So this is a composite image I made, actually I did two versions and probably will add a smoke trail to another plane if I have time and motivation. This started from a workshop I attended that showed twirling/manipulating images. I used it on flowers and liked it, and then decided to try it on a flag that I took on a building I saw on a photowalk. It came out in a figure 8 so I thought to have something coming through it. I tried a few things and liked the multiple planes I'd shot at an airshow. My PS skills aren't great, but as an experiment, I was happy with the result.
Here's the Photoshop formula, that others can try on things (flowers work great).
Edit your image as usual. Go to PS
1. (Convert to 8-bit) Image>Mode>8bits/channel
2. Filter>Distort>Polar Coordinates (Polar to Rectangular)
3. Image>Image rotation>Flip Canvas Vertial
4. Filter>Distort>Polar Coordinates (Rectangular to Polar)
It seems weird but it works and sometimes gives interesting results.
6 comments posted
Lori Azevedo
The sky is the limit with talent like this. Thank you so much for sharing how you edited these 3 photographs together. I can learn a lot from you and your creativity. Posted: 04/08/2025 20:45:14
Carol Heffernan
Thanks, it was fun to do something different. Posted: 04/15/2025 00:15:52
Sandra Michaelis
Very cool and interesting Carol. Thank you for sharing how to achieve this effect. Your subjects work well together and my first impression of the image was, Wow, how did you do that! Very inspiring. Posted: 04/11/2025 14:51:54
Carol Heffernan
Sandra, thanks, I like trying new things. Posted: 04/15/2025 00:16:45
Alec Chester
Carol, What a clever creation! If these planes were the Thunderbirds (Airforce) or Blue Angels (Navy), I bet they would like a copy. I agree that adding contrails to the other planes is a good idea. I'm pleased that you offered this clever abstraction to the group. It's good to see all that can be done in postproduction! Posted: 04/19/2025 15:19:29
Rick Taft
Carol, Very nice composition. I agree with the others that adding contrails to the other two planes would give the shot some balance...especially if the new contrails are a little different from the others and not just copies. I also thank you for sharing how you did the Photoshop distortion. I am still very new in playing with PS, so always happy to see new tricks. Nicely done. Posted: 04/20/2025 01:55:35
