| » Forum Index » The Friday Challenge » Topic: Contest 197: Lighting up time |
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Posted on 15/05/08 11:44:05 AM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Maja Firstly, a lovely piece of work. I agree with the comments expressed by Vern. The light, from a number of sources, is coming from a higher position, so the figure, which is lit beautifully incidentally, is unlikely to be casting a shadow up the wall. I think that the shadow pattern suggested by Vern is correct, although I think there would be some shadow on the wall cast by the light at 11 O'clock and it's reflection off the left hand wall. Also, in replacing the lights on the wall, you should also consider what light they would cast on the wall. The current light seems to be produced from what was there before. Nick |
Posted on 15/05/08 2:18:15 PM |
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Maja
Dewey Decimator Posts: 66 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Thank you Nick, Vern for your input I appreciate it. Still room for improvement.  |
Posted on 15/05/08 9:52:07 PM |
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Whaler
Visual Viking Posts: 330 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
In (somewhat) keeping with Vibeke's fairy tale theme, I would like to add this image from the street in Odense where H.C. Andersen was born  _________________ Only in my brightest moments I understand myself |
Posted on 16/05/08 07:11:45 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7047 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Some truly fantastic work this week. Not an easy challenge, but one that’s produced some interesting approaches. Plenty of moths, too, which reminds me of a joke: Man goes into a doctor’s office: “Doctor, I keep thinking I’m a moth.” “You don’t want a doctor, you want a psychiatrist. Why did you come to me?” “Well, your light was on...” First to light up was Mick Malkemus, with a knotted rope hanging from the window. The lamp is certainly lit up, Mick, but there seems to be a uniform amount of darkness on the wall around it: shouldn’t it be casting some more light on that wall? I like the shading on the iron support, though, and the shadow beneath it. A fine yellow glow on the second entry - and I see the knots have all fallen out of the rope. Is that a piece of silk hanging next to it? A moody, grainy entry from Charlotte Babb - that’s a very plaintive hand reaching out of the window. A great lighting effect on the walls, and an intriguing shadow from the bracket - but could this light cast that shadow? Only if the bracket bends to one side, surely! A touching little match girl from vibeke, with the lamp neatly fitting the new street. A great flurry of snow there, but with so much of it flying about, shouldn’t some of it have settled? I really like the extended wall in the second entry - a very romantic piece. Some moodier lighting might have helped here, though - and it’s certainly intriguing that the light around the lamp is brighter than the lantern itself! Must be some kind of negative energy field. Very subtle work from Nick Curtain: A great effect on the lamp itself, and I particularly like the slightly fuzzy edge to the bar on our side. The lighting on the bracket is superb, and must have taken a long time to get right - especially taken with the lit-up crown above the lamp. As lamps go, though, it doesn’t seem to be doing much in the way of illumination. Perhaps something stronger than a 15 Watt bulb next time? Some real glowing from BigVern, with a particularly finely rendered glass lantern. Intrigued by the rays of light coming out of the holes in the top: is it about to lift off and fly to another dimension? There’s also a rather odd blocking effect on the wall, which looks like over-enthusiastic JPEG compression. Did the image really need this much to squeeze it under the 100K limit? A moody, rainswept scene from Luis, with arather beautiful glass lantern. I like the way the rain is lit up here, particularly in the haze around the lamp, and there’s an overall consistency of tone that makes this work well. A touch of humour from Ben Mills - and with people that size, this is one hel of a big lamp! The shadow of the falling key, though, is rather awkwardly placed. Firstly, it’s so large that it could only be cast by a tiny light source an inch in ront of the key; secondly, it’s surely on the wrong side of the key - with the lamp in front, the shadow should be behind it. A neat flickering effect from michael sinclair, complete with twinkle in the glass. I really like the variation in glimmer here, and the shimmering shadow works especially well - but watch the top of the shadow, it shouldn’t overlap the lamp like that. All a bit on-topic for you, though, Michael? Our first moths of the week are from Steve Mac, and they sit very prettily on and around the lamp. Is that a glass dome on the top, do you think? I hadn’t seen it that way, but you could be right. I like the overall monochromatic feel to this one, but don’t really get a sense of that much light coming from the lamp itself: yes, the lantern is lit up, but is it having much of an effect on its surroundings? A bit of fun from brewell, with a part-hidden vice president, draws attention from the fantastic work on the lantern: a beautifully rendered glass shade, with four fine gas mantles inside. There’s an almost touchable texture to this one. Interesting shadow: yes, it makes sense like that, but why just behind the lamp? What’s illuminating the upper part of the other wall? A hazy scene from mguyer, with a bird in a nest occupying the role normally played by Mrs MGuyer. I like the shadow, but that light doesn’t really seem lit up: attack it with the Dodge tool, and see if you can crank up the brightness a few notches! A magnificent pair of ravens from mariong: that one perched on the lamp has a beautiful quality to it. Where did you find a shot from just the right angle? A fine shadow on the wall, too. The lamp itself has some nice touches - I like the ring of lit holes at the top, and the glass effect at the edges; but the light in the middle should be brighter than that yellow, I feel. Great rain, though, and the added drips work particularly well. A very foggy scene from MISH, with moths fluttering around the lamp: great lighting effects, and the fuzzy view of the interior of the lamp works particularly well. I’ve never seen a spider make a circular web over a rectangular hole, though - it looks as though that one’s been knitting doilies for a dinner table. And those moths do look distinctly like butterflies to me... These animations from james just get better and better: he manages to tell a story in a few frames each week. This time, we have a perfectly fluttering moth - look, even the shadow’s wings flap - being swiped by the boy in the window (notice how his head angle follows the moth’s movements) before tumbling to its doom. It’s so good we barely even notice the lighting in the lamp: the way the light spills over the supporting bar at the front is exactly what I’d been hoping for this week. James, once again, you’re a genius. The close-up of the lamp from Maja is beautiful: a real glow from the light, a glittering copper and brass look to the lamp and its bracket. But of course the real treat here is the second entry, which is a work of outstanding beauty and detail. There’s so much in here: the hot spots on the walls behind the lamps, the sweeping shadows of the lamp bases (with the brilliant sense of the hold in the bottom of the lantern), the gorgeous alleyway and the startling, wonderfully detailed figure of the man sitting on the ground. There’s a real painterly quality to this one that makes it a thing of beauty. The lighting on the man is perfect, but I’m going to have to dock you a couple of points for his shadow: what’s it doing splashed up on that wall? That implies a light source in his lap! There’s something slightly dodgy going on with his feet, as well. Interesting fix in the third entry, although I’m not sure about the new shadows beneath the lamps - and that one from the man is still on the wrong side of him. But this image still has a gorgeous feel to it: a real treat. I see tooquilos has had experience of low energy bulbs - and has parodied them beautifully in the animation. The choice of poster is perfect, as well - a really funny piece. But I do have a slight problem with the bulb itself: we’re looking at it head on, but looking up at the lamp. Look at the curvature of the bottom of the glass lantern: that’s what you need to match on the bulb. A couple of minutes with Image Warp would have done this. Plenty more moths from Ellen, clustered around what looks like an enormous gas flame: this one looks like it’s about to blow! A great misty effect, and the inclusion of last week’s stained glass window is a good touch. I’d like to see a few more highlights on the bracket, though, especially directly below the light source. “Make up your own story”, says katew - and that silk stocking certainly does present us with intrigue. There’s a glow around the lamp, but it doesn’t look bright enough: take the Dodge tool to that glass lantern, and see if you can add a really bright hot spot to it. And you need to tidy up the mask around the back of the bracket! More of a firecracker than a gas flame from Neil O: is that the firework from the gun in the book? It works well in there, but the rest of the glass lantern is too dark. The whole thing should be glowing - you have the glow outside it brighter than the glass itself, which (if you think about it) doesn’t make a lot of sense. Take a look at a light bulb: it isn’t just the filament that’s bright! It’s not hard to imagine Hans Christian Andersen being born in Whaler’s street - although it’s also not hard to imagine passers-by knocking themselves out on that new lamp. A beautifully created night scene, with great splashes of light on the road. Good to see you back, Hans-Erik! I notice, by the way, the 200th Friday Challenge is just a couple of weeks away. Anyone have a bright idea for a way to celebrate our bicentenary? |
Posted on 16/05/08 07:38:48 AM |
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BigVern
Q Quipper Posts: 674 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Steve, thanks for the kind comments. Glad you noticed my tribute to the spaceship from E.T. and yes I do not know what was happening but somehow in compressing the image I messed up the wall. Went to the avatar shop as I felt like a change ... |
Posted on 16/05/08 08:23:17 AM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Thanks Steve, I enjoyed this one immensely. I'll nip down to Homebase for a stronger bulb. I think you've missed Anna's entry? Nick |
Posted on 16/05/08 08:45:55 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2904 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Thank you Steve. I could see something was wrong with the bulb but couldnt pinpoint the problem Nick, thank you for the Birthday wishes. And also, I think whats happened with my entry..Steve has mistakenly put Vibeke's name instead of mine.  |
Posted on 16/05/08 09:19:33 AM |
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Whaler
Visual Viking Posts: 330 Reply |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Thanks for your kind comments, Steve! And a comment: Being a "veteran", I still very often return to this forum. I don't always find the time to participate in the challenges, but frequently download the start image with the intention to do so. And it's good to find so many new and creative members. _________________ Why? |
Posted on 16/05/08 09:21:20 AM |
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vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Getting us girls 'from down' under mixed up could happen to anybody, and is definitely in my favour, I just lost about 20 years. Not often Steve makes a mistake, nice to know he is human too. Your comments as always make me wish I had looked closer at my pictures before posting. The lack of snow was deliberate, it had just started snowing. I do like this time of the year when there is an extra 2 hours time difference and I can read Steve's comments on Friday evening, instead of having to wait till Saturday morning. (it's 8.25pm Friday here) |
Posted on 16/05/08 10:15:39 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7047 Reply |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Oops! Sorry, Anna, Vibeke - fixed now. |
Posted on 16/05/08 11:32:22 AM |
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Steve Mac
Grunge Genie Posts: 539 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Thanks Steve. it was hard to tell whether the top was translucent or not so I went with it anyway. |
Posted on 16/05/08 1:17:18 PM |
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Neil O
Cartoon Contractor Posts: 389 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Thanks Steve, The light was from a fireplace, not the book. And yes your absolutely right about the lamp. Way to dark for the light its emitting! Thanks again. Neil _________________ "If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward".... Thomas Edison |
Posted on 16/05/08 1:48:43 PM |
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katew
Virtual Virtuoso Posts: 681 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Thanks Steve. Yes, I think the light itself could have been brighter! |
Posted on 16/05/08 2:35:36 PM |
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katew
Virtual Virtuoso Posts: 681 Reply |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Is this a bit better?  |
Posted on 17/05/08 01:29:26 AM |
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Ellen
Fire Queen Posts: 102 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Thanks Steve for the comments, as Vibeke said they encourage one to look again. |
Posted on 17/05/08 01:38:23 AM |
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Maja
Dewey Decimator Posts: 66 Reply |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Thank you Steve! I'm learning all the time. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from a topnotch artist like you. I don't want to take credit where credit is not due. The original photo had lit street lamps in it. |
Posted on 17/05/08 11:44:34 AM |
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Mick Malkemus
Meticulous Manipulator Posts: 91 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Hi Mick. Thanks for your comments. I like your second attempt. Did you create the rope in photoshop? Luis, I took a photo from the Net for the rope. Almost always I do that, or create something in a 3D program if I can't find what I'm looking for. [/quoted] |
Posted on 17/05/08 12:40:02 PM |
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brewell
Pixel Pentagrammarian Posts: 752 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
What's illuminating the upper part of the wall? That question was like a moth in my subconscious. My research lantern had a column of lights that went from top to bottom, lulling my analytical mind to accept the picture. Thanks for the fix. I also added "Stop the War" graffiti at the bottom to give Mr. Cheney something to snarl at. _________________ Change the world! Use a layer mask. |
Posted on 18/05/08 6:05:31 PM |
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mariong
Bayern Brushsmith Posts: 36 Reply  |
Re: Contest 197: Lighting up time
Thanks Steve! The raven I found on the Internet, although in a completely different environment and yes, the light really should be brighter. |
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