I have been wanting to try a few new things with photo illustration lately. So after doing some sketches and working on some ideas, I decided I wanted to start with a concept that was simple, did not include any people, and would let me push my style and technique. Because I know live in a desert, I wanted to use some of the local landscape in my illustration, so my family and I went for a hike nearby around sunset. I was able to take some really great photos, one of which was of burning coals. Because of the pictures I ended up with I went with a sketch I had done of an altar. This image is made up of about six different photos, all but two of them from the same hike.
I believe strongly in the power of photography and Photoshop to create beautiful illustrations. I love the way I can edit everything in the images and make anything I possibly could want. This style is growing in popularity in the illustration world, and any new illustrator should consider spending some time learning not only how to take photos but also how to composite them together.