In the previous post I applied the use of silhouette and limited use of colour frequently used in oriental art to simplify the photograph, highlighting the basic structure and flow.
In this example I use tonal variations to express depth. In Chinese Landscapes the artist will ensure that closer elements are darker than those in the distance. As well they will exaggerate the darkness of the edges of peaks of mountains and brighten the valleys to highlight the boundaries and provide a sense of layering.
In this shot I’ve burnt (darkened) the edges of the peaks while dodging (lightening) the valleys. This has had the effect of enhancing the boundaries between foreground and background mountain thus exaggerating the layering effect providing a stronger sense of depth. The sense of depth is further conveyed by diminishing the level of detail. I chose to use a yellowish hue to provide a sense of the traditional use of silk as the surface for painting and to provide some warmth to the shot which in my mind made it feel softer.
In creating this picture I used:
- Lightroom: to establish the exposure; use of paint brush to dodge and burn valleys and mountain edges respectively
- Adobe Photoshop Elements: to add my seal
- Nik Silver Efex: to convert to black and white and add the slight sepia hue
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