One of the best things about the incredible standard
of photomanipulation that there is out there, is that you
can be inspired by it, and use it to push the boundaries
of what you do. Cawood says he absolutely loves
“looking at other people’s work. I’m a big fan of
someone taking an old idea and making it new. One
big trend that I have noticed in composite work is
taking a basic portrait and replacing the background
with a dynamic scene of some sort. While these types
of composites have their place they all start to look the
same. I think Joel Grimes was instrumental in starting
this trend. Don’t get me wrong, I love Joel’s work, buthis look has been copied so much that, at least for me,
it has become somewhat stale.”
Kubicki says, “[I] follow trends in photomanipulation
closely... [But my] main sources of inspiration are
painting and non-digital graphics... Recently I have also
started to rely more on traditional techniques: I print
the photomanipulation in its initial stages on canvas
and I finish it with paint, on the easel. This gives me the
opportunity to put even more emotions in the work.
[However] there are loads of kitchy, flashy, pink and
purple works, as well as countless failed attempts at
horror and gore. They have no original qualities,
common topic, common style, and often are based on
some popular stock photo that has been redone a
hundred times. Another frequent mistake is cramming
too many elements into one picture, often rather
chaotically, as if to draw attention away from the fact
that the work lacks creativity.”
Because after all, this next-generation of photo
manipulators isn’t defined by the fact that the artists
are using Photoshop’s tools better; it’s that they’re
using them to create work that is better, bolder and
more creative than ever before. These are true artists
with true visions and they’ve been freed up by
knowing Photoshop inside-out to produce more and
more creative work.RENATO NASCIMENTO EXPLAINS HOW THIS IMAGE FOR THE REAÇÃO INSTITUTE WAS BROUGHT TO LIFE
USE BLEND MODES
01
READY, STEADY, GO
With a concept created byAgency FCB Brasil, this image was
commissioned by Reação Institute, to celebrate the athlete Rafaela Silva winning
the world championship in 2013. Firstly, photographer Flavio Hargreaves went to
Dona Marta favela and took several photos for the montage.02
IN NUMERICAL ORDER
The challenge was “to simulate podiums using the typical favela
houses,” explains Nascimento, so, the team also photographed a panel
painted with the numbers one, two and three. The photos were then
comped together into the best arrangement.© Renato Nascimento
©ZachBush
03
SCREEN TO THE RESCUE
Pulling the images together was the job for a specific
blend mode, in this case Screen at 80% Opacity. Finally, to finish the
image they “created a lot of colour effects using basic adjustment
layers like Curves, Color Balance, [and] Hue/Saturation.”Drifting Away: Realism is important
to Erik Johansson, so the viewer can connect with the sceneMad Hatter:programs, such as Cinema 4d and Zbrush,” “I also build a lot of things in 3D
says Zach Bush, “and then take them into Photoshop for post production” © Erik Johansson