Faces Appeared!
Face It 23011MEND850C_5x4
I find comfort in visual symmetry. I am not sure exactly why. Maybe it’s the feeling of tranquility or calmness knowing things are balanced, a peaceful harmony. It doesn’t have to be perfect symmetry. In fact, finding minor imperfections gives me as much satisfaction as seeing the broader symmetry to begin with. The eye and the mind stays active looking for the imperfections.
I decided to create a symmetrical image of my own using a photo, and its flipped mirror version. I took the photo in Death Valley National Park back in March 2022. It seemed perfect photo to achieve the affect I was after. In my estimation the image demands sustained attention, its shapes and forms are visually soothing, the horizontal alternating bands of light and dark light and color serve as a way for the brain to methodically move through the image horizontally almost as if it being presented slice by slice to the viewer. Moreover, the subtle, and intended differences in opacity comparatively from right to left requires a interpretative brain pause for those deep in the image review.
The technical process was quit easy. From the original I created a flipped horizontal version. This ensured the composited version would be exactly symmetrical. However, I purposefully made the flipped copy less opaque than the original. As mentioned above I felt by doing so the viewer would have to consciously, or unconsciously, reconcile the subtle differences.
As I began the editing process the symmetry of the image was soothing, until it wasn’t. What I didn’t predict was the unintended surprises created by the blended overlap! Faces appeared! Yea, many faces right down the center of the photo. At first the faces were unsettling, even a bit disturbing. The faces seemed gargoyle-ish. It is as if they are emerging from the center seam of the image. If you allow your imagination run freely I suppose the happenstance fits the outcome. Remember, the photograph was taken in Death Valley!
After spending some time with the photo, the faces transformed into pictographs left behind in the foothills to be discovered and appreciated. Maybe this was my rational brain reconciling the surprising finding.
No doubt your reaction to the composite will be different than mine and probably different from the next viewer and so on. But that is a good thing. My hope is that each person who looks at it will see something different. Moreover, I hope the same viewer will see something new each time it’s viewed.
As always thanks for reading my blog and for your continued interest and support. I would love to hear your thoughts. Send me an note.
Cheers
Steve
480-204-3109
stevegiardini.com
Learn to edit like pro. Offering Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop sessions.
Photo Nerds Edit Notes
Below are some notes about how I created this composite. If you have questions please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to answer your questions. Or, if you just wish to learn some of these techniques schedule a photo editing training session.
Composite Image Workflow
Image Title: Face It 23011MEND850C_5x4
Camera & Exposure Information: Nikon D850, Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 @ 110mm, 1s, f/13, ISO 200
Editing Software Used: DXO PhotoLab, NIK Color Efex Pro, Adobe Photoshop
Image Selection Criteria
My goal was to create a mostly symmetrical image that was pleasing to the eye but required some visual investigation. I searched for an image that had a good deal of detail, was colorful, and that could be horizontally flipped to create mirror of itself. This image fit checked all the boxes.
Merge Process
I made two copies of the original photo file.
The original image would serve as the background. I purposefully decreased the exposure of this base image using the Photoshop levels tool and added extra contrast using Photoshop curves tool. The result was a darker overall image (skewed left on the histogram) but with bright highlights. I knew the changes would be compound once the flipped image was merged on top. Where the two images overlapped the darks would be darker and highlights would be brighter! Plus any increase in color saturation would also be exaggerated.
Separately I flipped the copy of the original without making any adjustments to it. I selected the entire image (Mac Command A), copied it (Mac Command C), then pasted it (Command V) as a new layer on top of the original.
I decreased the opacity of this copied layer by 70% (final opacity 30%). I adjusted the now merged images using curves, level, and saturation/hue to balance the overall brightness and histogram levels. The result was an image with depth. I selectively increase complimentary colors while decreasing unwanted or non-complimentary colors.
I export the image to Topaz Gigapixel AI to decrease merge and color noise.
I dodged and burned the ‘faces’ to exaggerate their characteristics. This is pain staking pixels level process.
Finally, I exported the image to Adobe Camera Raw Filter. Here I used the radial gradient tool to select the center of the image from top to bottom. I decreased the exposure bit, increased the highlights and decreased the shadows. I feathered the gradient tool to 50% so the edges would blend nicely. The result is the ‘faces’ became more prominent. It also created an inside out vignette.
Clearly there were other minor in-between steps along the way not listed here but the above covers the majority of the edit. The final layer Photoshop file is 6.5 GB’s!!
If you would like to learn advanced editing techniques contact me. I would be happy to discuss options and schedule a session. I charge $75 per hour with a minimum of 2-hours. I promise you learn a great deal.
Steve
4809-204-3109
stevegiardini.com
