This is one of a number of PSDtuts.com tutorials i will be redoing in GIMP, this tutorial will teach you how to add that extra touch to your already great photo.

Before we start i advise you to read the orignal tutorial because it contains some nice details i don't cover. i mainly focus on the technical
side on how to do it using GIMP.

Step 1

This great image of a surfer is from iStockPhoto, you can right click>save and open it in GIMP to follow this tutorial.

Step 2

First step is to add some contrast, go to Colors>Brightness & Contrast. unlike the PS tutorial where going to enter 3 for Brightness and 10 for Contrast

Step 3

Now will duplicate the layer by going to the layer dialog and clicking the Duplicate icon

Step 4

Next go to Colors>desaturate and select "Average". this will convert the image to B/W.

Step 5

Set the duplicated Black and White layer to Overlay mode and Opacity to 70%.

Step 6

Now grab the brush tool and in the "Tools option" dialog select "Circle Fuzzy (19)" and set the scale to 10 for a nice soft brush.

Now brush around the edges of the image to give the centre a higher contrast.

Now that you have the edges brushed, set the layer to "Overlay" mode and opacity to 50%.

Step 7

Now to get rid of unwanted noise in the bottom left grab the same brush we used in the previous step 6 create a new layer then brush away the noise and bubbles in the bottom left corner.

Step 8

Now to adjust the brightness will create a new Layer, fill it with the bucket tool with the color black. then set the Mode to "Color" and opacity to 20%.

Step 9

Now to add a touch of green to the water by using one of Arsenal's Freebie downloads under Watercolours Pack Sample

Step 10

Once you download the greenish ocean photo insert it on top of the other layers then set Mode to "Burn" and Opacity to 20%. That's it your completed image should look like this.

The XCF file is attached below for download.