Adding Age to a Photoshoot – Sepia Tone

To create that “old” or “vintage” look in photography I use the sepia tone. It immediately brings to mind an aged photograph. I like to use it with subject matter that would have or could have been seen in early photography. I thought that these covered bridges in Oregon were a perfect fit for that look. To age the prints even more, I used a rough texture adding that element of an old photo.

All three of these bridges are located in Southern Oregon just off Interstate 5 as it winds its way north from California heading into the  Williamette Valley.

“Oregon Covered Bridge”

 

“Oregon Bridge”

 

“Covered Bridge”

Thoughts?

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Subtle Softening Photographs of Covered Bridges

This week, in keeping with the theme from last week (a behind the scenes peek of how I digitally create these art prints), I wanted to share a technique I used with these three examples of covered bridges in Oregon. As I stated last week, I have been using Adobe Photoshop forever. I love the variety of features and flexibility it gives me not only with my photography, but also in creating digitally painted art.

The three prints I have attached came from a photo shoot I did a number of years ago in Oregon. All three look like three photographs of covered bridges and in reality they are. If you look closer, you will see that the edges and detail are softened slightly…ever so slightly to just give the prints a subtle softness. It’s a minor change I created by using one of Adobe’s filters. I started with the photographs in Adobe and eliminated any background “noise” such as electrical wires. In these shots that was about the only doctoring I did to the actual photograph. The next step was to soften them slightly, so I used their watercolor filter. In that filter you can control numerous elements such as pixel size of softness..type of softness and intensity. With numerous trial and error attempts, I settled on a level I liked. A subtle watercolor effect that you see more easily in the trees, but it also soften the edges of the bridges…again very subtle, but an overall softening.

“Covered Bridge Entrance”

“The Short Covered Bridge”

“The Red Roof Covered Bridge”

Thoughts?

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Covered Bridges in Black and White – Featured Art Prints

I have attached four prints of covered bridges in the state of Oregon, from my Black and White Photography One Gallery. These particular bridges are located in the west quadrant of Oregon north of Grants Pass up to Cottage Grove south of Eugene. They were a quick detour off of Interstate 5 (which winds its way up and down the entire US West Coast from Canada to Mexico) done on a rainy day in early spring.

 

Grave Creek Bridge

The first shot is of the Grave Creek Covered Bridge, which was built in 1920. This bridge is located 14 miles north of Grants Pass, Oregon right off of Interstate 5.

 

Short Covered Bridge

The next shot is the Neal Lane Covered Bridge, which spans Myrtle Creek and is located north of Grants Pass also. The bridge was originally built in 1929. This bridge I lovingly call the “Short Covered Bridge” as the span of the bridge is only 42 feet.

 

Stewart Bridge

 

The third capture is the Stewart Bridge, which spans Mosby Creek and is located east of Cottage Grove (Cottage Grove is along Interstate 5 between Grants Pass and Eugene). The bridge was originally built in 1930.

 

Dorena Covered Bridge

The last print is of the Dorena Covered Bridge that spans the Row River. It was built in 1949. It is located further east of Cottage Grove than the Stewart Bridge at the upper end of Dorena Reservoir.

I think this presentation in black and white captured the mood of a cool rainy day and the age of the bridges. Thoughts?

I invite you to visit my Black and White Photography One Gallery to enjoy these prints and many more.

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Sepia Prints

These prints have just been added to my Sepia Gallery on my Main Art Gallery Website. As a follow up to my earlier blog Covered Bridges Oregon Style, these prints are the ones that I selected to do in sepia tones (I am still working on watercolor and oils from that shoot).  I like the look it creates on certain subjects. Since by definition it creates that old rustic look, it applies better to those types of subject matters. Check out the gallery and let me know what you think.