| » Forum Index » The Friday Challenge » Topic: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass |
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Posted on 15/05/14 4:07:22 PM |
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Deborah Morley
Makeover Magician Posts: 1319 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
Thanks for the image Michael.  |
Posted on 15/05/14 8:05:38 PM |
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Emil
KAFKAsFRIEND Posts: 413 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
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Posted on 16/05/14 03:33:55 AM |
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srawland
Pixel Perfectionist Posts: 885 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
The leopard is supposed to look as if it were lying in the grass. I'm not sure I was successful with that. When illegally obtained, exotic wild animals escape... 
_________________ I'm still learning. |
Posted on 16/05/14 05:27:24 AM |
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darrenandcolleen@telus.net
Serene Synthesist Posts: 119 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
2 snakes in the grass Watch where you tinkle  |
Posted on 16/05/14 08:06:58 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7052 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
A splendid image from Frank this week, with three golfers hunting for their lost ball and a crocodile lying in wait - very nicely done. The man on the right seems to be rather sharply cut off at the hips, but otherwise great blending all round. I like images that tell a story. I stared and stared at DavidMac's image but couldn't see anything in it. So I was grateful for the second entry, but still couldn't see anything in there - so I copied the image over the original and set it to Difference mode, and here's what I got: 
Once you see it, of course, it's obvious in the original, but it's one of those gestalt things: you can't un-see it once you know it's there. Anyone else have this problem with it? A more sinister alligator image from Kathrin, featuring a little girl wandering towards a hidden reptile - that heavy black border a clear omen of a tragic result. Nicely put together, and I like the composition. A couple of entertaining fairies from Ben Mills, neatly blended into the grass. But there's a problem with the perspective: since the photo was shot from a very low angle, the nearest fairy should appear a lot taller than the further one. The eyeline thing only works when you're standing up: 
I like the idea in Ant Snell's entry, with the unsuspecting rabbit about to be pounced upon. But there's something curiously static about the bird: it looks as if it's perched on a branch, rather than swooping. I don't know why this is, or what you could do about it, though. A couple of attractive sheep from Garfield72, and the grass fits over them very well. But the nearer one should be higher - see my comment on Ben Mills's entry above. Here's how it should have looked: 
I like the view of Daniel Millar's dog, rather neatly hidden in the grass. The grass stalks over the body are particularly well done. There's something about the head though, that suggests it's digging its nose into the ground: should this be a little less concealed? "Trying to conquer perspective" says Vibeke, with her fine entry showing a bunch of kids striding through the grass. They're very well chosen, but you're right - there is a perspective issue. It's all to do with the fact that the camera was very low. The horizon is on a level with the bottom of the gate, or even lower - see my comment on Ben Mills' entry above. This is how it should have looked: 
A great beach scene from tooquilos, with the sandy path beautifully worked into the landscape. A terrific animated version, with a great story - love the sky writing! When brewell feels a bit off his game, he still turns in the business. This contretemps between a snake and a mongoose is very neatly worked out - a real sense of conflict there. There doesn't always have to be a punchline! I really liked the ripples in michael sinclair' entry, which brings that water to life - although I've had added some strong reflections of the left-hand clump of grass, which seems to be missing them. Is it just me, or is the fish looking up at the sky, rather than at the ducks? Pleased you didn't supply one of your usual 'after the catastrophe' supplementary images, which in this case might have been rather gruesome. A clever image from puffin31939, with beetles taking over the scene - and one of them neatly brought closer with the magnifying glass. I can't remember - are you using a very old version of Photoshop? Cause if it's CS5 or later, you could have turned the beetle into a 3D object so we could see it from different angles... I don't know what inspired Linda Eckert's alpenhorn, or why it's failing to rouse the two sleeping bodies in the foreground. Is he waiting to blow? Either way, the sleepers are a little odd in this shot: from this camera angle, we should be able to see a lot more of their bodies. Good swooping from joeysala, with a host of nasties waiting to pounce on the cute little bunnies. Or is the eagle heading for the snake? And if so, who will get there first? A good sense of menace from Emy, with a house deep in the jungle and a tiger lying in wait. Should the tiger be more concealed by the grass, perhaps? But that's a good view of the building, well in keeping with the low camera angle. A nice image from Deborah Morley, who has placed a lizard on a bench - great blending of the grass over the legs. Just one thing: wouldn't it be more comfortable if the lizard's tail disappeared over the back of the bench, rather than curling round over the front? A beautiful image from Emil, with a lion nestling into the grass. You have a real way with colour and atmosphere, Emil, which adds a great sense of majesty to the image. And a great low angle on the lion, too. Excellent. I liked srawland's entry, with the leopard neatly hidden in the grass - and the man looking over his shoulder is perfectly placed to look directly at it, making a great interaction between the two. Well judged perspective here. A funny image from Darren, but it's the sort of photo that could get you into trouble these days. Personally I'd tone down the saturation on the blue, which seems to scream out just a bit too much - it is a largely overcast day, after all. Many thanks, Michael, for the original image. |
Posted on 16/05/14 11:26:25 AM |
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puffin31939
Montage Mariner Posts: 383 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
Thanks, Steve. I have CS5 but not the extended version. 3D is not on my radar at the moment. I am still getting to grips with the basics of Photoshop. The Attic in 100% PS is my next project and that will take me some time! _________________ Man cannot change the direction of the wind but he can adjust the sails |
Posted on 16/05/14 12:10:08 PM |
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Frank
Eager Beaver Posts: 1770 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
Thanks Steve -- just for info -- the guy on the right was in grass that way in original picture so it made it reasonably easy to blend the two grasses. I oftentimes prefer my pics to tell a story or make the viewer wonder or question the scene in their mind. |
Posted on 16/05/14 2:55:55 PM |
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srawland
Pixel Perfectionist Posts: 885 Reply |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
Thank you Steve for your critique. However, the man in the picture is my sister. She and my brother-in-law just got back from what you would call a walking holiday close to the shore of Lake Superior close to Duluth, Minnesota. She's dressed that way because it is still quite cold there. It is not unknown for it to snow in Duluth in June. Thanks to the miracle of cell phones and digital photography I was able to get a picture with her half-turned and taken from a low angle. The original picture was considerably more overcast so I actually had to increase the saturation. I didn't tell her that I was going to be placing her in such danger so, unfortunately, I didn't get her looking in terror. I did try to change her expression a bit using the liquify filter, but it didn't turn out well. But maybe the figure can't quite make out it is a leopard owing to the leopard's natural camouflage. Thank you Michael for use of the original image. However, if I ever hook a fish like that, I'm throwing it back. It's ugly and looks as if it wouldn't be very tasty. _________________ I'm still learning. |
Posted on 16/05/14 7:22:13 PM |
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Emil
KAFKAsFRIEND Posts: 413 Reply |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
Thank you Steve. |
Posted on 16/05/14 8:05:06 PM |
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vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
Thanks Steve for showing the correct way. Don't know why I can't see it before I post. Will have to put more work into perspective. _________________ Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. |
Posted on 17/05/14 5:38:13 PM |
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Garfield72
Montage Manceau Posts: 353 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
Thanks Steve for explaining the perspective |
Posted on 18/05/14 10:15:03 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2905 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 504: Snake in the grass
Many thanks Steve  _________________ Wicked Witch of the West: I'm melting! I'm melting! |
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