Special Effects

You are about to enter another dimension, where time, space, color, and light itself can be manipulated at will. No, it’s not the Twilight zone…it’s Adorama’s in-depth guide to Special Effects Photography!

Welcome to Adorama’s school of visual wizardry, where magical photographic worlds are just a shutter click away.



We’ve devoted an entire area of the Adorama Academy to special effects photography because:

a) it’s fun;

b) for aspiring pros, many techniques can be applied to jazz up your portfolio and assignments;

c) transforming a normal subject into something that looks like it’s from another planet can be a very creative, fulfilling activity; and

d) it’s fun



Software? Not required



Surprisingly, many special effects can be done in camera, and do not require any work in image-editing programs. Some techniques can only be done with film, although most can be done either in camera or after the fact using Photoshop or some other image-editing program. We’ll show you both ways.



While many of our staff of world-class photography experts have contributed to this section, none has provided as much useful information as Elinor Stecker-Orel, who has spent a lifetime collecting and writing about techniques to push your camera to its outer limits. We don’t call her our Special Effects Diva for nothing!





First, be sure to visit the just-added Special Effects Filters: Glass vs. Photoshop, Elinor’s in-depth look at seven special effects where she compares how easy it is to accomplish each effect, first using a Glass filter, and then using Photoshop CS. Also be sure to check out Glass vs. Photoshop, Part II!



In-camera techniques



Elinor has a plethora of time-tested techniques, including several multiple exposure tips (three-shot multiple exposures, and multiple exposures with overlapping and non-overlapping subjects), as well as in-camera techniques that include zooming your lens or moving your camera during exposure.
















Elinor will also show you how to create colorful abstracts using mylar and colored paper, reflections, and refractions, drawing with light, using the Tri-Color effect, and creating the illusion of texture in your pictures. You’ll even learn to make a tasty slide sandwich.



In each case, you’ll learn how to accomplish the effect both in your camera and in Photoshop. The techniques may have changed, but the effects are timeless!



Joe Farace has plenty of ideas for anyone who likes the look of photos shot with toy cameras such as the Holga or Diana, and shows you how to create the toy camera look digitally.
You can also learn how to manipulate your lens to change the look of your backgrounds, and how to shoot multiple flash (strobe) photography by Jim Bailey. Jim also has contributed a very cool film-only technique, using color infrared film to capture landscapes in a way that are impossible to shoot digitally.
Finally, check out Peter Lipshutz’s technique for making digital 3D anaglyph photographs, a special effect that’s benefitting greatly from new technology.