Canon 5DMkIII, Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II lens, 1/6 sec at f/16, ISO 100 — © Nicole S. Young (nicolesy.com)

One thing I started doing recently is photograph beautiful clouds—only clouds—to use in future images. I have a collection set in Lightroom where I put things like textures and clouds to use in composites. I’m also starting to photograph backgrounds as well, just in case.

This is an image I edited and photographed last month (the one on the left), and the other day I wanted to see what it would look like with some puffy pink clouds in the background. I used ON1 Photo to do the work.

Overall I think it turned out nicely. The original simple blue sky is beautiful as well, just two different versions of a neat looking church. I also think it’s interesting how the church on the right looks like it’s leaning a bit because of the added clouds … does anyone else see that, too?

Canon 5DMkIII, Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II lens, 1/6 sec at f/16, ISO 100 — © Nicole S. Young (nicolesy.com)

One thing I started doing recently is photograph beautiful clouds—only clouds—to use in future images. I have a collection set in Lightroom where I put things like textures and clouds to use in composites. I’m also starting to photograph backgrounds as well, just in case.

This is an image I edited and photographed last month (the one on the left), and the other day I wanted to see what it would look like with some puffy pink clouds in the background. I used ON1 Photo to do the work.

Overall I think it turned out nicely. The original simple blue sky is beautiful as well, just two different versions of a neat looking church. I also think it’s interesting how the church on the right looks like it’s leaning a bit because of the added clouds … does anyone else see that, too?

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Nicole is a photographer, published author, and educator specializing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and photography. She is best known for her books on food photography but is widely versed in various photographic genres, including landscape, nature, stock, travel, and experimental imagery.

116 Comments

  1. Zezo Mize August 14, 2012 at 10:00 pm - Reply

    nice

  2. Zezo Mize August 14, 2012 at 10:00 pm - Reply

    nice

  3. Caiti Begin August 14, 2012 at 10:01 pm - Reply

    What a good idea! I am obsessed with cloud photos, now here is something I could do with them! I just need to figure out how :)

  4. Caiti Begin August 14, 2012 at 10:01 pm - Reply

    What a good idea! I am obsessed with cloud photos, now here is something I could do with them! I just need to figure out how :)

  5. Stefan Skouti August 14, 2012 at 10:03 pm - Reply

    Very interesting and it looks very good with the clouds

  6. Stefan Skouti August 14, 2012 at 10:03 pm - Reply

    Very interesting and it looks very good with the clouds

  7. Anwar Elwakil August 14, 2012 at 10:04 pm - Reply

    from normal to magically..

  8. Anwar Elwakil August 14, 2012 at 10:04 pm - Reply

    from normal to magically..

  9. Zoe V-M August 14, 2012 at 10:04 pm - Reply

    looks old

  10. Zoe V-M August 14, 2012 at 10:04 pm - Reply

    looks old

  11. Erich Ludwig Fischer August 14, 2012 at 10:05 pm - Reply

    i…am going now…..not so much in one church.

    years ago i was stayed…..much in churches……

  12. Erich Ludwig Fischer August 14, 2012 at 10:05 pm - Reply

    i…am going now…..not so much in one church.

    years ago i was stayed…..much in churches……

  13. Neil Smith August 14, 2012 at 10:08 pm - Reply

    I do this as well. It can really save the day on a commercial shoot when the clouds are misbehaving! Great colour balance on the church.

  14. Neil Smith August 14, 2012 at 10:08 pm - Reply

    I do this as well. It can really save the day on a commercial shoot when the clouds are misbehaving! Great colour balance on the church.

  15. Carl Tucker Jr August 14, 2012 at 10:08 pm - Reply

    nicole looks like your on a roll   good job!

  16. Carl Tucker Jr August 14, 2012 at 10:08 pm - Reply

    nicole looks like your on a roll   good job!

  17. Gustavo Galiano August 14, 2012 at 10:08 pm - Reply

    SO NICE, GOOD IDEA THE CLOUDS

  18. Gustavo Galiano August 14, 2012 at 10:08 pm - Reply

    SO NICE, GOOD IDEA THE CLOUDS

  19. Brian Bonham August 14, 2012 at 10:09 pm - Reply

    Very well done!  

  20. Brian Bonham August 14, 2012 at 10:09 pm - Reply

    Very well done!

  21. Adrián Butcher August 14, 2012 at 10:09 pm - Reply

    Very sweet! I have been taking texture and background pics for some time but when i saw you added clouds to a space needle pic and how it gave a different feeling i have started shooting clouds too. Fun how adding clouds made the church bend in our eyes. I will have to experiment with a few also now. I take it this church is not from around here in Seattle but what you shot on your trip east a moth ago?

  22. Adrián Butcher August 14, 2012 at 10:09 pm - Reply

    Very sweet! I have been taking texture and background pics for some time but when i saw you added clouds to a space needle pic and how it gave a different feeling i have started shooting clouds too. Fun how adding clouds made the church bend in our eyes. I will have to experiment with a few also now. I take it this church is not from around here in Seattle but what you shot on your trip east a moth ago?

  23. Brad Sloan August 14, 2012 at 10:09 pm - Reply

    Nice blend

  24. Brad Sloan August 14, 2012 at 10:09 pm - Reply

    Nice blend

  25. Nicole S. Young August 14, 2012 at 10:12 pm - Reply

    +Adrián Butcher I found this church in Nebraska when I went out there to visit my family. It's near Milford, right off if I-80 (you can see it from the Interstate).

  26. Nicole S. Young August 14, 2012 at 10:12 pm - Reply

    +Adrián Butcher I found this church in Nebraska when I went out there to visit my family. It's near Milford, right off if I-80 (you can see it from the Interstate).

  27. Gustavo Galiano August 14, 2012 at 10:13 pm - Reply

    WONDERFULL

  28. Gustavo Galiano August 14, 2012 at 10:13 pm - Reply

    WONDERFULL

  29. Chris Olsen August 14, 2012 at 10:13 pm - Reply

    Nice job, it looks good. I just got my +onOne Software yesterday and I am excited to start playing with it. 

  30. Chris Olsen August 14, 2012 at 10:13 pm - Reply

    Nice job, it looks good. I just got my +onOne Software yesterday and I am excited to start playing with it.

  31. Alicja Anna August 14, 2012 at 10:19 pm - Reply

    Stunning …and what a different vibe it gives off with and without clouds, very beautiful and serene…I'm there in spirit

  32. Alicja Anna August 14, 2012 at 10:19 pm - Reply

    Stunning …and what a different vibe it gives off with and without clouds, very beautiful and serene…I'm there in spirit

  33. Joe Ercoli August 14, 2012 at 10:22 pm - Reply

    Nice… I like the clouds. One of my friends calls this cheating. FYI +Nicole S. Young : I cheat like hell.

  34. Joe Ercoli August 14, 2012 at 10:22 pm - Reply

    Nice… I like the clouds. One of my friends calls this cheating. FYI +Nicole S. Young : I cheat like hell.

  35. Lotus Carroll August 14, 2012 at 10:34 pm - Reply

    Nice!

  36. Lotus Carroll August 14, 2012 at 10:34 pm - Reply

    Nice!

  37. sarah smith August 14, 2012 at 10:34 pm - Reply

    it is cheating but moving on,looks very creepy

  38. sarah smith August 14, 2012 at 10:34 pm - Reply

    it is cheating but moving on,looks very creepy

  39. Jo Mcbride August 14, 2012 at 10:38 pm - Reply

    I think it looks cool .  . interesting.

  40. Jo Mcbride August 14, 2012 at 10:38 pm - Reply

    I think it looks cool .  . interesting.

  41. sarah smith August 14, 2012 at 10:40 pm - Reply

    yes it does give an air of mystery

  42. sarah smith August 14, 2012 at 10:40 pm - Reply

    yes it does give an air of mystery

  43. Dave Krugman August 14, 2012 at 10:42 pm - Reply

    Yeah i like this idea… 

  44. Dave Krugman August 14, 2012 at 10:42 pm - Reply

    Yeah i like this idea…

  45. Skand Hurkat August 14, 2012 at 10:42 pm - Reply

    I like the picture without the clouds better.

    And yes, it does appear that the church is leaning to the right with the clouds added.

  46. Skand Hurkat August 14, 2012 at 10:42 pm - Reply

    I like the picture without the clouds better.

    And yes, it does appear that the church is leaning to the right with the clouds added.

  47. Sandra Parlow August 14, 2012 at 10:44 pm - Reply

    wow!  amazing!!!!  great idea Nicole!!

  48. Sandra Parlow August 14, 2012 at 10:44 pm - Reply

    wow!  amazing!!!!  great idea Nicole!!

  49. Starr Stevenson August 14, 2012 at 11:00 pm - Reply

    AMAZING

  50. Starr Stevenson August 14, 2012 at 11:00 pm - Reply

    AMAZING

  51. Hark Nijjar August 14, 2012 at 11:04 pm - Reply

    Thanks for sharing +Nicole S. Young I started doing this a while ago but I need to organize my collection. Great pic btw and it looks even better with the clouds!

  52. Hark Nijjar August 14, 2012 at 11:04 pm - Reply

    Thanks for sharing +Nicole S. Young I started doing this a while ago but I need to organize my collection. Great pic btw and it looks even better with the clouds!

  53. Suzanne Goodwin August 14, 2012 at 11:16 pm - Reply

    I started a cloud collection last year and will often run out in to the back yard to grab some whenever I see something interesting. I'm pretty sure the neighbors think I'm nuts. Clouds make excellent textures too. Love the great light on the church and com-posited clouds – nice!

  54. Suzanne Goodwin August 14, 2012 at 11:16 pm - Reply

    I started a cloud collection last year and will often run out in to the back yard to grab some whenever I see something interesting. I'm pretty sure the neighbors think I'm nuts. Clouds make excellent textures too. Love the great light on the church and com-posited clouds – nice!

  55. hikmet şahin August 14, 2012 at 11:24 pm - Reply

    looks good…

  56. hikmet şahin August 14, 2012 at 11:24 pm - Reply

    looks good…

  57. Rosa De Luca August 14, 2012 at 11:29 pm - Reply

    lindo contraste

  58. al feliciano August 14, 2012 at 11:33 pm - Reply

    great picture,love it with the clouds.Did you dodge the church in after the clouds?

  59. al feliciano August 14, 2012 at 11:33 pm - Reply

    great picture,love it with the clouds.Did you dodge the church in after the clouds?

  60. Daphne Chan August 14, 2012 at 11:55 pm - Reply

    The "after" photo has a completely different mood. Well done!

  61. Daphne Chan August 14, 2012 at 11:55 pm - Reply

    The "after" photo has a completely different mood. Well done!

  62. Harmeet Gabha August 15, 2012 at 12:00 am - Reply

    The after photo is so much better. Can you do a video tutorial on how to do this with +onOne Software +Nicole S. Young ? I'm sure many people would love to learn how to do this with Perfect Masks.

  63. Harmeet Gabha August 15, 2012 at 12:00 am - Reply

    The after photo is so much better. Can you do a video tutorial on how to do this with +onOne Software +Nicole S. Young ? I'm sure many people would love to learn how to do this with Perfect Masks.

  64. Nicole S. Young August 15, 2012 at 12:09 am - Reply

    +Harmeet Gabha I'm planning a webinar with +onOne Software (and +Brian Matiash) in a few months all about Perfect Mask. I'm sure I could also create a few of my "Two Minute Tips" as well. No solid date for the webinar yet but I'll post it on my page when I do.

    BTW, I'm currently writing a book about the onOne Software Suite, here's a link: http://amzn.to/RevJvT

  65. Nicole S. Young August 15, 2012 at 12:09 am - Reply

    +Harmeet Gabha I'm planning a webinar with +onOne Software (and +Brian Matiash) in a few months all about Perfect Mask. I'm sure I could also create a few of my "Two Minute Tips" as well. No solid date for the webinar yet but I'll post it on my page when I do.

    BTW, I'm currently writing a book about the onOne Software Suite, here's a link: http://amzn.to/RevJvT

  66. Harmeet Gabha August 15, 2012 at 12:12 am - Reply

    That's great +Nicole S. Young. Look forward to it. Is there going to be an ebook version also or paperback only?

  67. Harmeet Gabha August 15, 2012 at 12:12 am - Reply

    That's great +Nicole S. Young. Look forward to it. Is there going to be an ebook version also or paperback only?

  68. Nicole S. Young August 15, 2012 at 12:21 am - Reply

    +Harmeet Gabha Peachpit has both eBook, PDF and print versions for most books … I imagine it will be available on all of those with this book.

  69. Nicole S. Young August 15, 2012 at 12:21 am - Reply

    +Harmeet Gabha Peachpit has both eBook, PDF and print versions for most books … I imagine it will be available on all of those with this book.

  70. Harmeet Gabha August 15, 2012 at 12:29 am - Reply

    excellent..already have your food photography book which I love..will buy this one when it's available.

  71. Harmeet Gabha August 15, 2012 at 12:29 am - Reply

    excellent..already have your food photography book which I love..will buy this one when it's available.

  72. Dan Hall August 15, 2012 at 12:48 am - Reply

    I've been doing the same +Nicole S. Young. It can make an alright photo go that extra mile to become an excellent photo

  73. Dan Hall August 15, 2012 at 12:48 am - Reply

    I've been doing the same +Nicole S. Young. It can make an alright photo go that extra mile to become an excellent photo

  74. Donna Mae Bruno August 15, 2012 at 12:53 am - Reply

    Wow that is genius!  Love the enhanced photo with the clouds.

  75. Donna Mae Bruno August 15, 2012 at 12:53 am - Reply

    Wow that is genius!  Love the enhanced photo with the clouds.

  76. Michael Watrous August 15, 2012 at 1:25 am - Reply

    Interesting approach. Looks great!

  77. Michael Watrous August 15, 2012 at 1:25 am - Reply

    Interesting approach. Looks great!

  78. J. Forrest Hale August 15, 2012 at 1:28 am - Reply

    What an amazing difference that made.  Really nice.

  79. J. Forrest Hale August 15, 2012 at 1:28 am - Reply

    What an amazing difference that made.  Really nice.

  80. Kell R August 15, 2012 at 1:53 am - Reply

    I like it. =)
    I have a picture that a lecturer encouraged me to drop a false sky into. It had really patchy cloud before but we changed it to look very calm and serene.

  81. Kell R August 15, 2012 at 1:53 am - Reply

    I like it. =)
    I have a picture that a lecturer encouraged me to drop a false sky into. It had really patchy cloud before but we changed it to look very calm and serene.

  82. StoiK NA August 15, 2012 at 2:26 am - Reply

    The placement of the clouds definately gives the illusion of the church leaning.  Beautiful shot and composition.

  83. StoiK NA August 15, 2012 at 2:26 am - Reply

    The placement of the clouds definately gives the illusion of the church leaning.  Beautiful shot and composition.

  84. Ed Hidden August 15, 2012 at 2:55 am - Reply

    Brilliant idea

  85. Ed Hidden August 15, 2012 at 2:55 am - Reply

    Brilliant idea

  86. Dustin Frost August 15, 2012 at 3:55 am - Reply

    The clouds really give the church a great look.  it remindes me of the church that was used in Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight

  87. Dustin Frost August 15, 2012 at 3:55 am - Reply

    The clouds really give the church a great look.  it remindes me of the church that was used in Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight.

  88. منصور الحارثي August 15, 2012 at 6:16 am - Reply

    هلا

  89. منصور الحارثي August 15, 2012 at 6:16 am - Reply

    هلا

  90. Marcus Edwards August 15, 2012 at 6:44 am - Reply
  91. Marcus Edwards August 15, 2012 at 6:44 am - Reply
  92. Alan Brooks August 15, 2012 at 9:10 am - Reply

    The reason for the illusion of the tower leaning to the right is due to the following…
    Something of a given size in black is optically smaller than the same object in white. So therefore, because the space to the right is darker than the left, optically, it draws the tower into a "smaller" space on the right.

  93. Alan Brooks August 15, 2012 at 9:10 am - Reply

    The reason for the illusion of the tower leaning to the right is due to the following…
    Something of a given size in black is optically smaller than the same object in white. So therefore, because the space to the right is darker than the left, optically, it draws the tower into a "smaller" space on the right.

  94. Scott Stuart August 15, 2012 at 12:48 pm - Reply

    Is that a tilt-shift lens you're using for this shot?

  95. Scott Stuart August 15, 2012 at 12:48 pm - Reply

    Is that a tilt-shift lens you're using for this shot?

  96. Michael Riffle August 15, 2012 at 4:03 pm - Reply

    OK, I'm convinced. I'm checking out this software.  ;)

  97. Michael Riffle August 15, 2012 at 4:03 pm - Reply

    OK, I'm convinced. I'm checking out this software.  ;)

  98. Nicole S. Young August 15, 2012 at 5:08 pm - Reply

    +al feliciano The church is unchanged between the two photos, it's just an illusion that it looks different in the second photo.

    +Scott Stuart Yes, it sure is :)

  99. Nicole S. Young August 15, 2012 at 5:08 pm - Reply

    +al feliciano The church is unchanged between the two photos, it's just an illusion that it looks different in the second photo.

    +Scott Stuart Yes, it sure is :)

  100. Michael Bonocore August 16, 2012 at 4:59 am - Reply

    FAKE!!!! :)

    +Nicole S. Young 

  101. Michael Bonocore August 16, 2012 at 4:59 am - Reply

    FAKE!!!! :)

    +Nicole S. Young

  102. Nicole S. Young August 16, 2012 at 5:01 am - Reply

    +Michael Bonocore Haha! You got me … I was totally expecting to fool everyone ;)

  103. Nicole S. Young August 16, 2012 at 5:01 am - Reply

    +Michael Bonocore Haha! You got me … I was totally expecting to fool everyone ;)

  104. منصور الحارثي August 17, 2012 at 1:46 am - Reply

    هلا

  105. منصور الحارثي August 17, 2012 at 1:46 am - Reply

    هلا

  106. Ian Thomas August 18, 2012 at 2:49 am - Reply

    I loved this shot when you originally posted it.  That sky puts it on another plane of wonderful.  Nicely done.

  107. Ian Thomas August 18, 2012 at 2:49 am - Reply

    I loved this shot when you originally posted it.  That sky puts it on another plane of wonderful.  Nicely done.

  108. Angel Soriano August 20, 2012 at 9:01 pm - Reply

    BEAUTIFUL

  109. Angel Soriano August 20, 2012 at 9:01 pm - Reply

    BEAUTIFUL

  110. nour el houda jojo August 21, 2012 at 10:23 am - Reply

    nice

  111. nour el houda jojo August 21, 2012 at 10:23 am - Reply

    nice

  112. Michel Nadeau August 24, 2012 at 7:25 am - Reply

    Very nice, I bought Onone software but I did not have a chance to use it. You have convinced me to do so. Keep sharing those great images

  113. Ryan Serrano August 29, 2012 at 6:13 am - Reply

    yeah 

  114. Ryan Serrano August 29, 2012 at 6:13 am - Reply

    yeah

  115. Morgana Creely October 8, 2012 at 7:35 am - Reply

    Did you need to make sure you shot the clouds at the same angle as the church?

  116. Morgana Creely October 8, 2012 at 7:35 am - Reply

    Did you need to make sure you shot the clouds at the same angle as the church?

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