I like taking photos with my digital camera and what I may like more than that is altering them in Photoshop for different projects, effects, or even for web animations or fun. Yesterday I was compiling some photos of my beloved's daughter into one area. The result of doing that was this first photo turned digital art on the right.
Adorability
I'm sure you've seen those internet posters often expressing a flip sentiment. That's where I got the idea of "Adorability." I made the background a sepia in order to not confuse the subject from the busy pattern of the bedspread. Then I simply added text. I went further with this one, turning it more fun and games by making it into an animation which you can witness after this article.
Feet
In "Feet" because I did not want to detract from the subject of her sweet face coming through her feet, I really thought this photo could benefit from being a Black and White. Now I know a lot of people go a little into *edgy territory* and like to B/W everything they do but not me. There are specific reasons why I will Black and White or desaturate or amp up the saturation or even make a background into a sepia-hue. Going from full on color to black and white, is best done when color is not even within the realm of being an issue in the photo. In this case, this is true.
Notice the bedeviled toothy grin coming from between her awesomely cute feet. One is not distracted by color and the eye seems to start precisely with the feet going inward to her grin.
I think the results are beautiful.
Twisted Kitty
'Lil Bit' and I were hanging out and going through some of the photos and movies I have of her. After getting into a conversation of why a kitty on my bookmark and sticker looked "funny" I asked if she wanted me to do that to her. So we found this picture and it took less than 30 seconds in Photoshop.
Notice that this is the original image and it has all the colors my camera intended. Nothing is added or taken away from the original. Because I was going to simply add a face, in this case I did not see how it could have benefitted from black and white. Since I was going to *Twist* her in the image, I would actually want the colors to differentiate from the before and after and for the exaggerated *Twisted* features to pop.
I made a duplicate layer so as to not offend the original layer and then went into liquify. I selected a brush size that would be about the size of the eyes I would want. Then I used 'bloat' on each eye. I then selected 'pucker' and puckered the nose. I also puckered the mouth a little and then 'bloated' the upper part of the mouth until it looked right.
She was delighted and laughed at her new 'face' but I did not stop there. I went in, freehand and added some whiskers and colored the nose in pink. Voila. She is now one Twisted Whisker herself. Almost. :)
Rap Star
This photo was nearly perfect in the first place. From the motion blur to that candid pose, it's about my favorite photograph of her using my Kodak Digital camera. She loves to wear one of her white tank tops because that's a staple of my house wear. So when I put the cap on her to complete her look for a pose, I did not know she would really live the role. She did. She brought it to life. So I call it "Rap Star" due to the cute sassy she seems to be emoting so clearly for the camera.
But because I cannot leave well enough alone - and why should I? ;) - I wanted the focus of the image to be squarely on her. The background lends nothing to the photo and although I could have gotten rid of the background altogether, there would have been the question, "And then turn it what color?" or "Replace it with what?" In this situation, then, I thought that simply desaturating the background using the mask tool was best. And that's all I did here.
Because of the desaturation of the non-important background and with the white tank top she dons, I think the blue cap on backwards, along with her lovely hair sets the perfect framework for her "Lil Bit the Rap Star" persona.
About the Model
Her real name will not be divulged on the internet for safety reasons so her nickname is "Lil Bit." In real life her nickname is something else. :) She does not model professionally and I feel I have to add that since she's so darn cute and photogenic. She's your regular 4 [almost 5] year old and likes blowing bubbles, picking flowers, and running through sprinklers. She does not like lizards, spiders or caterpillars. Her favorite food is broccolli.
About the Photographer & Artist
To read about me, visit the page in which this originally appears on. In tandem with the text, the images are alongside to follow along with. If you are new to Photoshop or just like watching little people in all of their innocent and adorable glory, I hope you visit. :)
