Learn how to create this surreal photo manipulation of a violin player in a grassy field. This tutorial will show you how to combine images together to create your own landscape and apply lighting effects.

Preview of Final Results

Violin Player in a Grassy Landscape Photoshop Tutorial

Tutorial Resources

• the calm field - night-fate-stock
• Window - Skittles52Stock
• Dark Tunes 20 - Lynnwest-Stock
• Sunny Field - frozenstocks
• ballons - charlie-stock
• Fish Stock 1 - Shoofly-Stock
• Stormy sea - darkrose42-stock
• Bokeh Texture Pack 002 - regularjane
• Water Brushes Sampler - FrozenStarRo

Step 1: Create a New Image File

Create a new 3500x3500 pixels document (File > New).

Step 2: Create the Background

First off, let's open the calm field in Photoshop. We will be using sky from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the calm field and press M to rectangular marquee tool and make a selection around the sky. Now activate move tool (v) Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to "sky".

The result should be similar to this:

Step 3

Activate transform tool (Ctrl+T or Edit > Free Transform) then scale the mage as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 4

Open the Sunny Field image in Photoshop. We'll be using the grass field from this image.

Use the Rectangular or Ellipse marquee too to create a selection like shown in the image below. Copy and paste the selected area into our main document. Rename the new layer to "Ground".

The result should be similar to this:

Step 5

Use the Transform tool (Ctrl+T or Edit > Free Transform) to scale the image like shown below.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 6

Select the Eraser tool the input the following settings:

• Brush size: 400px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%

Erase the area shown in the image below.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 7

Now create new Color/Balance adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette.

Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer's (sky layer and Color/Balance) to make a mask.

When the Color Balance box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 8

Go back to "Ground" layer

Now create new Color Balance adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer's (ground layer and Color Balance) to make a mask.

When the Color Balance box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 9

Now create new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette. Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer's (Ground layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.

When the Brightness/Contrast box opens, input the following:

Now activate Erase tool (E) with these settings Now let's erase :

• Brush size: 400px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%

Now let's erase :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 10

Now create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer's (ground layer and Curves) to make a mask.

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 11

Now activate Erase tool (E) with these settings Now let's erase :

• Brush size: 400px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%

Pick Black (#fbf7ca) as color for forground color.

Activate brush tool then right click on the canvas while the Brush tool (B) is active and then pick this brush:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 12: Fix the girl on Background

First off, let's open Dark Tunes 20 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the girl from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Dark Tunes 20 and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the girl and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to "girl".

The result should be similar to this:

Step 13

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the "Girl" layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 14

Activate the brush tool (B) then right click on the canvas while the Brush tool (B) is active and then pick this brush:

Now activate Erase tool (E) with these settings Now let's erase :

• Brush size: 400px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%

Now let's erase :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 15

Add a vactor mask to the "girl" layer. Now activate Brush tool (B) with these settings Now let's erase:

• Brush size: 400px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%

Now let's erase :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 16

Reduce the opacity of the girl layer to 92% .

The result should be similar to this:

Step 17

Now activate the Blur tool (R) .

Fill these settings :

Now we are going to use blur tool on the hard edges to make them smooth.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 18

Now let's make girl's shadow.Activate a new layer and name it "girls shadow". Activate the brush tool (B) then right click on the canvas while the Brush tool (B) is active and then pick this brush:

• Brush size: 400px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%

Now let's paint :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 19

Now create new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer's (Girl layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.

When the Brightness/Contrast box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 20

Now create new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer's (Girl layer and Hue/Saturation) to make a mask.

When the Hue/Saturation box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 21

Activate a layer and name it "Shadow on body". Activate the brush tool (B) then right click on the canvas while the Brush tool (B) is active and then pick this brush:

• Brush size: 400px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%
• Color: #000000

Now paint over the highlighted area.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 22: Fix the Light of our image

Activate a new layer and name is "Dark up". Activate the brush tool (B) then right click on the canvas while the Brush tool (B) is active and then pick this brush:

• Brush size: 400px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%
• Color: #000000

Now paint over the highlighted area.

Again Activate a new layer and name is "Dark down". Activate the brush tool (B) then right click on the canvas while the Brush tool (B) is active and then pick this brush:

• Brush size: 400px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%
• Color: #000000

Now paint over the highlighted area.

The result should be similar to this:

Step 23: Fix the Window

First off, let's open the Window stock in Photoshop. We will be using the window from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Window and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the window and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to "Window".

The result should be similar to this:

Step 24

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the "window" layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 25

Reduce the opacity on the window to 85% :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 26

Now create new Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer's (Window layer and Brightness/Contrast) to make a mask.

When the Brightness/Contrast box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 27

Now create new Curves adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer's (window layer and Curves) to make a mask.

When the Curves box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 28

Step 6: Fixing sea into Window

Now,let's open the Stormy sea in Photoshop. We will be using the sea from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Stormy sea and press V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to "Sea".

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the "Sea" layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 29

Next,again activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the "sea" layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 30

Now create new Brishtness/Contrast adjustment layer from the bottom of layers palette .Press Alt+left click in between 2 layer's (Sea layer and Brishtness/Contrast) to make a mask.

When the Brishtness/Contrast box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 31: Create a waterfall

Now, we will be adding a waterfall which give our image a surreal fell. To start, create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and name it "water 1".

Activate the Brush tool (B) and then Load "water brush sampler" by FrozenStarRo".

Now that these brushes are loaded, right click on the canvas while the Brush tool (B) is active and then pick this brush:

Fill these settings

• Brush size: 800px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%

Now pick #ffffff color from color picker:

Now, let's paint:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 32

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the "water 1" layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 33

Once again activate layer and name it "water 2".

right click on the canvas while the Brush tool (B) is active and then pick this brush:

Fill these settings

• Brush size: 300px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%
• color: #ffffff

Now let's Paint :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 34: Fix fish

First off, let's open the Fish Stock 1 stock in Photoshop. We will be using the fish from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Fish Stock 1 and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the fish and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to "Fish 1".

The result should be similar to this:

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the "fish 1" layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 35

Fix the other fish too see below :

Step 36: Fix Ballons

First off, let's open the Ballons stock in Photoshop. We will be using the Ballons from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Ballons and press P to activate pen tool and then make a selection around the ballons and then click V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to "Ballons".

The result should be similar to this:

Step 37

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd +T), then while the "ballons" layer is selected and then resize it as shown below:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 38

Now reduce the opacity of the ballons layer:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 39

Now activate a new layer and name it as "thred".

Chose #a3a3a3 as forground color

right click on the canvas while the Brush tool (B) is active and then pick this brush:

Then activate the pen tool (p) and draw a curve see as below:

Then keep pen tool activated and make a left click on the curve and chose "stock path" see as below.

Now In stock path box chose "Brush" as tool see as below :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 40

Now again right click on the curve and these time chose "Delete path" see as below :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 41

Draw more threds.

Step 42: Enhance the Light and Color of the overall image

Now creat a Solid color adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

When the solid color box opens, input the following:

Change the layer mode to "Exclusion" and reduce the opacity to 65% :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 43

Now creat a Solid color adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

When the solid color box opens, input the following:

Change the layer mode to "Soft light" and reduce the opacity to 15% :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 44

Now creat a Gradient Map adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

When the Gradient Map box opens, input the following:

Change the layer mode to "Luminosity" and reduce the opacity to 25% :

The result should be similar to this:

Step 45

Now creat a Photo Filter adjustment layer which can be found by pressing on the Create New Fill/Adjustment layer button shown on the layer window:

When the Photo Filter box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Step 46: Add texture

Now,let's open the Bokeh Texture Pack 002 in Photoshop. We will be using the texture from this stock image so we will need to transfer it to our main canvas.

Click the Bokeh Texture Pack 002 and press V to activate the Move Tool. Left-click the image and drag the image to the main canvas and change layer name to "Texture".

The result should be similar to this:

Now make a duplicate of our texture layer for that select texture layer then press Ctrl/Cmd+J .

Then change the name of duplicate layer to "texture2".Select trxture2 layer and activate transform tool (Ctrl+t).

Then right click on canvas and chose flip horizontal.

Then move texture 2 layer to the left:

Then marge both Texture and texture 2 layer by selection both layer and then press Ctrl/Cmd+E .

Once again do the same thing see as below :

Now select both layers and marge them and name it "texture" :

Reduce the opacity to 15% and change the layer mode to "soft light" :

Add a vactor mask to the texture layer from button shown on the layer window:

Reduce opacity to 40% and change layer mode to "soft light".

The result should be similar to this:

Step 47

Now activate the Brush tool

• Brush size: 2000px
• Hardness: 0%
• Opacity: 40%
• Flow: 100%

The result should be similar to this:

Step 48: Create a Vignette

In this step, we will learn how to create a vignette which will help enhance the focus on our subject.

First make a new layer and name it "Vinette".

Fill it with white color (#000000):

Now goto Filters > Distrot > Lens Correction:

When the Lens Correction box opens, input the following:

The result should be similar to this:

Now change the layer mode to "Multiply" and reduce the opacity to 45% :

The result should be similar to this:

Final Results

Tutorial by Vik Aadi