Theme: “Looks Like a Painting”

Judge: Sue Bloom

Looks Like a Painting

A photograph that appears to be a painting. This effect could be achieved in-camera or through post processing techniques. We have all seen photographs that when first viewed appeared to be a painting. This can be accomplished through composition, costume selection, poses, colors. Another option that requires less creativity is to use filters in your favorite photo editing software to achieve the effect. 

Creating photography that looks like a painting involves using soft, directional lighting (golden hour, fog), limiting color palettes, using high-contrast tones for depth, and applying post-processing techniques like reducing clarity/sharpness or adding texture overlays. This "painterly" style emulates artistic textures, focusing on form and mood over fine detail, often producing dreamy or romantic imagery. 

Key Techniques for a Painterly Photo Look

• Lighting: Utilize soft, diffused light, such as blue hour or overcast days, to create subtle transitions rather than harsh shadows. Single, directional light sources are effective for creating classic, painterly portraits.

• Color Palette: Use muted tones or a limited, cohesive color palette to emulate the deliberate color choices of a painter.

• Composition: Focus on composition that feels thoughtful and deliberate, rather than a snapshot. Look for clear separation between light and shadow.

• Camera Settings: Use a long lens (e.g., 70-200mm) to separate the subject from the background, and consider using a shallow depth of field.

• Post-Processing:

  • Reduce Sharpness/Clarity: Soften images to avoid the "digital" look.

  • Add Texture: Overlay textures like canvas or watercolor paper in editing software.

  • Adjust Tones: Deepen blacks and warm up tones, similar to Classical or Renaissance painting styles.

• In-Camera Effects: Intentionally move the camera during a long exposure to create watercolor-like blur. 

Characteristics of Painting-Style Photography

• Dreamy/Moody: Often has an ethereal, soft-focus, or nostalgic quality.

• Detailed Textures: Unlike crisp digital photos, these images often feature visible texture, such as painterly brushstrokes or canvas grain.

• Artistic Expression: Moves beyond simple documentation to convey a specific mood or artistic vision. 

Brief Bio:

Susan Ruddick Bloom is known for her fine art photography. She uses alternative photographic processes and digital manipulation. Sue has been involved in making art on the computer for over thirty-six years. She holds a BFA and an MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She is Professor Emerita and former Chair of the Department of Art and Art History at McDaniel College, in Westminster, Maryland.

Her work spans the range of digital techniques. Recently that includes iPad and iPhone art. A new gallery of iPad and iPhone artwork will be coming soon to this site. She is always experimenting with techniques and materials in an effort to make meaningful marks. She is considered one of the world leaders in digital fine art.

In addition to her college teaching, Sue conducts many workshops, including the Maine Photographic Workshop, Palm Beach Photographic Centre, Glen Echo National Park for the Arts, and Common Ground - Scotland. She also leads photo tours throughout the world.

Sue's book, Digital Collage and Painting, by Focal Press, was released June 1, 2006. It can be found at your local bookstore or Amazon.com. Digital Collage and Painting has been translated in Chinese and Russian. A second edition of the book was released in October 2010. The second edition contains many new techniques, reflects changes in software and features the work of twenty new digital artists. 

Sue's  book, Digital Painting in Photoshop, by Focal Press, was released in February 2009, and shows techniques, within Photoshop, that mimic the traditional fine art mediums like pastels, watercolors, oil painting, charcoal sketches and ink wash techniques.

Sue also writes for numerous magazines and is a staff writer at the Australian quarterly, Better Photoshop Techniques. She is a contributor to Dark Glass Media.

Sue's webcasts can be found at ReTouchPro.com and are available for rental from YouTube.