Photoshop Blending: How to Use Brushes for Realistic Composites 💥

You don't need anything complicated to blend images together realistically in Photoshop. In this video I show how a very simple use of a brush, with a few basic settings, can blend images so convincingly that you can create a completely new background and composite your subject into a new scene. It's a straightforward technique, but once you've got the brush set up, it makes a real difference to how believable your composites look.

No Limits Creativity and Visual Storytelling with Kirk Nelson aka The Pixel Pro

This is the recording of a live broadcast where I chatted with photographer and Photoshop artist Kirk Nelson, also known as The Pixel Pro. Kirk's work is all about creativity without limits and visual storytelling, and during our conversation he explained how he creates his fantasy art composites and how he produces the special effects in his images, giving a real insight into the thinking behind his work.

links mentioned in the video:

• Kirk’s Website: the pixelpro.com

50% OFF Courses, Overlays ans Bruashes in Kirk’s Store using code: friendsofglyn

• Kirk’s Store: thepixelpro.com/shop

Kirk’s link for a FREE PASS at the Photoshop Creativity Virtual Summit:
https://bit.ly/pixelpro-creative

• Eric Pare ( Light Painting ): https://www.youtube.com/@Ericpare

• Eric Pare Store: https://lightpainting.store/

AI versus Old-School Photoshop – Which One Wins?

AI has changed a lot about how we work in Photoshop, but it isn't always the best option. In this video I expand the same image in different ways, starting with Generative Expand and then comparing it with tools that have been in Photoshop for years: Content Aware Fill and Content Aware Scale. I show how to get the best results from Content Aware Scale, and then how to take things further for an even better result, which might surprise you when you see how well the older technology holds up.

Warrior Photo Shoot Behind the Scenes

Recently I was back with friends in the studio to take a portrait for what was to be a new image in my ongoing Warrior series …

So in this post I thought I’d share some of the Behind the Scenes including the inspiration, sourcing the clothing and props, lighting and background …

inspiration

The inspiration for this image came purely by fluke when posting on social media and seeing the below motivational digital art poster having been shared …

Whenever I see images online that I like and inspire me I always take a screen shot and save them in a Private “Inspiration” Album in my iPhoto Library for reference later on just incase I plan on a photo shoot.

clothing and props

For clothing, a few days beforehand we headed to Maroigold Costumes in Cardiff who provide clothing to the TV and Film Industry. I’ve used clothing and props from here several times in the past; more recently for the Viking pictures of my friend Simon ‘Foxy’ Fowler and before then when I took portraits of my friend Anthony and Make Up Artist Sarah in 1940’s attire … to mention just a couple.

With our friend Gerwyn set to be the model for this Warrior photo shoot, we all ( Ian, Anthony, Gerwyn and myself ) met up at Marigold, and in a short space of time managed to find eveything that was needed …

As for the props ( the sword ) this was intentionally not sourced as I wanted to combine the Photo Shoot and Retouching with the use of AI ( more about that in a moment ) but with everything sorted it was then studio time …

photo shoot in the studio

Lighting for this was kept clean and simple with one light high up behind Gerwyn to provide light on top of his head and shoulders and an additional light in front and slightly off camera axis to create a little bit of shape to the light ( highlights and shadows ) rather than being square on to him lighting him evenly.

Also on the floor in front of Gerwyn i placed a silver reflector to bounce a little fill light into the shadow areas to reveal a little more detail.

As I was using constant ( LED ) light for this shoot, setting up was really simple because of the WYSIWYG ( What You See Is What You Get ).

To know that the reflector was positoned correctly to bounce light into Gerwyn’s face, he just needed to look at it and if he was seeing a bright spot on the reflector we were good to go.

kit used

• Camera: Sony A7RIV

• Lens: Sony 24-105mm G f/4

• Lighting: 2 x Westcott L60-B LED Constant Lights

• Modifiers: 2 x Westcott Rapid Box Switch Medium Octa

• Reflector: Westcott 2-in-1 Silver / White Reflector

I was also tethering into CaptureOne on my iPad Pro 12.9” which I had set into ‘Calibrated’ mode to give me a more accurate look at the files captured with regards to light levels and colour.

If you don’t know how to calibrate your iPad, check out this short video that I put together …

CAMERA settings

• Focal Length: 70mm

• Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec

• Aperture: f/5.6

• ISO: 3200

The L60-B LED directly behind Gerwyn on the boom arm was at 80% Power ; the L60-B LED directly in front of Gerwyn on the boom arm was at 50% Power.

results

Here’s a look at what was captured during the photo shoot; all very simple with just a few tweaks to the angle of wooden ‘stand-in’ sword and Gerwyn’s positioning …

the background

For the background I was recommended a location called Triscombe Stone near Bridgewater in Somerset, UK so in the week since the shoot I dropped the postcode in my SatNav and headed off …

When photographing the background I set the tripod to the exact same height that it was when I photographed Gerwyn in the studio. This was made very easy to remember because it just meant opening out the 3 legs but not extending them …

I set the same focal length on the lens and focused on the ground at a point that was approximately the same distance from the camera as Gerwyn was during the studio shoot.

The aperture when photographing the backgrounds wasn’t the same as in the studio; I went for f/9 - f/11 so that there was much more depth of field unlike the original f/5.6 … which is what Gerwyn was photographed at in the studio.

building the background

The background in the final image is made from 2 images that I combined together in Photoshop. The final merged background was then made wider using the Content Aware Scale function. Generative Expand and Content Aware Fill were not used because for this image they didn’t produce a desirable result.

Using adobe’s AI to create the sword

I used the Selection Brush Tool in Photoshop to select the stand-in wooden sword with a little bit extra added so that when the sword was generated, by typing a simple “Medievil Sword” prompt into the Contextual Task Bar, it gave extra space for additional elements to be added such as the dome shaped decorative element on the handle …

The final composite image

Anyway I hope that’s useful / interesting to you, but also to let you know … all of the retouching steps creating the composite I’m going through in one of the classes I’m presenting at FREE the upcoming Photoshop Creativty Virtual Summit …

If you Register for a FREE PASS you’ll have access to this class for 48 hours from when it goes LIVE during the Summit Week. Also if you grab a VIP Pass you get to keep ALL of the content from all of the instructors PLUS I’ll be creating an additional video taking you through all of the Behind the Scenes showing the studio set up, lighting etc when capturing the photographs of Gerwyn.

With friends ( L to R ) … Ian Munro, Gerwyn Williams, Yours Truly and Anthony Crothers

Of course I couldn’t resist doing a print …

This one from my Canon Pro 300 using Black & White Mode onto Portrait White 285 Fine Art Paper from Permajet …

As always if you do have any questions, please make use of the comments section below and I’ll reply to you there.

Thanks for looking in,
Glyn

I received an Award from Save a Life Cymru and NHS Wales

“This certificate is awarded for the instrumental action taken to save the life of another, who required urgent assistance after suffering a cardiac arrest”

The ‘journey’ started in South Wales on Wednesday 9th October 2024 at 5pm in the Car Park of the Three Cliffs Café overlooking a stunning coastline and what was to be one final coffee before the drive home after a great couple of days photography ; the ‘journey’ ended yesterday, Friday 21st February 2025 at the Wales Air Ambulance Base in Llanelli.

Honoured to receive this Award from NHS Wales and Save a Life Cymru but even more so, Incredibly Grateful and Relieved that it was presented to me by my dear friend Anthony

In a world where it can seem there is so much negativity, it is incredibly moving to see so many people whom you’ve never met before, people who don’t know you, pull together and show genuine love, concern and commitment to do whatever they can to help … and at the most serious and critical of times.

When so many would turn the other way and, for whatever reason, choose not to get involved, it is truly a wonderful act of humanity that there are those ordinary people who will do the extraordinary and step forward

By its very nature, the unexpected will happen when you least expect it. It might involve a stranger but it might involve a friend, a loved one and it could be YOU that fate calls on to step forward in some way.

No matter how scary, no matter how uncomfortable, no matter how much that little voice inside your head is telling you to not get involved … TAKE THAT STEP.

On October 9th last year … humanity well and truly stepped forward and I will be eternally grateful to one person in particular who despite his fears stepped beside me to help and was there for the duration doing what I was telling him and needed him to do.

There were others too that went above and beyond when they didn’t have to, but chose to, and to meet them again yesterday was wonderful and a day I WILL NEVER FORGET.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL … I’ve witnessed it. I’ve experienced it !!!

Anthony’s wife Elaine has also set up a JustGiving Page to help raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance Charitable Trust where she explains a little more of what happened; you can check that out using this LINK

Latest Gear, News and Events with The Photography Insider - Mark Baber

This is the recording of a live broadcast where I chatted with Mark Baber, The Photography Insider and Events Manager at London Camera Exchange, about the latest gear, news and events from within the photography industry. Alongside the gear and news, we talked through the kind of events London Camera Exchange runs, from experience days and hands-on sessions to workshops, and looked ahead to The South West Photography Show and The Photography Show 2025.

links mentioned during the LIVE Episode…

• London Camera Exchange: ( LINK )

• LCE Events, Experience Days, Hands-On, Workshops etc … ( LINK )

• The South West Photography Show - Saturday 24th May 2025: ( LINK )

• The Photography Show 2025: ( LINK )

😲 Most People MISS This! Perfect Compositing & Lighting in Photoshop

Most people think of Generative Fill in Photoshop as a way of adding objects, but it's also smart enough to match the lighting and shadows already in your photo. In this video I show how it blends new elements, such as hair, into an image while keeping the light, shadows and perspective looking realistic. I then put it to work on a Viking composite, including a different way of approaching the hair selection, so you can see how it all comes together on a more involved image.

The KEY to SUCCESSFUL PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY with James Hole

UK-based commercial and advertising portrait photographer James Hole joined me for this live broadcast, and this is the recording. James explained how he works with a team of professionals, how he plans a shoot, and how he manages and communicates with the people in front of his camera. His aim is that being photographed is an enjoyable experience, with the talent feeling relaxed and informed, because that's what leads to the very best results.

links mentioned in the video:

• James Hole Website: ( LINK )

• James Hole on Instagram: @holephoto

• Viewfinder Preview iPhone App: ( LINK )

ShiftCam ProGrip: The Best iPhone Photography & Video Grip?

Is the ShiftCam ProGrip the ultimate accessory for iPhone photography and videography? In this video I give you hands-on honest look both positive and negative of this iPhone Traditional Camera Style Grip; its ergonomic design, wireless charging, and enhanced grip to see if it truly transforms your iPhone into a pro camera setup. Whether you're a content creator, mobile filmmaker, or just love taking photos, this grip might be a game-changer!

🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Video:
✔️ Hands-on review of the ShiftCam ProGrip
✔️ Key features & benefits for iPhone photography & videography
✔️ How it enhances stability, ergonomics, and battery life
✔️ Is it worth the price?

📌 Check out the ShiftCam ProGrip and other Mobile Accessories I use here: ( LINK )

The ShiftCam ProGrip is a traditional camera-style grip for the iPhone, and in this video I give it a hands-on, honest look, covering both the positives and the negatives. I go through its ergonomic design, the wireless charging and the extra grip it gives you, along with how it helps with stability and battery life for both photography and video. The big question is whether it really turns your iPhone into a proper camera setup, and whether it's worth the price.

Improved SUBJECT and SKY SELECTIONS with the INTERSECT MASKING TOOL in Lightroom and Camera Raw

The Intersect command is a powerful masking tool in Lightroom and Camera Raw, and in this video I show how to understand it properly and use it for much better subject and sky selections. I work through a full edit of a car photograph, starting with cropping, the Remove Tool and a couple of presets, including an Adaptive Sky preset, before using the Colour Mixer. From there I improve the subject and sky selections, use Intersect to adjust brightness, make the alloy wheels stand out, and finish with global colour adjustments and refining the sky mask.