Photo Manipulation in Photoshop

 

Step 1

Create a new document in Photoshop with the following settings :

Add the Forest

Step 2

Go to File > Place Embedded and place the forest image to main document.

Step 3

Time to add sharpness to forest using High Pass filter. Duplicate the forest layer by CTRL + J. Convert the duplicated forest layer into Smart Objects. Now go to Filter > Other > High Pass and apply it with the following settings :

If you don’t add the sharpness to forest then you’ll have a blurred background for deer.

Step 4

Make a Curves adjustment layer and reduce the brightness of the forest. To add an adjustment layer, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves or click the third icon at the bottom of layer panel.

On the layer mask of Curves, mask the effect on the selected part using a soft round black brush as I am aiming to create light source on the left side of the scene. Use a soft, basic black brush for masking the effect with lower opacity around 40%-50%.

Results with maintained brightness on the left side :

Step 5

Add a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer, reduce the brightness and increase the contrast little bit.

On the layer mask of Brightness/Contrast, mask the effect on the left side using soft round basic black.

Results with more darkness :

Step 6

Add a Curves adjustment layer and use the Blue Channel to add yellow color tones to forest.

Results :

Step 7

Make a Selective Color adjustment layer and choose the yellow colors to enhance the colors of the forest.

Results :

Layer panel arranged so far :

Add the Beach

Step 8

Add the beach image to main document and place it shown below.

Step 9

The aim of adding the beach image is to get its forest path parts and add them to existing forest. Add a mask to beach image by clicking second icon at the bottom of layer panel or go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All. Now use a soft, basic black to mask the selected parts of beach.

Results after masking :