Filter Friday on Google+
Every Friday, we post a photo that has some type of filter effect applied to it and encourage other photographers to show their images and to list what filters they used.
Below is an example of a ‘before’ image of a Brown Pelican that I captured off the coast of La Jolla as he was coming in for a landing.
© Laurie RubinBefore
In the ‘after’ image, I used Viveza 2 to reduce the brightness in certain areas of the image, and added Structure to add extra texture to the feathers by using Control Points. This enabled me to keep the water in the background soft and to selectively add the filter effect to just the Pelican.
To finish off the image, I used the Midnight Filter in Color Efex Pro 4 to lead the viewer’s eye to the bird and tone down the areas around him. I selected the Brush button in the Color Efex Pro 4 interface window. Then I was able to use the Brush in Photoshop by selecting ‘Paint’ from the Selective tool to paint in the areas around the Pelican.
The last step was to add a fine edged border from the Image Borders filters in Color Efex Pro 4.
© Laurie RubinSo share an image where you used either a digital or glass filter or both and tag your image #filterfriday curated by +Laurie Rubin. We’d love to see how filters have helped to enhance your images!
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Nik rocks!
Is it possible to blacken the water behind the pelican without using the brush feature in photoshop?
I use Aperture,and have the Nik complete collection.
I am trying to get the same effect as your Giraffe photo at the zoo.
My background needs to be black.
Thanks,
Jeff.
Hi Jeff,
You can use Control Points to enhance just the background. I like to use Viveza 2 and take down the brightness.
–Laurie
Laurie,
Excellent posts…I really enjoy your Filter Friday blogs. Would it be possible for you to actually do a screencast? You don’t have to make it super polish. Just actually go through the steps (even if it’s quick) but talk through what you’re doing. I think that would make it more useful.
For example, I would really love to see this done: “I selected the Brush button in the Color Efex Pro 4 interface window. Then I was able to use the Brush in Photoshop by selecting ‘Paint’ from the Selective tool to paint in the areas around the Pelican.”
The brush in Nik software is one thing I haven’t made use of much because it’s INTIMIDATING! You’re blog makes it sound like cake walk.
Thanks and keep up the great work!