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Posted on 21/11/25 08:27:54 AM

Steve Caplin
Administrator
Posts: 7087

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Re: Challenge 1080: Steaming ahead

First to steam up this week was Ben Boardman, with a glorious array of vehicles in matching livery. A great arrangement, and the added steam really brings the scene to life. Expertly done, Ben.

I’m a bit confused by GKB's graveyard. Is the cemetery itself raised up? It appears so from the height of the man in brown, and what looks like the edge of a wall. I’m not sure “six feet deep” applies if you’ve just raised the ground by six feet. That aside, the steam engine works well, and good to see it puffing away like that.

I hadn’t interpreted Ant Snell’s steam engine as going past a falling chimney – but of course remember Fred Dibnah well. I like the modified steam engine, but should they both be letting their feet get tangled up in the wheel like that? A really funny animated version, with its splendidly wonky wheel. Excellent.

A beautiful image from Frank, with the steam engine racing away from a tornado. It’s all perfectly realised – the scaling of the people, the dust thrown up from the wheels, the sense of urgency. Masterful. And I think this use of AI is quite acceptable: using it as a component in an image, rather than to create the full scene. Interesting to see your full AI version. While perhaps technically perfect, it lacks soul; whereas your original entry was a perfect composition, this AI version is unbalanced and fails to engage.

A charming engraving from lwc, the building behind reminiscent of the barn in American Gothic. I like the faded edges. The infrared version will certainly appeal to Gordon; I’ve never been that much of a fan. I like the down hill slope version, although the low placement of the horizon is at odds with the perspective of the engine. Unless “downhill” means sloping towards the camera? The animated version works very well.

A different perspective from tooquilos, resulting in a modest change of scale for the steam engine. I like the steampunk headgear and that gas mask looks like a necessity. Terrific wheel movement in the animated version, I really like how it blasts past all those cars – what fun! I like how it contrasts with the bridge entry – is that the Hogwarts Express? Looks like a collision course to me. Fascinating to see how Nano Banana has managed to change the angle of view: as with Frank’s entry above, I think this is a perfectly valid use of AI.

I thought Mariner might rise to the challenge and rebuild the engine, and I’m not disappointed. It sparkles in the sunshine, and that’s a splendid new canopy. I suspect the golfers will be less than impressed.

Posted on 21/11/25 08:35:28 AM

Mariner
Renaissance Mariner
Posts: 3183

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Re: Challenge 1080: Steaming ahead

Thanks Steve. Keep up the good work!

Posted on 21/11/25 09:21:32 AM

GKB
Magical Montagist
Posts: 4079

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Re: Challenge 1080: Steaming ahead

I thought you might have something to say about the churchyard. When I saw the image for the Challenge I realised that there was a perspective issue and I was going to have to ‘look down’ on the final comp. My mind immediately went to a churchyard image that I shot some time ago (for an image of an alien spaceship that landed in Ditchling)

Ditchling’s 11th century church was built on a mound in the centre of the village with the graveyard surrounding it. On this side of the graveyard there is, indeed, a retaining wall to keep the residents in. It has been mostly successful in this task.

I toyed with the idea of removing the headstones but decided that they would add depth to the image.

Some good work from everyone again.

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Posted on 21/11/25 11:43:25 AM

Ben Boardman
Printing Pro
Posts: 699

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