It’s in layered .psd format, which means you’ll need Photoshop to work on this template.  You’ll also need to understand how to use clipping masks.  If you’re not sure how to use a clipping mask in Photoshop, check out this tutorial HERE for more information.

Download HERE

Don’t forget I have a free Google+ template for you as well, you can find it and download it HERE

Levitation

I had seen this done in the past but never really paid any attention to it…until I saw the super talented Holly McCaig post a few shots she did recently.  I was INSTANTLY hooked and started scouring google to read about how this is done.  I found out it’s actually quite simple.  The hardest part is probably adding the shadow in photoshop.  You don’t HAVE to add a shadow but it really seals the deal for realism if you’re going to do these types of photos.  Be sure to check out Holly’s post on how she did it HERE.

Here’s a few of the photos I did of myself.  For the one in my living room I used the camera on a self timer (I have a remote release but it’s not wireless and the less items I had to mask out of image, the better).  For the images of me outside, I set up the camera and just had my husband click the shutter for me.  It was also great to have him there to tell me if I needed to turn a certain way to be at a better angle for the camera.

Things Around The House

I LOVE my vintage camera collection.  It ranges from vintage cameras I just thought were ‘cute’ to actual cameras I have used in the past.   I grabbed a few and shot some photos outside of them, then added a few ‘vintage’ effects in photoshop with actions.  If you collect something, grab a few of your collected items, head outside and shoot them!  Can’t go outside?  Just shoot them on your porch or inside your house near a window with nice light.

I used the Canon 50D (my 7D was already geared up with the 100-400 on it in case I spot birds in the yard and didn’t want to switch out lenses) and with the 50mm 1.4

Macro

Some people think that the only thing you can shoot with a macro lens is bugs or flowers outside.  Not so!  In the photos below I shot the photos of the flowers indoors with the 7D and 100mm 2.8 macro on a tripod, and they were just flowers that I had on my dining table that my husband had brought home for me one day.  If you REALLY want to get some nice detailed shots with great depth of field you really want to put your camera on a tripod, use live view to focus manually and just shoot everything you can find.  Below the flower images is a pencil and a heart.  How simple is that photo?  Also, you don’t need an expensive macro lens… how about trying a cheap screw on macro filter (check ebay) or even a macro filter for your iphone (check out what photojojo has).  You’d be surprised with a little time and patience what you can pull off without using a $600+ lens!

Using The ipad

I’ve done a post on this before, so you can read all of the details HERE on how I used the ipad as a softbox/backdrop/background for the photos below…

Water Drops

I’ve gone over this before as well, find the post HERE.  The next thing I’d like to try is shooting through glass and water drops of the ipad displaying an image below!

I hope some of these ideas spark your creativity and get you shooting

Canon 7D and Canon 100-400mm f4/5.6 USM IS for the owls.

Canon 7D and Canon 10-22mm for sunset.

Great Horned Owl