Create A Magical Floating Portrait
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine|Summer 2018

Armed with a stepladder, a tripod, a camera and a violin, Jason Parnell-Brookes shows you how to take your portraits somewhere magical

Create A Magical Floating Portrait

Although this shot looks rather complex, it’s actually relatively simple to piece together. A bit like a jigsaw we need to go one piece at a time and then methodically stick them together. This photograph is composed of several pictures taken in sequence. There are only really two sections to this shoot: taking a picture, and masking sections of it later on in Photoshop.

Firstly, with the Nikon on a tripod we compose our scene and dial in our settings before taking a test shot with the model standing in place. Some adjustments can then be made to the composition before starting the sequence.

With the Nikon locked in place on the tripod we must take care not to knock the camera or tripod during the process. Doing so will misalign the background with previous shots and make extra work for us when it comes to stitching them together in Photoshop later on. If the background remains in exactly the same place for each image, it’ll just be a rather simple case of masking out unwanted sections of the image.

We’ll need to take one picture of our model, for which we’ll ask her to climb on a stepladder and pose with a violin that we’ll be using as a prop. This photograph will give us the ingredients we need for editing later. After we’ve done this a few times, making sure we’ve got it how we want it, all that’s left to do is take an empty photograph.

This frame will be the backdrop where every other photo we’ve taken sits. Once we have the images that we need, we’ll load them into Photoshop and add masks to each layer, slowly revealing only parts of our model (and completely removing the not so fantastic stepladder) until we have our beautifully fantastic final product.

STEP BY STEP / Piecing together something otherworldly

This story is from the Summer 2018 edition of N-Photo: the Nikon magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Summer 2018 edition of N-Photo: the Nikon magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM N-PHOTO: THE NIKON MAGAZINEView All
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD G2
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD G2

The original version broke the mould for ‘trinity' standard zooms. The G2 enhances handling and performance further still

time-read
2 mins  |
Summer 2024
Nikon D500
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

Nikon D500

Nikon's flagship DX-format DSLR is a modern classic. And while it hasn't been out of production for long, it left a hole in Nikon's camera line-up that's never been filled

time-read
1 min  |
Summer 2024
Laurence Griffiths
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

Laurence Griffiths

With so much sporting action this summer, Laurence Griffiths of Getty Images reveals how to catch every goal at the Euros, details Getty Images' 24/7 Olympics coverage and why he always has a wide-angle ready. Keith Wilson managed to grab him before kick-off...

time-read
10 mins  |
Summer 2024
Ghost town
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

Ghost town

Adam Waring uses ND filters to subdue the hustle and bustle when shooting busy cities

time-read
2 mins  |
Summer 2024
Creative cities
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

Creative cities

Experienced travel photographer Matt Higgs provides top tips for stunning shots of city sights

time-read
2 mins  |
Summer 2024
If at first you don't succeed...
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

If at first you don't succeed...

Tom travels to the other side of the world to have another go at shooting an elusive image and displays the power of his perseverance

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer 2024
Shoot the summer of sports
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

Shoot the summer of sports

Have the Olympics and Euros inspired you to photograph sport? Mike Harris shows you how to score a portfolio of top shots

time-read
10+ mins  |
Summer 2024
Osprey & prey
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

Osprey & prey

Birds of a feather Gary Jones and Leigh Pugh photograph ospreys from a purpose-built hide

time-read
8 mins  |
Summer 2024
Superzoom lenses
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

Superzoom lenses

These lenses will have you in for a long stretch, some more than others in the wide-angle to telephoto stakes

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer 2024
Nikon Z 6III
N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

Nikon Z 6III

With a revolutionary 'partially stacked' full-frame sensor, the Z 6III fits flagship camera features in an compact enthusiast-level body

time-read
8 mins  |
Summer 2024