December 2024

richtaylorphotography.com | FB: richtaylorphotography | I G: richtaylorphoto u s i n g A n L E D s L i m L i g h t t o c r E A t E A m A g i c A L s t o r y Creating this look is simpler than it might seem. All I needed was a single LED light, a large book, an expressive model, and some moderate post-editing skills. I started by selecting an oversized book and taped an LED light to its center using painter’s tape (which was gentle enough not to damage the pages). The LED light emitted a strong beam, so when the model held the book up, I had to be mindful of any ‘hot spots’ or overexposed areas on her face. After taking a shot, I reviewed it and adjusted the positioning of the light to get the perfect balance. My goal was to create a silhouette effect with the front and back of the book in shadow. At the last minute, I decided to switch on the Christmas tree lights in the background for some bokeh. Once everything was in place, I just needed the model to express wonder and amazement, and I captured a few shots. When I was happy with the final image, I moved on to the editing stage. Post-editing this kind of photo requires both time and patience. In Photoshop, I began by adding a Levels Adjustment Layer and fine-tuned it to my preference. Then, I added a Vibrance Adjustment Layer to boost the colors, followed by a Selective Color Adjustment Layer for more precise control. To finish, I added a Photo Filter Adjustment Layer with a warm filter to give the image a glowing feel. Once the colors were right, I flattened the layers. Next, I added dodge and burn to intensify the contrast between the highlights and shadows. I paid special attention to enhancing the glow from the book (dodging) and darkening the areas around the model (burning). To create the illusion of sparkles and dust drifting out of the book, I used brushes from a set I purchased called “Fairy Land Brushes.” On a new layer, I chose my color and carefully brushed in the sparkles and dust, adjusting the brush sizes, opacity, and spacing for a realistic effect. I also added a little sparkle in her eyes for dramatic catchlights. Once I was happy with the result, I flattened the image, and voilà—magic! If you don’t have access to specific sparkle brushes, you can achieve a similar effect by using a soft round brush. Just create a new layer, draw different-sized circles at varying opacities, and overlap some for an added touch of depth. So see more, please visit www.richtaylorphotography.com Camera : Nikon D750 | Lens : Sigma 85MM 1.4 | Light : Promaster LED-320SS Plus Super Slim | C amera settings : 1/125 sec at f / 2.0, ISO 100 25