When beginning my project, I decided to go with a space theme because adding different objects would enhance my knowledge of various photoshop tools. In the first picture, I first went with this background because the image's stars added the perfect light source for my final image. To get the right color, I adjusted my editing with contrast, saturation, and more (you can see exactly what I used in the layers library. In the second picture, I decided to go with an image of a mountain to add something that would pop along with something that you would not traditionally see in outer space to catch the viewer's eye.
In the third picture, I used all different kinds of filters and adjustments to get the mountains just right and make sure that there was an exact light source. To get the mountains to the perfect contrast, I used curves, levels, and contrast to darken the photo to make the light source pop. The light source of the image is where the stars are most illustrious in the sky and cast/ shine a bright spot on the mountain range. In the fourth photo, I added a ledge where the viewer would be eye level with the mountains to perceive a more realistic look out into the distance.
My next step in my process was adding the people. To add the people, I created a layer mask so that it would be easier to adjust the contrast and to cast a light shadow behind them for more of a realistic look. To get the people the right to color to match the whole project, I had to mess around with curves and other adjustments to make sure they were the right shade. In the next photo, I added the moon. I wanted to add an image that would make my piece pop, so to master that idea, I created a layer mask and add an outer glow to the picture. The outer glow was a great decision because it alluded that the moon was almost rising. After I added the glow, I adjust the moon's color by increasing the contrast and decreasing the brightness.
In these two pictures, I decided to add the hands to create a more fantasy collage. I wanted to incorporate different things in my collage, and I thought that adding the hands would enhance my knowledge of photoshop. To get the hands to look as realistic as possible, I created layer masks and added different effects to match the rest of my piece. I wanted the hand to go off the page to make it look like more to my work. I added an outer glow to the mountains to make it seem like the mountain range was rising and reflecting the moons glow. Another addition that I add to my space collage was the second pair of hands. I placed the hands right there to make it seem as though they were rising out of the mountains. I adjusted the saturation and curves to get the perfect color shades to match the rest of my piece. I used soft edge brushes to blend the top part of the mountain range with the hand and moon to make my collage neater.
For the last part, I added another plant and created a layer mask to cast the outer glow effect. I used different smooth brushes to go around the edges to make the hand look like it was holding the planet more realistic. I decided to darken the people and the ledge to match the color to the mountains and added a light shadow on the ledge so that the viewer would get the perception that they are high up staring out at the view of space. What prompted me to darken the people was that I wanted the planets and hands to be the main focus of my piece. When playing around with the different Photoshop tools, I realized that the lighter the people and ledge were, it took away from my collage's main idea. I decided not to add anything else to my collage because the more layers and images I added, it would take away from my collage's central themes and concept, which is the illusion of outer space that humans envision.
