Mark S. Johnson Photography

Each time I see a well done found object composite, my heart does a little somersault. I define found objects as any objects, such as leaves or butterflies, or textures, such as rust or peeling paint, that you decide to add to your photographic collection for the sake of compositing.

Combining these objects and textures in creative ways can be immensely gratifying––but make no mistake, this is a creative process. Today’s Workbench is as much about creative process and it is about learning techniques. On our journey, we’ll encounter a variety of useful Photoshop techniques, including refining an edge, using the History brush, adding a drop shadow, working with blending modes, and test-driving color options via a clipped Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.