• Brush size: 700px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 18%
• Flow: 100%
• #: ffffff

Then, paint:

The result of that should be similar to this:

Create another layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and name it "Light 3".

Activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following:

• Brush size: 700px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 8%
• Flow: 100%
• #: ffffff

The result:

Next, we will darken some parts of the photo to make it look more dramatic. Create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and name it "Darken 1".

Activate the Brush tool (B) and then input the following:

• Brush size: 900px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 25%
• Flow: 100%
• #: 000000

Let's paint here:

The result should be similar to this:

Create a new layer once again (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and name it "Darken 2".

Activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following:

• Brush size: 900px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 25%
• Flow: 100%
• #: 000000

The result of that should be similar to this:

Now let's enhance the exposure of the image. To do that, first click on the "Create New Fill/Adjustment layer" button.

Once up, click on "Exposure".

When the Exposure box opens, input the following:

• Exposure: 0.44
• Offset: -0.0098
• Gamma Correction: 1.10

The result of that should be similar to this:

Step 4: Create the Warriors

Now, we will be creating the warriors who are battling for their life in this dark forest. To start, open the stock image: "Knights" by jmjvicente. Once open, activate the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) and create a selection area around these warriors.

Once you've made the selection area, activate the Move tool (V) and drag those warriors to our canvas.

Position them as shown below:

Next, rename this layer to "Warriors".

After that, we would need to blend this layer's color to the background. We would need to make give them a bluish color - to do that, go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance.

Once it opens, input the following:

• Color Levels: -56, 0, 0
• Tone Balance: Midtones
• Preserve Luminosity: Checked

Next, open the Color Balance box once again and input the following:

• Color Levels: 0, 0, 24
• Tone Balance: Shadows
• Preserve Luminosity: Checked

The result of both those changes:

Next, let's enhance the Brightness/Contrast of the warriors. Make sure that the "Warriors" layer is selected and then go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and then input the following once there:

• Brightness: -44
• Contrast: -50

The result:

That still isn't good, so let's lower the Brightness/Contrast levels a little further. Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and then input the following once there:

• Brightness: -33
• Contrast: -17

The result: