First of all capturing an image like this one with the same kind of lighting is virtually impossible in a single photo. It requires multiple images that are blended together into a single new image. Please read the post "Shaping Light to Fit Your Subject" to see how all the blending was accomplished on the original F4 image. So let's take a quick look at how The Aviator was made.
There are four images used to create this shot; three actual photos plus a supplemental blank image used in Photoshop Elements to clean up some background clutter. The first image was to build a bubble of red light reflecting underneath the airplane. Four speedlights were used, two clamped to each wing with the two inside lights using a red gel...that's where the red light comes from. The two outside lights were bare lights.
The second photo used a single light attached to a C-Stand extended upwards and angled to point toward the canopy. The four wing lights remained attached. This is where this image deviates from the original F4 image which used two lights for the canopy shot and no wing lights. Two lights would have been better.
Notice how the red lighting across the tarmac is washed out. This is why you must use multiple shots because the different angles of lights begin to work against each other and cancels out much of the dramatic effect of the light. Also note the camera is on a tripod and once the composition is made the camera is not touched or moved through the various shots. This is to ensure they all align properly when the blending process is applied.
The third photo retained the wing lights and a single light on the C-stand, but the light had a Snoot attached and was adjusted to illuminate our lovely model Sophie. The Jump Suit she is wearing is an actual NASA jump suit worn by an actual astronaut. I thought it was a perfect addition for the theme of the shoot.
Notice how the exposure was adjusted slightly for our model which darkened the red bubble of light. This is okay because for the second and third images, the only lighting that mattered was the canopy and the model. However, that remnant red bubble serves to help in the blended process.
The first step was to blend the first and second images to combine the canopy shot with the red bubble shot. A simple Select All and Copy was used on the canopy shot. This was then pasted on top of the Red Bubble image creating a top layer. Using the Erase tool, the bottom half of the top layer was removed to reveal the Red Bubble exposure underneath.
To clean up the background a blank black image was used as a new base image with the F4 photo pasted on top. Background clutter is simply erased out revealing the black underneath. A few slight tweaks of brightness and contrast and saturation and then this image was saved as a blended shot. This shot then became the base background image for the next process.
The third Model shot was then Selected and Copied and pasted on top of this blended image. Again using the eraser tool, the entire background of the shot was removed to reveal the bottom layer taking great care around the model. The brush size needed to be adjusted to a small size to allow for some detail erasing around our model. Both a sharp edge point and a soft edge was used to blend the area around our model so it appeared natural. The most difficult part was to include and blend her shadow into the red bubble light. A few more simple Photoshop tweaks and we have the finished image.
Thanks to our model the lovely Sophie and her mom for helping out on this shoot...They were real troopers on a warm and muggy evening...it was a lot of fun and I continue to learn more about using this multiple image technique to create interesting and unique themed photos. An extra thanks to the park ranger who allowed us another 30 minutes to finish our shoot.
There are four images used to create this shot; three actual photos plus a supplemental blank image used in Photoshop Elements to clean up some background clutter. The first image was to build a bubble of red light reflecting underneath the airplane. Four speedlights were used, two clamped to each wing with the two inside lights using a red gel...that's where the red light comes from. The two outside lights were bare lights.
The second photo used a single light attached to a C-Stand extended upwards and angled to point toward the canopy. The four wing lights remained attached. This is where this image deviates from the original F4 image which used two lights for the canopy shot and no wing lights. Two lights would have been better.
Notice how the red lighting across the tarmac is washed out. This is why you must use multiple shots because the different angles of lights begin to work against each other and cancels out much of the dramatic effect of the light. Also note the camera is on a tripod and once the composition is made the camera is not touched or moved through the various shots. This is to ensure they all align properly when the blending process is applied.
The third photo retained the wing lights and a single light on the C-stand, but the light had a Snoot attached and was adjusted to illuminate our lovely model Sophie. The Jump Suit she is wearing is an actual NASA jump suit worn by an actual astronaut. I thought it was a perfect addition for the theme of the shoot.
Notice how the exposure was adjusted slightly for our model which darkened the red bubble of light. This is okay because for the second and third images, the only lighting that mattered was the canopy and the model. However, that remnant red bubble serves to help in the blended process.
The first step was to blend the first and second images to combine the canopy shot with the red bubble shot. A simple Select All and Copy was used on the canopy shot. This was then pasted on top of the Red Bubble image creating a top layer. Using the Erase tool, the bottom half of the top layer was removed to reveal the Red Bubble exposure underneath.
To clean up the background a blank black image was used as a new base image with the F4 photo pasted on top. Background clutter is simply erased out revealing the black underneath. A few slight tweaks of brightness and contrast and saturation and then this image was saved as a blended shot. This shot then became the base background image for the next process.
The third Model shot was then Selected and Copied and pasted on top of this blended image. Again using the eraser tool, the entire background of the shot was removed to reveal the bottom layer taking great care around the model. The brush size needed to be adjusted to a small size to allow for some detail erasing around our model. Both a sharp edge point and a soft edge was used to blend the area around our model so it appeared natural. The most difficult part was to include and blend her shadow into the red bubble light. A few more simple Photoshop tweaks and we have the finished image.
Thanks to our model the lovely Sophie and her mom for helping out on this shoot...They were real troopers on a warm and muggy evening...it was a lot of fun and I continue to learn more about using this multiple image technique to create interesting and unique themed photos. An extra thanks to the park ranger who allowed us another 30 minutes to finish our shoot.
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