Sometimes filters can be over used when working with photographs but I discovered that using an oil effect on certain subjects brought about quite interesting results.
Edinburgh Botanic Gardens at night in oil effect
Nature photographs were especially effective with the natural flow of shapes and colour. Leaves, branches and roots could create intrinsic patters that leapt out from the photo.
Roots of heather on the beach in oil effect
Adding high contrast and increasing saturation would turn the photos into fantasy-like images that are pleasing to the eye.
Purple heather on Findhorn Beach in oil effect
The above photo of the heather on the beach splits the photo into 4 segments: the sky, the sea, the grass and the heather. The green strands of grass reaching out from within the heather contrasts nicely with the purple of the heather.
Solitary tree contrasts with the background skyline
The wispy curvature of the branches create an ideal contrast with the skyline in this winter photograph. Winter photos in particular would produce very effective photos especially snow or frost scenes.
The sun shines through branches covered in snow
The intricacies of the branches contrasting with the layers of snow and the sun shining through produces very effective results. Without the filter the photo would look very plain but by filtering the photo it transforms the image into a very dynamic scene.
Frosty morning
This photo is one of my favourites. It has the reds and greens of the treeline in the background with the flowing of the high grass (almost like a waterfall) leading into the contrasting white frost grass in the foreground and the branches of the two trees on either side framing the scene.
Terrace house in Kensington, Toronto
You couldn't get a photo more vibrant than this with the colours just jumping out. Vivid blue, pink and green make it almost cartoon, but again, the flow of the leaves give it that feel of movement and illustrates the contrast between the geometric building structure and the natural shapes of the leaves and branches.
Sharks swimming
You wouldn't believe that this photo was taken in the Sea World in Toronto but the deep greens and blues with the contrast between the shadow and light areas provides a very atmospheric photo.
Police box in Edinburgh painted in vivid colours
This police box already looked very colourful, but once photographed and transformed, the colours were stronger. The cobbled effect on the surface adds dimension to the image. Even boxes can look interesting!
Glasgow Green in the Autumn with the trees turning red
Another of my favourites, this photo at Glasgow Green in Autumn produces a kaleidoscope of seasonal colours in the trees. Lovely.
Cherry blossom on the trees in spring
This photo, taken in Linlithgow, was already beautiful with the blossom in full bloom, but the vibrancy of the pink blossom and the deep green of the grass and blue sky makes it stand out.
Waterfall in the River Almond in Edinburgh
A scene I've walked past many times but the waterfall is transformed into an array of curving strokes with the surrounding trees almost in motion effect.
Edinburgh Botanic Gardens lit up at night
This last photo is like something out of some dark fairy tale, with the curving shapes on the trees in the foreground leading into a distant mix of colours. You could almost imagine Little Red Riding Hood heading into the woods.
You'll find many of these photos available here.
All the best
Holly