener, click OK

Copy the entire image and paste it into your canvas behind the lighthouse

Add a layer mask by clicking on the icon at the bottom of the layers palette

Using a large, soft, round brush, foreground colour black, paint out the sky

Image>Adjustments>Black and White – apply the following settings:

Your image should be looking something like this:

Open the sky image

Copy the entire image and paste it into your canvas below the sea layer

If necessary, go to the layer mask on the sea layer and blend the two layers together using either or both black to mask parts and white to reveal parts of the image

Image>Adjustments>Black and White – use the same settings as for the sea layer, ie: set the preset to Maximum Black

Create a new layer above the sky layer

Fill the layer with black

Filter>Render>Lens Flare – apply the following settings:

Reduce the layer opacity to 60%

Make the sky layer active

Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast – apply the following settings:

Make the sea layer active

Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast – apply the following settings:

Make the lighthouse layer active

Filter>Render>Lens Flare – apply the following settings:

Create a new layer below the lighthouse layer

Set foreground colour to white

Select the Brush tool and load the Assorted Brushes set

Select Crosshatch 4 brush, set the size to around 1000

Click once behind the top of the lighthouse

Ctrl + T to transform the object

Reduce the height as shown below:

Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur – set to 4, click OK

Duplicate the layer

Drag the duplicate layer above the lighthouse

Select the Eraser tool and erase the two lower arms of the crosshatch

Create a new layer above the lighthouse layer

Using the rectangular marquee tool drag out a rectangle a little larger than the window of the lighthouse

Fill the selection with white

Double click on the layer in the layers palette to bring up the blending options and apply the following Gradient Overlay settings:

Create a new layer below this layer

Using the rectangular marquee tool drag out a rectangle a little larger than the window

Fill the selection with #FDF5B3

Reduce the layer opacity to 53%

Double click on the layer in the layers palette to bring up the blending options and apply the following Drop Shadow and Outer Glow settings:

Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur – set to 3.5, click OK

Finally, make the sea layer active

Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast – apply the following settings:

The finished project. Click on the image for full size view