Misty River

1. Find a nice river photo. I used this: Rivers Edge

2. Filter -> Sharpen -> Sharpen to "add" more details.

3. Then, add more contrast by Image -> Adjustment -> Brightness / Contrast with these settings:

4. Image -> Adjustment -> Shadow / Highlight with these settings:

5. Enable Quick Mask Mode and select Brush Tool, Soft Brush.

6. Using black color paint water, using white color paint rocks to avoid them. Reduce brush size to mask only water. Try to get something like this:

7. Now leave Quick Mask Mode using "Q" button, then Select -> Select Inverse.

8. Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur, Radius 9px.

9. Edit -> Fade Gaussian Blur with these settings:

10. Duplicate background layer by pressing CTRL+J.

11. On duplicated layer, Filter -> Blur -> Radial Blur with these settings:

12. Then Filter -> Distort -> Twirl with default settings.

13. Reduce Opacity of this layer to about 50% to see background layer.

14. Make selection like this:

15. Press Delete and set Opacity to 70%.

16. Erase sharp edges using…Eraser ;)

17. Make a new layer and paint many small lines like these:

18. Filter -> Blur -> Lens Blur with default settings.

19. Filter -> Distort -> Twirl, also with default settings.

20. Filter -> Other -> Maximum with Radius: 8px.

21. Make a new layer. Set Brush to Soft Brush, 100px, Mode: Dissolve, Flow: 10%

22. Paint something like this:

23. Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur, Radius 5px.

24. Filter -> Other -> Maximum, Radius 3px.

25. Add more fog using Soft Brush with 40% Opacity and 10% Flow.

26. Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Photo Filter, Sepia, 75%.

27. Layer -> New Adjustment Layer -> Hue / Saturation, Set Lightness to 5. Set this layer's blending mode to Multiply.

28. Done ;)

Share and Enjoy:

Click to enlarge