Note: I’m no longer using image mouse-overs for the Before/After as they do not work on touch devices such as iPads.
This is Sha-Namay, an Akhal-Tékké stallion at the Chevaux du Layon horse ranch in France.
I was horse-crazy as a girl. I used to go visit my Aunt and Uncle on their ranch and I had my own horse for awhile as an young teen. I’ve been yearning for some time to start photographing horses and I particularly wanted to try some classic horse portraits. I finally got my chance a couple of weeks ago to visit a wonderful horse breeder here in France. I was actually photographing a new-born foal, when I turned to snap this quick portrait of the stallion, who was in the neighboring pasture. A little editing in Photoshop and a few textures transformed the distracting background into a rich canvas.
How It Was Made
Basic Edits
I first did my basic edits to the horse image.
- Levels Adjustment
- Burn & Dodging
- Selective lighting of the eyes with a Levels Adjustment Layer.
- Topaz Labs Filter Adjust* Photo Pop to add contrast.
- I then merged the base edits. Note: command+option+shift+E (mac) or control+alt+shift + E (PC) will merge all visible layers..
- I placed the merged horse above the textures and created a layer mask with Photoshop CS5’s refine edge.
Textures
Photograph © Leslie Nicole.
Resources
* Topaz Labs Filters is an Affiliate Link. I will receive a commission on any purchases. Thank you for your support.
| Textures from French Kiss Collections |
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French Kiss Texture: Ancien French Kiss Texture Collection I
Notes: Gives a nice edge definition. Notice in the layer panel how a layer mask lightens the area behind the horse’s head. |
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French Kiss Texture: Bibliotheque French Kiss Texture Collection I
Notes: This texture also used again over the horse to burn in more shodows around the chest area. |
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French Kiss Texture: Classique Keepsake Classique Texture Collection
Notes: Used as the base, so it is set to normal. Th color gives a nice hint of that caramel, bay color of the horse. |
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Thank you for sharing..you did wonderful work here. I am a great user and fan of your textures.
You did a gorgeous job on this, and have given me some new ideas. I love using your textures-I find them to be very rich with a lot of depth. Can’t wait for your new ones!
Awesome! But how did you get the wispy hairs so perfect?
This is a beautiful image but like Betty I would like to know how you kept the detail in the horses mane? I’ve used the same textures on an image of my dog but cannot maintain the detail in the dog’s whiskers, help!
Hi all, I’m not ignoring this request for more info on the hair. I want to do a little tutorial and haven’t found time yet. I’ll get to it soon! Thanks for your comments. 🙂
Hello any tips on the trick to keep the mane detail be wonderful please x
It’s on my list! Sorry, I’ve been so caught up on site re-design, I haven’t had much time for tuts. Hope to be done soon.
me too, i would love to know how you kept the fine details?
I usually put a texture layer over the subject and then cut back within the subject. I am trying to get my head around how it works with putting the texture below the subject. ?
David Bennett recently posted..World Animal Day 2011 And The Environment
Hi David, I too, usually put the texture over the image. I do occasionally do it the other way around—when the texture becomes a background that covers the existing background. Usually, when we work with textures, we use a blend mode and you want the texture to blend with the image below, but when the texture needs to cover what is below, it doesn’t make much difference which is on top. Since I needed to create a mask of the horse to separate it, I went ahead and placed the horse over the texture with a layer mask.
Ah, I see - thanks.
David Bennett recently posted..World Animal Day 2011 And The Environment
Nice job and thanks for sharing the tutorial.
Leslie this is so beautiful! I love it!
Heather Gill recently posted..Something New
Thank you, Heather!
beautiful work you do..love it very, very much..thanks….