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Learn how to create an incredible levitating person with James Paterson

Create a gravity-defying levitation effect in a few steps

This is one of those photo tricks that makes viewers think, ‘How did they do that?’ The answer is surprisingly simple and, like all the best Photoshop techniques, the real skill begins in-camera.

To create a seemingly levitating figure we capture two versions of the scene – one with the person perched on a stable support like a bench or ladder, and the other of the empty scene. Both versions need to be in perfect alignment.

So the actual camera technique is dead easy, we just use a tripod and take two shots – one of our subject, another without them or their perch. Then we piece it together in Photoshop, which – even for a complete Photoshop novice – is a pretty simple job.

But if we leave it there, then it’s just an effect for the effect’s sake. The real skill here is in crafting atmosphere around the effect. That’s how we draw the viewer in. A visual trick is fun, but a story is even more appealing. There are lots of ways to do this – atmospheric lighting, deliberate

mise-en-scène, creative composition, purposeful posing, use of props – all of these factors can enhance the effect. Even the weather can be useful – heavy rainfall here meant we had to abandon the shoot after just a few frames, but it also created beautiful backlit raindrops and watery lens flare, which all adds to the mood…