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Preview of the Final Result

Tutorial Resources
Step 1
Create a new 2000x1500 px document and fill it with white. Open the forest image and drag it into the white canvas using the Move Tool (V). Convert this layer to a Smart Object.
Step 2
Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the radius to 4 px. Press Ctrl+J to duplicate this layer and flip it vertically (Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical) . Use the Move Tool to drag it down a bit.

Step 3
Click the second icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a mask to this layer. Select a soft round brush with black color and use it to erase the ground. Now the background looks like a lake.
Step 4
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map and pick the colors #01102b and #166491.
Step 5
Make a Curves adjustment layer and decrease the lightness. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the middle as we aim to add some light there.
Step 6
Add another Curves adjustment layer and increase the lightness for the area near the middle. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the rest to keep the shadow and contrast of this area.
Step 7
Make a new layer on top of the layers and use a small brush with the color #04070e to paint more details behind the trees. Apply a Gaussian Blur of 5 px to this layer to make these details soft and blur to fit the background.

Step 8
Create a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #cadef9 to paint on the area near the middle of the background. Change this layer mode to Overlay 70% and add a mask to this layer. Use a soft black brush to reduce the light effect on this part , making it more subtle.

Step 9
Open the rock image and cut it out to add to the middle of the lake and convert this layer to a Smart Object. Duplicate this layer and flip it vertically and then move it down a bit to make the reflection of the rock. Lower the opacity of this layer to 90%.

Step 10
Add a mask to each of the rock and its reflection layers and on the rock one, use a medium-hard black brush to erase half of the bottom to hide it below the lake's surface.. On the reflection one, use a medium-hard black brush to erase the bottom which covers the rock and use a soft black brush with the opacity about 20% to reduce the visibility of the top.

Step 11
Apply a Gaussian Blur of 2 px to the reflection layer to make it soft and blur.
2 comments on “How to Create a Fantasy Lake Scene with Adobe Photoshop”
Please rock image add.
Sorry about that, the rock image has been added. https://pixabay.com/photos/stone-forest-nature-landscape-3962/