Bubble Apple!

This is a tutorial for creating a bubble apple using Photoshop. The idea was borrowed from this tutorial:
http://www.worth1000.com/tutorials/162092/how-i-created-bubble-berry


This is the start photo I began with:

and the final image is:

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Below I will explain step by step how I reached this final image:

1. I copied this bubble and placed it on top of the apple and resized it to cover the whole apple. The opacity of the bubble layer was lowered so the edges of the apple are visible. 

2. The edges of the bubble were fitted to match the apple. This was done using the Liquefy tool.

3. The color of the bubble layer was then changed to black and white, then the layer was duplicated and the duplicate is set to overlay at 60% opacity. The result looks like this.

4. The apple was then erased from the background layer without erasing the leaf, then a white brush with different opacities was used at several places to make it more realistic and shiny!

5. The bubble effect was added using a source bubble picture and was fitted to the edges of the apple using the Liquefy tool (similar to step 2). The layer was then set to overlay at 60% opacity and set above all layers. 

6. Final retouching steps were performed to smooth the edges and the bubbly apple was placed in a cup

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Things I used differently from the original tutorial:

I used the brush tool instead of the eraser tool. I thought it would fit more with the image. 

Different levels of opacity were used for each layer to give the best results.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial :)

Connotations and Denotations

I found this website for the artist Michael Muller that is really amazing and has some wonderful images. 

These two images below caught my eyes and really made me think of the differences between connotations and denotations a single picture can send to our minds!

Denotations: 

As I look at the first image, I see a guy jogging in a roadway and his traced footsteps are on fire. He’s jogging in a deserted area with no sign of life around him. He seems to be just normally enjoying his run.

The other image shows the legs of an athlete who is wearing his running shoes and has scars all over his left knee. The background is dark and the image is in high contrast. The brand of the shoes is shown “Skydex” and there is a short paragraph written that talks about the fears people have about running and why it feels hard

Connotations:

Both images are advertisement for the running shoes company. As I look at the first image, I get the feeling that these shoes make you run much easier. It can be seen in the guy’s face as he is jogging so calmly but he seems to be going really fast by his fiery footstep. The running shoes are red as well and are good looking.

The other image also gives me the feeling that the running shoes would make me run faster. It’s shown that this person has hurt himself because of the speed he was running at. This is also complimented by the short paragraph. “In fact, if you’re running easy, odds are you’re not running at all.” Part of the paragraph says which motivates people to run harder by purchasing these shoes. 

Michael Muller's website is http://www.mullerphoto.com