Create “Impossible” Photos with this Time-Proven Technique (VIDEO)
Today’s detailed post-processing tutorial from the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel demonstrates a straightforward technique for creating what one of our favorite pros refers to as “impossible” photos. In fact he says that you’ll achieve “otherworldly” results—not due to outlandish effects, but rather because the job can’t be easily accomplished in other ways.
The comprehensive tutorial below from German photographer Christian Mohrle is a bit of a departure because his image-editing lessons typically involve Lightroom techniques for embellishing landscape photos. This episode, instead, reveals a powerful Photoshop workflow for enhancing a seaside cityscape photo that needs a bunch of work.
The image in question is a nicely composed photo of a small European village, and we encourage you to download the sample Raw file via a link in the description beneath the video so you can mimic Mohrle’s changes in real time. As you’ll see, there are nice colors in the sky, but the foreground is boring with dark, empty streets and nary a light in the windows of any buildings.
Mohrle solves all these problems and more with a Photoshop technique known as “time blending.” In the next 17 minutes he explains the best way to capture multiple image of the same scene at different times of day and how to edit and combine them appropriately in Photoshop for a single, spectacular shot.
Here’s how he describes the simple process: “We’re going to achieve the desired effect by capturing just two images from the exact same position with the camera mounted atop a tripod—one taken at sunset for the sky, and the other for the foreground made during dark hours with light streaming through the buildings’ windows.”
With the necessary images in hand the next step is aligning and blending the shots together in a natural-looking way, and Mohrle walks you through every step in the process. After comparing his before/after images you’ll definitely want to add this simple technique to your Photoshop bag of tricks.
Then head over to the PHLOG Photography YouTube channel and explore a wide variety of Photoshop and Lightroom lessons for improving you skills.
And don’t miss another transformational post-processing tutorial featuring a popular instructor who demonstrates how to get organized, eliminate clutter, and create a personalized workspace with your favorite tools right where you need them for different tasks.
