Fantastical Botanical Landscapes

The wondrous floral creations of Ryn Clarke, which combine visualization with a little bit of storytelling, resulted from a creative direction she pursued in the early days of the pandemic.

To counterbalance the uncertainty of daily life, Ryn assembled surreal photo composites where nothing is as it seems. As the world felt increasingly upside-down, her images became more otherworldly, with swirling scenes of nature revolving around a calm center—the eye of the emotional hurricane.

Composite photography is essentially a visual magic trick, a sleight of hand that creates the illusion of a new reality. And, like magic, the technique must be flawless or the illusion is lost. In this dual-session “how-to” workshop, Ryn introduces the tricks and tips that bring her images to life.

Using Adobe Photoshop’s tools and functions, she shows participants how to create depth using layers, blending modes, intricate masking techniques, and dodging and burning tools. As she demonstrates an image being created from scratch, you watch it evolve until it reaches completion as a multilayered composite. Afterwards, you are free to download the demo JPEGs for further experimentation at home.

Come discover Ryn’s enchanting and magical garden of delights while learning how to create your own composite-image masterpieces.