This issue stems from the latest July edition of Focus magazine (available on Tmall). The highly anticipated new season of HBO's fantasy epic, "Game of Thrones," is just around the corner next month. Over the course of the first six seasons, viewers have been captivated by the unfolding narrative between Westeros and the eastern continents, marveling at the stunning visuals. Many fans have even identified real-world locations for several iconic scenes, such as Iceland standing in for the Northlands, the Ward Castle manor in Winterfell, and the Moroccan village of Aït Benhaddou as the setting for Yunkai. Beyond the magical and surreal landscapes crafted through advanced post-production techniques, how did the creative team transform sunny, picturesque locations into the dark, brooding settings we've come to love?
In this issue, we’ll explore two practical case studies that demonstrate how aerial photographs were transformed into the world of Westeros and beyond using post-production techniques.
**Case One: Icelandic Northern Style**
Our first case involves restoring an aerial photo of the Irish coastline to resemble the rugged northern landscapes of Westeros.
First, we need to analyze the original footage, comparing it with stills from the series to establish our production direction. The initial footage was captured on a bright day with strong sunlight, resulting in high contrast. The right side of the frame had slightly overexposed highlights, giving the coastline a warm, yellowish tone, while the sea appeared in shades of green. This starkly contrasts with the scenes in the show. Our goal is to darken the overall brightness, reduce contrast, and shift the color palette toward cooler tones dominated by blue-green hues.
*Step 1: Converting Smart Objects*
Open the original image in Photoshop. Despite being in JPEG format, we can still utilize Camera Raw as a filter. Go to Filter > Convert to Smart Filter to convert the artwork into a smart object, then select Filter > Camera Raw Filter.
*Step 2: Basic Camera Raw Adjustments*
In the basic adjustments, we start by lowering the color temperature and exposure slightly. With the strong lighting, we'll need to soften the highlights and reduce contrast. Boosting sharpness will enhance details, and reducing natural saturation will give the image a subtle desaturation effect.
*Step 3: Split Tone Color*
Navigate to the Split Tone page. Since the original image has warm tones, we adjust the highlight hue to blue and increase its saturation to diminish the warmth in the brighter areas.
*Step 4: Camera Calibration*
Switch to the Camera Calibration page, where we reduce the red and green primaries and boost the blue primary. It's important not to eliminate the khaki tones on the coast and the turquoise of the sea entirely, as doing so would render the image monochromatic.
*Step 5: Sky Shadow Processing*
After completing the Camera Raw adjustments, the image begins to take shape. Next, we add a Curves adjustment layer to slightly increase contrast and darken the image, applying a layer mask to focus the effect on the sky.
*Step 6: Color Balance Adjustment*
Use a Color Balance adjustment layer to refine the overall tone, making it colder and more atmospheric.
*Step 7: Darkening the Scene*
Add another Curves adjustment layer to darken the entire image, adding depth and melancholy to the scene.
*Step 8: Saturation Adjustment*
Use a Natural Saturation adjustment layer to increase saturation initially and then decrease it significantly. This retains some detail in the overall monochrome environment.
*Step 9: Sharpening*
Finally, apply a high-contrast retention layer with a low value and blend mode set to Soft Light for sharpening. At this point, all adjustments are complete.
The final result shows two completely different images: one warm and sunny, the other cold and ominous.
**Case Two: Imperial City Style**
In "Game of Thrones," most of the landscapes in Westeros are cold, heavy, and oppressive, except for two notable exceptions. First, the Dorne region in the southern mainland features a tropical desert-like scenery, more reminiscent of the eastern continent. Another exception is King's Landing, where despite the urban setting, the atmosphere feels sunny and warm. The filming location for King's Landing is Dubrovnik, Croatia, known for its stunning views. However, capturing this specific aesthetic remains challenging. Let’s see how post-processing can help recreate this look.
The original footage was shot at dawn, with the sun beginning to rise over the bay. The surrounding areas remained in cool tones. Our task is to adjust the image to a warmer overall tone while enhancing the light perception. Additionally, we'll reduce the atmospheric perspective to create a mystical atmosphere.
*Step 1: Converting Smart Objects*
Open the original image in Photoshop. Despite being in JPEG format, we can still use Camera Raw as a filter. Go to Filter > Convert to Smart Filter to convert the artwork into a smart object, then select Filter > Camera Raw Filter.
*Step 2: Basic Camera Raw Adjustments*
In the basic adjustments, we increase the color temperature slightly, reduce contrast, and darken the highlights.
*Step 3: Color Processing*
Go to the HSL/Grayscale page. Since the original footage is too cold, we need to enhance the warm tones and reduce the cool tones.
*Step 4: Camera Calibration Color Correction*
Switch to the Camera Calibration page and strengthen the red and green primaries while weakening the blue primary.
*Step 5: Adding Mist*
After completing the Camera Raw processing, duplicate the layer and apply the Camera Raw filter to the duplicate. On the Effects tab, set “Remove Mist†to -30. Use a layer mask to apply this effect only to distant scenes.
*Step 6: Reducing Contrast*
Use a Curves adjustment layer to lighten shadows and darken highlights, applying a layer mask to affect only distant scenery and nearby water surfaces.
*Step 7: Color Balance*
Use a Color Balance adjustment layer to further enhance the overall warm tone of the image.
*Step 8: Tone Processing*
Apply two Curves adjustment layers: one to brighten highlights globally and the other to reduce brightness, focusing only on the sky and water.
*Step 9: Saturation Processing*
Use a Natural Saturation adjustment layer to slightly increase saturation and then drastically reduce it. Finish with sharpening.
In the end, you’ve successfully recreated the look of King’s Landing.
This exclusive content comes from the July 2017 issue of "Focus" magazine, written by Li Nan. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited. For those interested, follow us on WeChat under the official account "Focus Magazine" (search "jiaodianzz").
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We hope this adds value to your exploration of aerial photography and travel culture.
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