Flower Impressions -- Montage II

In a previous post I explained how to create a montage effect using a sharply focused picture and a copy blurred in Photoshop. Here's another way to create the effect.

Photo montage from two separate frames

Start with a sharp photograph of your subject. Then take a second shot of the exact same scene but completely defocus the lens, blurring the subject. It helps to use a wide open aperture for this shot, too. Here are the two original shots:

Sharp focus image
1/250 second, f/4, ISO 100, 200mm

Blurred focus image
1/250 second, f/4, ISO 100, 200mm

Then open both images in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. Place the sharp photo over the blurred one. Change the layer blending mode from Normal to Soft Light and lower the layer opacity to create the look you want.

If you'd like to learn more fun ways to create flower impressions, join my class at the Lifelong Learning Center in Missoula, Montana, beginning April 4, 2019. Click here to register.