Project #26 - Creating an Eerie Photograph - Part 2

1. This tutorial continues from the previous one, and will show you how to add atmospheric effects such as fog to make your image look that little more dramatic.
   
   
2. With the image loaded into Photoshop create a new layer by clicking on the Create New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers palette.
   
   
3. Press Q to enter Quick Mask Mode and select the Linear Gradient tool by pressing G. Hit the Enter button to access the Gradient Tool Preferences box. From the drop-down menu select the Foreground to Transparent option.
   
   
4. Position the cursor at the bottom middle of the image. Click and drag a line up to approximately the bottom of the window in the ruins. When you let go of the mouse button, you should be able to see the Gradient Mask, slowly fading out towards the middle of the picture.
   
   
5. Return to Standard Editing mode by pressing the Q key once more.
   
   
6. On the Tool box, click on the foreground colour and change it to a medium-light grey. Click on OK and then repeat the process for the background colour - this time selecting a darker grey.
   
   
7. In the Gradient Tool preferences box, change the Gradient type back to Foreground to Background.
   
   
8. The fog needs to be applied to the bottom of the photograph, so make sure you have the rectangle box of the selection at the bottom of the image. If it isn't press CTRL+SHIFT+I to inverse it.
   
   
9. Apply the gradient fill by placing the cursor at the bottom middle of the image, click and hold the left mouse button and again drag it to about halfway up the image. Remove the selection by pressing CTRL+D.
   
   
10. To give the fog life and add definition, use a combination of the Dodge and Burn tools with a small-medium soft edged brush. Use the same technique described in the previous tutorial.
    
    
11. Finally, soften the fog by using the Gaussian Blur filter [Filters... Blur... Gaussian Blur] (don't apply it too much). For a little extra definition, use the Smudge tool to make the light and dark parts of the fog mingle together.