How to Create a Surreal House Photo Manipulation with Adobe Photoshop

Step 27

Make a new layer on top of the layers and use a small brush with the color #b49355 to paint on the contour of the top towers. Change this layer mode to Color Dodge 100% and use a layer mask to remove the unwanted light parts.

Step 28

Isolate the tree from the background and take different branches to add around the house. Feel free to take the branches you like and use a layer mask if needed to remove any unnecessary details. 

Step 29

Create a group for the branch layers and make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer within the group. Bring the Saturation values down to -65.

Step 30

Add a Color Balance adjustment layer and alter the Midtones and Highlights settings:

Step 31

Make a Curves adjustment layer to brighten the branches. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush, the opacity about 20-25% to paint on the  details on the hidden sides to remove the light effect on these areas.

Step 32

Use the Dodge and Burn Tool to refine the light and shadow on the branch on the left.

Step 33

Make a new layer above the branch layers (except the one on the right which is hidden in the dark) and set as Clipping Mask. Use a small brush with the color #b49355 to paint the light contour for the branches to fit the light from the background. 

Step 34

Cut out the crow and add him to the branches on the top and flip him horizontally. 

Step 35

Use a Color Balance adjustment layer and change the Midtones settings:

Step 36

Make a Curves adjustment layer to darken the crow’s legs. Paint on his body and head so they won’t be affected by this adjustment layer.

Step 37

Make a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100% and fill with 50% gray. Use the Dodge Tool to paint the highlight on the crow.

Step 38

Create a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #b49355 to paint on the chest of the crow. Change this layer mode to Color Dodge 100%. 

Step 39

Open the leaves image and cut out them from the background. Take different leaves to add to the branches and around the model and the ground.Use Ctrl+T to resize, rotate, distort them so they appear different. 

Step 40

Add other leaves to the edges of the canvas and around the model. Apply the Gaussian Blur filter of 4, 6, 9 and 12 px to these leaves depending on their size, distance and position. This step is to increase the depth of the scene. 

Step 41

Make a group for the leaves and add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to change the leaves’ color.

Step 42

Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the leaves. On this layer mask, paint on the side of the leaves which are exposed in the light. 

Make another Curves adjustment layer to increase the light on the bright sides of the leaves. Paint on the rest so they won’t be or less affected by this adjustment layer. 

Step 43

Create a new layer below the leaves’ group and use a soft brush with the color #0f0d0d to paint shadow for the leaves on and falling to the ground.

Step 44

Make a Gradient Map adjustment layer on top of the layers and pick the colors #e10019 and #00601b. Lower the opacity of this layer to 10%.

Create a Color Fill layer and pick the color #400202 and later this layer mode to Exclusion 100%.