Behind the Shot: Asclepias Botanical Print
In this Behind the Shot post, I'll illustrate some of the steps used to create the final image using a photograph and textures layers in Photoshop. Using layers to add the appearance of texture to an image can help evoke emotions or feelings or set a mood. I use them to communicate my artistic vision. I've included images with descriptions from some of the steps I took to create the final image. The process included using 8 layers and two different blending modes.
Many of you may know I like to help the pollinators and try to make sure I have a variety of flowering plants in my yard. This plant is now in several of my flowerbeds and comes back a couple of times each year. Just FYI, the tropical milkweed is frowned upon by some naturalists but it is one that I can get to grow and recent research discounts any negative effects that a non-native plant might have on the annual migration of the Monarch.
The final image tells a story of a once vibrant plant with bright flowers that provided food for migrating Monarch butterflies as well as a place to lay their eggs. This was a plant which gave shelter to the growing caterpillars until they were ready to move on to the next life stage. This sad and withered plant has served its purpose for the Monarch.
