I used a dark (nearly black) BG for the LO
1) Found photo used by Adryane for her gorgeous LO, "Cobblestones"
Link on Flickr
Link
2) (Red box) Used process similar to that described at Photoshop Star
Link to give photo a painterly effect. Saved as the source/pattern for pattern stamp tool
3) (Blue box) Stacked two layers of the painting with masks applied and two layers of pattern stamping (impressionist box ticked) - with various blending modes. Merged the 4 layers onto a new ("stamped"
layer.
4) (Pink box) Clipped the merged layer from step 3 onto various FotoInspiredEdge masks
5) (Green box) Applied glowing edges filter to original photo
6) (Orange box) Used an Anna glow to dim the light "in the distance" and give it a bluish tinge