I recently posted a tutorial on the creation of one of my Tarot card images – The Magician. This is an elaborate composition of multiple photo images with graphic elements, filter effects, and painting effects, very clearly a photo-illustration! I want to broaden the definition of photo-illustration a bit here, to give you a better idea of the kinds of things I teach in my workshops about the subject. For me, photo-illustration is any photo-image which has been enhanced beyond what the camera captured, and beyond what the photographer remembered about the scene, to create something new, rather than represent something in the real world.
I explore some simple photo-illustration projects in my Photoshop Layers Fundamentals class at the Bryan Peterson School of Photography online—click the link above for details about the class.
The term photo-illustration has a slightly more specific meaning in the world of commercial photography—here it means any photo that is designed to tell a story or illustrate a concept—much advertising photography would come under that category. Broadly speaking, photo-illustration can be of any subject, though quite often in advertising, it is product oriented as in this image I created for an ice-cream product:
This course has over 9 hours of video, step-by-step instruction with 15 projects, all the work files, and extra materials downloadable for the outrageously low price of $99 — but you can purchase this course now for only $49 from this link or the link above
Each lesson in the course is designed to teach you fundamental techniques for masking, image adjustments, retouching, compositing, and special effects in a real world context, with the emphasis on practical, meaningful application. This is not just “tricks and tips” or technique for technique’s sake!
You can see additional examples of my photo-illustration work in my web gallery here:
http://leevaris.500px.com/photo_digital_illustration/
Up Coming Events
Bobbi Lane and Lee Varis, Fuji-X Photographers, are hosting the Venice Carnival Photo Tour for a seven day event that includes photographing the amazing costumes and an exploration of this gorgeous city.It’s an extraordinary event, and we will help you capture the fun and revelry along with the rich architecture and the splendid light.
This is Bobbi’s 13th and Lee’s 10th time photographing Venice Carnival and we have made many friendships with the top models with their elaborate costumes. We arrange private shoots with the costumers, including the opportunity to photograph them in a gondola. Lighting is of great importance, and we provide extensive instruction in both natural lighting, and working with flash. This is essential for the dawn shoots of costumers at St. Mark’s Square, combining flash with the background to create stunning and magical effects.
Join us on a magical photo adventure, designed especially for beginners featuring Agra, Jaipur, Pushkar Fair, Ranthambhore, and Udaipur. Begin your visual odyssey at the majestic Taj Mahal in Agra, capturing its timeless beauty and intricate details bathed in the soft hues of sunrise. Experience the wild beauty of Ranthambhore, with its majestic tigers and diverse wildlife providing unparalleled photo opportunities. In the Pink City of Jaipur, explore the opulent palaces and bustling markets, where the vibrant colors and architecture beg to be photographed. Move on to the Pushkar Fair, a kaleidoscope of Rajasthani culture, where camels, traders, and traditions blend seamlessly, offering an array of captivating shots. Conclude your journey in Udaipur, the ‘Venice of the East’. with beautiful palaces around Lake Pichola. Throughout your adventure, rest assured that your comfort and safety are our top priorities, with accommodations in the best hotels and dining in top-rated restaurants, ensuring a worry-free and enriching experience for every guest.
Enroll in my Photo-Illustration in Photoshop Course
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Enroll in My Portrait Retouching Course
Enroll in My Hair Masking Course
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