In spite of strong wind with gusts up to 30+ mph, the DJI Mini 2 drone was able to capture this Southwest Minnesota corn harvest in action. Manual setting ISO 100/2.8 /1/500. My heart stopped a couple of times when gusts of wind severely tilted the drone but I felt great relief when it quickly recovered. The sky image was captured with a Canon Mark 3 later that same evening. Composite image edited with Photoshop and Topaz.
Patiently waiting for summer as I edit on a cold, blustery day.
Drone photography has caught my interest and I’ve debated whether it’s worth getting a Part 107 Drone License. So far, I’ve been shy and stealthy when flying the tiny DJI Mini 2 drone for recreational purposes only. Research tells me that anyone wanting to sell aerial photography, monitor their farming operations with a drone, or do any other business related work with a drone must have a Part 107 license. Hmmm…?
“The key is not the ‘will to win’… everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important” – Bob Knight
Guess what I’ve been doing lately? Yep, designing grad cards. Graduation will be here before we know it!
Two images blended using Photoshop CC and topped off with Topaz Studio “Dreamy Day” action.
There is no glory in practice, but without practice there is no glory.
I had no plans of creating the final composite product when I shot these images, but sometimes things just develop and ideas flow. Hmmm. What if…?
Three rambunctious boys ride their scooters down my driveway.
Swap images in to add their sister and improve expressions. 
Add a colorful sky scene I captured in the Pyrenees back in 2014 (Looks like the South Dakota hills).
Road dust colored in by using Photoshop brushes and finished it off with Topaz edits.
Final product: The Dusty Sunset Gang!
Can’t back up enough to catch the entire image? Photomerge is your friend.
Line up the left side – click – hold level and move right with at least 25 per cent overlap – click.
In Photoshop CC 2017: file – automate – photomerge – browse and select your images – check blend images together – I also checked perspective and content aware fill transparent areas – click O.K.
This gave me the background images. I then used select – select and mask to bring in the foreground subject.
Finished it off with Topaz edits and some lightning using Photoshop brushes I found free (Brusheezy!?).
BOOM!! GO LANCERS!
…summer on the prairie.
I’m not fond of drama in real life but I do love a dramatic blended image… and high school sports.
Tried to make my own lightning at first, but decided that was too time consuming. Googled smoke and lightning brushes and downloaded some free brushes, installed them in Photoshop CC 2015. BOOM! …much easier.
Every image can use improvement and I think an action image would be a good candidate for a blend using these brushes.
Next time…
RJMeyerArts 