The making of Solitude, step by step...

Step 1: Isolate subject [teepee]

Step 2: Isolate foreground from sky in landscape photo

Step 3: Insert the sky/lightning image behind foreground layer

Step 4: Duplicate sky/lightning image and transform vertical - correct perspective to fit within water as a reflection and mask away the unneeded areas. Apply just a little bit of distortion/ripple

Step 5: Rough cut of the fire - duplicate the layer cut it down further to where the logs start and then use a lighten blend mode on the original layer

Step 6: Isolate the indian = dodge and burn for shadows

Step 7: Add black and white with colorize adjustment layer

Step 8: Add exposure adjustment layer

Step 9: Add a couple levels of noise on a new neutral layer and apply gaussian blur to layer