In this tutorial I'll show you how to create a funny surreal scene using a variety of photo manipulation techniques.
First we'll combine several stock images to make a natural underground scene. Then we'll add other elements, such as the skull, nest, egg and bird, and blend them together using adjustment layers, masking and brushes.
Later we'll add more natural elements (a tree and leaves) and use the same techniques to make them parts of the scene. We'll finish it up with several adjustment layers. As you follow this tutorial, you'll learn how to manage your layers, work with groups, and focus on the correct details.
Tutorial Assets
The following assets were used during the production of this tutorial:
1. Setting Up the Base Scene
Step 1
Create a new 1500 x 1500 px document with the settings below:
Step 2
Open the sky image. Select the sky part using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M).
Drag the sky part into the white canvas using the Move Tool (V), and place it at the top.
Step 3
To add some depth to the scene, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set theRadius to 6 px.
Step 4
To change the sky hue a little, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance:
Step 5
Open the soil 1 image (choose image 2). Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to select the soil part and place it under the sky.
Step 6
Make a Curves adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) to darken the soil part.
Step 7
To desaturate the soil color, make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (set asClipping Mask) and change the Saturation value to -82:
Step 8
Create a new layer (set as Clipping Mask), change the mode to Overlay 100% and fill with 50% gray:
Active the Burn Tool (O) with Midtones Range, Exposure about 10–15% to darken some areas at the edges of the soil a bit. You can see how I did it with Normal mode and the result with Overlay mode:
Step 9
Open the soil 2 image (choose image 4). Select the upper part of the soil with the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
Place this selected part above the soil 1 area.
Click the second icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a mask to this layer. Use a soft round brush with black color (soft black brush) to remove the hard edges and blend this soil part smoothly with the rest.
Step 10
Make a Curves adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) to darken this soil part.
On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the upper part of the soil as it gets some light from the sky.
Step 11
Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and bring the Saturation value down to-75:
Step 12
Open the grass image. Select the grass part with the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
Drag this selection into our main document and use the Free Transform Tool(Control-T) to enlarge the bottom of this grass part.
Add a mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to remove the hard edges and blend the grass smoothly with the soil and the sky.
Step 13
On the grass layer, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the Radius to 3 px.
On this filter mask, use a soft black brush to erase the most of the grass area and make the blur effect only visible at the furthest background.
This step is to increase the depth of the scene.
Step 14
There are some unwanted shades on the grass. Make a new layer (set as Clipping Mask) and use the Clone Tool (S) to remove them.
Step 15
Use a Color Balance adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) and increase theRed, Green and Blue values of the Midtones.
Step 16
I aim to make the main light source come from the left side to the right to fit the sky light. Create a Curves adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) and increase the lightness:
On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to reduce the lightness at the lower edges, especially the bottom right of the grass.
Step 17
Create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the right edge of the grass.
On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the upper left of the grass.
2. Adding the Skull
Step 1
Open the skull image. Select the skull only using the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L).
Place the skull in the middle of the image, between the grass and the soil, and rotate it using Control-T.
Add a mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to erase the skull's middle section to make it look as if it's stuck between the grass and soil.
Step 2
Create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) and change the Saturation to -52.
Step 3
The light on the original skull is from the front and from the lower side. To correct its light and shade to fit the background, we'll use several layers (set as Clipping Mask).
First create a Curves adjustment layer to darken the lower part of the skull (as it's below the soil surface).
On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the upper part to maintain the lightness there.
Step 4
Create another Curves adjustment layer to brighten the upper part.
On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the front of the skull.
Step 5
Create a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100% and fill with 50% gray. Use the Dodge and Burn Tool (O) with Midtones Range, Exposure about 15-20% to add more light to the upper part of the skull, and also increase the shade and contrast of the eyes. Here are the results with Normal mode and Overlay mode.
Step 6
Make a new layer under the skull one. Use a soft black brush with the Opacity about40–45% to paint the shadow of the skull on the grass (it should be thin and long, as the light comes straight from left to right).
3. Adding the Root
Step 1
Open the root image. Place it in the underground area using the Move Tool and rotate it a bit using Control-T.
Use a layer mask to erase the hard edges and blend the root with the soil.
Step 2
Select a root part from the original image with the Lasso Tool, and then position it in the left of the underground area. Use a layer mask to blend them with the first root.
Step 3
Duplicate this layer and move it to the lower middle section of the underground. Use a layer mask to make it blend together with the other root parts.
Step 4
Select all the root layers and press Control-G to make a group for them. Change the mode of this group from Pass Through (default group mode) to Normal 100%.
Make a Curves adjustment layer on top of the root ones (within this group) and decrease the lightness.
Step 5
Use a Levels adjustment layer to make some root areas darker, especially the area below the soil surface.
On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the lower part, as it should be less dark than the upper one.
4. Adding the Nest
Step 1
Open the nest image. Use the Move Tool to drag it onto the skull.
Step 2
Make a new layer under the nest one. Use a soft black brush with the Opacity about40–45% to paint the shadow below the nest.
Step 3
On a new layer (still under the skull one) use a soft black brush with the Opacityabout 30% to paint the shadow of the nest on the skull and the grass.
Step 4
Create a Curves adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) to brighten the nest, as it looks darker than the background at the moment.
On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the right side of the nest (from the viewer) to maintain the shade there.
Step 5
To reduce the nest saturation, create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (set asClipping Mask) and change the Saturation to -28.
5. Adding the Egg and Bird
Step 1
Open the egg image. Select the egg using the Magic Wand Tool (W).
Place the egg in the upper area of the nest. Use a layer mask with a hard black brush to erase the lower part of the egg to make it look as if it's lying inside the nest (you should pay attention to the tiny holes in the nest).
Step 2
Create a Curves adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) to darken the egg. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the upper area to keep the light on this part.
Step 3
Open the bird image and isolate him from the background using the Polygonal Lasso Tool or any tools you're familiar with. Place him onto the edge of the nest.
Step 4
Create a new layer under the bird one. Use a soft black brush with the Opacityabout 30–35% to paint the bird shadow on the nest and grass. The thing you should remember is that the bird is on the top of the nest (further from the ground than the skull) so the shadow should be lighter.
Step 5
Create a Curves adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) to reduce the highlight on the bird's body. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the upper part and the left side, as they should be brighter than the rest.
Step 6
Make a new layer (set as Clipping Mask), change the mode to Overlay 100% and fill with 50% gray. Use the Dodge Tool to brighten the tail and the left leg, and theBurn Tool to darken the right leg of the bird.
6. Adding the Tree
Step 1
Open the tree image and use the Move Tool to add it to the top right of the scene.
Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and set the Radius to 5 px.
Step 2
To alter the tree color a bit, use a Color Balance adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) and change the Red value of the Midtones.
Step 3
Use a Curves adjustment layer to brighten the tree, as it lacks light at the moment.
On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to refine the light and shade between the leaves. You can see the result on the layer mask and the result on the picture.
7. Adding the Leaves
Step 1
Open the leaf image. Drag it into our working document using the Move Tool and use Control-T to rotate it a little. Place it under the tree position (or anywhere you feel suitable).
Step 2
Duplicate this layer several times and arrange them around the skull, especially placing one to fit the direction of the skull's gaze. On each of these layers, go toFilter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and change the Radius to 3 px.
Step 3
Duplicate one of the leaf layers twice and enlarge them using Control-T. Place them at the right edge and the foreground, and change the Gaussian Blur Radius to12 px.
Step 4
Make a group for the leaf layers as we did with the root ones. To change the color of the leaves, create a Color Balance adjustment layer and increase the Red andYellow values of the Midtones.
Step 5
To make some light on the leaves, create a Curves adjustment layer and increase the lightness.
On this layer mask, use a soft black brush with the Opacity varied from 20–100% to erase the right side of some leaves to fit the light of the background.
8. The Final Color Adjustment
Step 1
It's time to color the whole scene. Create a Gradient Map adjustment layer and pick the colors
#7d6a51 and #a2b54a. Change this layer mode to Soft Light 50%. 
Step 2
Make a Color Balance adjustment layer and change the Red and Yellow values of the Midtones.
Step 3
Use a Curves adjustment layer to change the color and increase the contrast of the scene.
Step 4
Make a Vibrance adjustment layer to enhance the final effect.
Congratulations, You're Done!
You can see the final outcome below. I hope that you've enjoyed this tutorial and learned some new techniques. If you have a question or idea, feel free to leave it in the comment box below.
