Harper’s Bazaar—Magazine Cover

Tools Used:

Photoshop

Skills Demonstrated:

Complex compositing
Image retouching
Complex selection and masking
Blend modes, adjustment layers, effects, filters

Project Description:

For this school project, I was challenged to create a magazine cover of my choice that would serve as a showcase for my advanced selection, retouching, and compositing skills I had cultivated that semester. I chose to center my cover around a well-known fashion magazine, Harper’s Bazaar.

Designs and Decisions:

To ensure that I had plenty of opportunities to show off the required skills, I created a concept that necessitated the use of multiple distinct image components, meticulously composed to form a balanced piece. The background, model, palm frond, and hand were separately sourced and manipulated to fit seamlessly into the environment. For an added challenge, I intentionally chose a model image of a woman with severe acne, and carefully retouched the skin into a flawless finish.

Result:

The outcome of this project is a beautiful, well-balanced composition that easily fits into the existing lineup of Harper’s Bazaar covers. This was a true labor of love, as the attention to detail required for compositing took time and careful consideration. I was able to really hone in on my advanced Photoshop skills, and can now confidently create intricate compositions tailored to a wide range of needs.