John Oldham park maternity

[Stacey Sedgman]

Hi Damien,

Is this background matte? I'm not sure where to start here. It's obviously not natural light only and my image is but can I achieve something like this with this image or am I fooling myself?
 

 

[Damien Symonds]

The reason it works (and yours won't ) is that the background is so blurred, and so "uncluttered", if you know what I mean.

Your background has so much going on, and can't be blurred artificially, I'm afraid.

[Damien Symonds]

No doubt there has been extensive editing on that photo.  You can see the big copy-and-flip.  But it had the right "bones" to begin with.

[Damien Symonds]

Still, with a vignette and a gradient map, you could create something?

You'd need your normal levels and skin work too, of course.

[Stacey Sedgman]

How did you use the gradient map? Is there a tutorial somewhere?

[Damien Symonds]

Yes, you'll find it when you search on my site.

[Stacey Sedgman]

Thank you!

[Damien Symonds]

Do you like it?  I mean, is it something, at least?

[Stacey Sedgman]

Yes I like it   just about to attempt now

[Stacey Sedgman]

Could I ask which two colours you used? 

[Damien Symonds]

Three, actually.

Download my PSD

[Stacey Sedgman]

Thank you and before I muck with it does it look ok soor?

 

[Damien Symonds]

Sorry, I can't discuss that here.  I wouldn't mind discussing it in the class, though.