'Creepy Closet', late halloween pic

[Eggy]

I know, it's way too late, but I started this one before and didn't finished it on time.
I used five pics: the floor, wall(from CGtextures), closet, man and travel bag.
It started as an exercise to do rimlighting.


I'm all open to critique...

 

[inkpad.t]

Don't know if you follow a tutorial by Glyn Dewis.... but if you didn't take a look here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir1mL2P36iQ&list=UU9eJ0QMxVANECYICsnM1yzA

Still a great image though... where did you get the stock for the wardrobe ?.

 

[Eggy]

Hi inkpad.t,

Yes I followed this particular tutorial after watching the work of Glyn Dewis.
I did also a project 'day into night' again following another tutorial of him but of course using my own pics. (https://www.photoshopgurus.com/forum/before-and-after-showroom/52525-day-into-night.html)
I like his technique of using light. It's simple, that is the base. The rest is up to who and how is using it in a way to make it realistic.

I'm in the proces of learning Photoshop (I'm using it a bit more than a year now) and I am eager to learn more about the many techniques used.
Therefore when I see a new technique I try to apply it a few times to practice.

I used his/this technique on this one also:





I started with a daytime photo of one of the many castles along the Mozel river in germany. Using the same technique made it easy to highlight the arch and my wife.

This is one of the many techniques I wont forget but the use of it depends on the creativity of the user.

You can find the stockphoto of the wardrobe here: http://static.mijnwebwinkel.nl/winkel/antieksite/images/463515noten2deurskastmetzwart03.jpg
I found it on Google.

Greetings

 

[chrisdesign]

Hi Eggy
I like your creation very much!


Just one thing is wrong. The angle of the shadows on the men's feet should follow the light source , which would be in the centre of the wardrobe.
I like how you've done the rim light, but I would make it stronger and softer... though maybe this is just me.
Another suggestion: To make the image "creepier", I would add more light seeping out of the slits of the wardrobe. See my attempt.

 

[Eggy]

Hi Chris, and thanks for the comment.

Yes, that would be my next point of attention, the shadows!

The way you did it seems so natural. I'll have to work on that. The pre-winter chores are done, so I can spend a great part of my photoshopwinter to master 'shadows'.

Correct me if I'm wrong but should I increase the 'rim' surface exposure on the backside of the man but soften it more?

The seeping light (horizontal) works great for me. It even gives the picture a 'dusty' atmosphere.

On the vertical slit the light seems to focus on the middle giving a star radius effect. Not bad but is there no way to get the same effect as on the horizontal slit? I have no idea how to do that.

Anyways, let me grab a bite (dinner time) and I'll be back after.

 

[chrisdesign]

Correct me if I'm wrong but should I increase the 'rim' surface exposure on the backside of the man but soften it more?
If you check my version, the blending of the man into the BG is softer but the backlight is brighter.


The seeping light (horizontal) works great for me. It even gives the picture a 'dusty' atmosphere.
On the vertical slit the light seems to focus on the middle giving a star radius effect. Not bad but is there no way to get the same effect as on the horizontal slit? I have no idea how to do that.
I'll give it a try.

 

[Altaifus]

inkpad.t thanks for posting that tutorial link, it`s awesome. I will watch more from that guy. Thanks again.

 

[chrisdesign]

Correct me if I'm wrong but should I increase the 'rim' surface exposure on the backside of the man but soften it more?
If you check my version, the blending of the man into the BG is softer but the backlight is brighter.


The seeping light (horizontal) works great for me. It even gives the picture a 'dusty' atmosphere.
On the vertical slit the light seems to focus on the middle giving a star radius effect. Not bad but is there no way to get the same effect as on the horizontal slit? I have no idea how to do that.
I'll give it a try.

Here is a new attempt.

 

[Eggy]

Thanks Chris, this looks very good.


I was working on the picture myself and now that I see your adaptation I have the idea we did about the same.


First I corrected the shadows on the legs.
Then I added the light on the horizontal slit.


It took me some time but I came with an idea for the vertical slit light:


I added a new layer
With the polygon tool I drew a trapezium for the left side and filled it with orange color.
I added a layer mask and applied a linear gradient
I blurred with gaussian
I blended with soft light
I corrected with soft brush


I duplicated this layer and flipped it verticaly for the right side.



I wonder how you did your adaptation.

 

[chrisdesign]

Wow, very good result Eggy. That was worth the effort.
Here a screenshot of my layers.

 

[Eggy]

Thanks Chris.

Well, basicly I see you did about the same thing, exept in one piece.
I cannot show you my layers, there are 27 of them without the 'hue/saturation', photofilters and brightness/contrast-adaptations.

I think now I've worked enough on that subject and I'll go on with a study of shadows.

Greetings