January 2021

richtaylorphotography.com | FB: richtaylorphotography | IG: 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 To achieve this look is simple. I used one LED light, a book, a model that can be very expressive, and moderate post-editing skills. I selected an oversize book and taped an LED light to the center (I used painter’s tape to avoid damaging the pages). The LED will emit intense light, so when the model held the book up, I had to be aware of ‘hot spots’ and ‘blowouts’ on her face. I took a shot, reviewed my work, and adjusted the light until balanced. I was able to create a silhouette with the book’s front/ back in the shadows. At the last minute, I decided to turn on the Christmas tree lights to add bokeh in the background. When everything looked right, all that was left was the model expressing wonder and amazement while I took a few shots. Once I was happy with the final photo, it was time for editing. Post-editing this type of photograph takes time and patience. I first brought the image into Adobe Lightroom and adjusted the White Balance, Tone, Presence, HSL, and Lens Correction to my specifications. Once satisfied with the basic look, I exported the image into Adobe Photoshop for advanced editing. I first added a Levels Adjustment Layer and adjusted it to my preferences. I then added a Vibrance Adjustment Layer and did the same. Then, I added a Selective Color Adjustment Layer and, again, adjusted to my preferences. Lastly, I added a Photo Filter Adjustment Layer and added a warm filter. Once I was satisfied, I flattened the layers. I then added dodge and burn to create an intense contrast between the highlights and shadows. I paid close attention to the glow coming from the book ( dodge ) and the shadows around her ( burn ). To add sparkles and dust drifting out of the book, I used a few brushes in a set I purchased called “Fairy Land Brushes” ( https://envato.com/elements/lp/photoshop-brushes) . After creating a new layer and selecting the correct color, I carefully brushed in the sparkles and dust, utilizing different brushes, sizes, and opacities. I included this effect on her eyes for some dramatic catch light. Once satisfied, I flattened the image and boom! Magic! If you don’t have sparkle or dust brushes, you can use a soft round brush to add bokeh. Create a new layer and add different sized circles at various opacities. For some cool effects, overlap some of the circles. For a step by step tutorial of this creation, please visi t 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