Thom Rouse seems to have an unbridled artistic sensibility. In this book, he offers up for review sixty of his favourite fine art images. Rouse takes photographers behind the scenes of his creative process, showing the starting point always a portrait, captured by him and then details the Photoshop tools and techniques he used and, sometimes, some accessory images that he adds into the mix, to create a dramatically different work of art. While the components and tone of each image vary from page to page, Rouse strictly maintains that his creative process is based on the idea that each work of art must, at its core, remain photographic. In other words, his fine art works are enhanced, stylised portraits that transcend the limits typically self-imposed by portrait artists. His goal in creating the book is to educate and inspire other photographers or, in the words of the artist to show you something you haven’t seen before.
This book features a collection of beautiful portraits that collide with a strange collections of elements one portrait, entitled Shhhh, is coupled with ornamental wooden fish, goose wings, and parts of an aircraft; another, called Andromeda, uses complex Photoshop blending techniques and texture layers to create a Gustav Klimt-inspired feel in the photograph to create a storytelling piece that elevates the portrait to a fine art category. On page after page, you’ll discover how Rouse conceptualised the featured work of art, the steps he took to bring the concept to life, and the curiously beautiful artistic portrait result. AUTHOR: Thom Rouse began his career as a portrait and wedding photographer in 1994. Based near Chicago, he now divides his time between commercial, fine art and commissioned fine art images with his clients as the central subject of his pieces. His conceptual fine art images utilize real world photographs blended and manipulated to create an alternative to real world perception. Thom also lectures and teaches workshops on topics ranging from Photoshop as an artist’s tool, visual literacy and lighting and posing for figure studies.
SELLING POINTS:
Readers will learn how to couple standard portraits with other images and texture layers to create bold new portrait concepts.
Readers will discover some of the strategies the author uses to unlock his creativity and conceptualise fine art concepts that were never before seen.
Readers will learn how to choose and use a diversity of image components and combine them in postproduction to achieve cohesive high art looks.
