Image 3 : [Forest] - Elf

Original photos

The process

Crop the girl using magnetic lasso tool.

Paste on to the forest

Select the wings, can select one of them because it's symmetry 

Place the wing behind the girl, adjust the size.

..and duplicate the wing.

Add mushroom image, and place it below the girl, to make it looks like the girl sitting on the mushroom.

Remove the bracelet and other unnecessary part, including wording on the shirt. This can be done using eraser and stamp clone tool.

Now I want to adjust the background. First, I add some gradient colors above the forest layer.

And I change the blending option.. I also add some glowing effects on the background.

Using a blur tool, I smudge the edge of the wings.. 

Duplicate the wings, adjust the size to make it slightly bigger, and place it behind the smaller wings.

Give some effects on the wings, make them looks transparent.

I add some more sleeves to the girl.. here it looks bit unnatural.. I will clean this part later on.. continue.

Give the girl some hair accessories.. a flowers!

And I add a bunch of flowers around the girl.. 

Now I add some gradient.. to give a rainbow effect..

Adjust the blending and opacity.. For me this is one of the easiest to make a rainbow..

Add some butterflies! ..select the brush from special effect brushes..

Brush the butterflies scattering.. and add some real butterflies.. twist the size, rotate, transform, here and there..

After that.. I enhance the effect by adding a sparkles~

Now time to make up the elf.. Place the ears behind the girl.. adjust the size and placement as needed..

Uhm.. I'm thinking to make her eyes become green.. I add a spot of green brush.. and change the blending option to soft light..

..and add some lipstick :p

Now I place the rabbit on her shoulder.. this elf has a companion! (ps: rabbit is my favorite pet!)

Final Image

Elf

Story of the picture : Thinking about the forest, it sometimes reminds me of the myth of elves. Elves are well known of their beauty and immortal life. They usually live deep in the forest with forever a springtime. That's why the flowers always blooming and colorful butterflies are everywhere enjoying the beauty of the rainbow. This pretty elf can cast an enchantment, and their race has come associated with fairies. She has a rabbit as a companion.. and the rabbit likes sitting up high on her shoulder with a good view. 

image credit : wings | forest | mushroom | elf ears | rabbit 

Research Paper : Outline

My title:

Digital Storytelling for Education

Outline :
Abstract
Keywords
1.0 Introduction
2.0 What is Digital Storytelling
3.0 Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
4.0 Process of Digital Storytelling
5.0 Benefits and Overview
6.0 Conclusion
References

My first digital painting

Whoppss.. I think digital painting will be out-of-theme here. So let me just publish it for a side entry. This is my first attempt using photoshop to paint .. amatur job..

Original Image

Final Painting

Have you watch GTO (J-Dorama)? It's one of my favorite series. :)
..and Nanako Matsushina is my favorite actress~ <3

Image 2 : [Tree] - Seasons

This is an interesting pic to work with. I'm going to combine them into seasons.

Original photo

The Process

First, I split all 4 images. I open one single pic and extend the canvas size to the right, horizontally.

I paste another image on to the empty space, and another 2 images on the top of the other. They are now overlapped. Lower down the opacity to make sure the image is pasted precisely.

Add layer mask for the top images.

And add gradient fill to erase half of the area.

This is the outcome. I do the same thing to another images.

They are now become like this:

Now I edit winter part. I add snow effect and a moon (the same source from previous theme).

For the autumn, I add some sunshine using the combination of brush and lens flare technique.

Spring part, originally is quite plain. So I add some flower effect and adjust the color to make it look more purple-ish.

Finally for summer, I add a plain lens flare, and some highlight on the tree.

Now I exted the bottom part of the canvas. I rearrange both images as I want to make the photo vertical, instead of horizontal (as described in first few images above). 

I do some clean up at the combined area.

This is the final outcome :)

Final Image

Seasons

Story of the picture: From four separated photo I combined them into one image. Rotating as if in one tree, with the tree's reflection. This combination produce four seasons. It shows that in a year, season by season has passed. Weather in each season portrays the memories become faded but they are attached together in between the tree trunk.

image credit : trees  |  moon