How to Add water to a landscape pic

1

Duplicate layer

Go to File > Open and browse to a landscape shot. Click Open. Click on the Layers panel’s tab. Choose Layer > Duplicate. Select the Move tool [V]. Drag the shot up so that the subject is near the top of the frame.

2

Flip layer vertically

In the Layers panel, click on the original background layer at the bottom of the stack. Click the padlock icon to unlock the layer. Choose Arrange > Flip Vertical. Drag the flipped layer downwards to create a reflection.

3

Mask the top layer

Click on the top layer’s thumbnail. Choose Layer > New Mask layer. A white mask attaches itself to the top layer. Grab the Paint Brush tool. Click on the white mask. Spray black strokes on the mask to hide the lower section.

4

Apply Zoom blur

Click on the bottom layer. Choose Filters > Blur > Zoom Blur. Drag the Radius slider to 20.5px. Click to place a point on the water’s horizon so that the pixels blur outwards, creating depth and perspective. Click Apply.

5

Add a ripple

To selectively ripple sections of water choose the Elliptical Marquee tool. Set Feather to 25px to give the selection a soft edge. Draw an elliptical selection. Choose Filter > Distort > Ripple. Use a low Intensity value.

6

Lighten the water

Press ç+D to deselect the marquee. Choose Layer > New Adjustment Layers > Levels. Drag the Gamma slider left to lighten the reflection layer which helps to differentiate the colour and tones from the original image.