| » Forum Index » The Friday Challenge » Topic: Challenge 825: Herculaneum |
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Posted on 01/10/20 10:16:07 PM |
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michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1864 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Life at the imperial court 
STATIC IMAGE 
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Posted on 02/10/20 02:55:07 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3055 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Thank you Michael. Life at the Imperial Court has change a bit since I lived there. We didn't have a TV in those days. 
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Posted on 02/10/20 08:32:44 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7023 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
A lot of debate about scale and perspective this week. Mariner: I wasn’t standing on a platform, and I didn’t correct the verticals in the image afterwards - this is exactly as shot. And to answer David’s question on size: the horizon is where your subjects’ eyelines should be, and the drawing you posted is in fact correct to scale. A lot of you were confused this week by the shape of the indentation bottom right. But as you can see from this wide angle version, the indentation isn’t a rectangular pool, but an inlet from a much larger pool: 
Extraordinary that DavidMac found this drawing of the same room - and that makes more sense of the shape of the pool. An elegant proper entry, with tasteful and well-considered decoration. Not your kind of challenge, perhaps, but it’s good to have a go at what stretches you. The huge cast in the third entry adds a real sense of Roman decadence - and what a curious selection of people. Tastefully done, David. A splendid restoration from Ant Snell, with recoloured frescoes and an excellent floor and ceiling. The texture of the water in the pool is particularly convincing. Is that a very short man, though? If not, he should be at least as tall as the woman behind him… eyelines on the horizon, Ant. A fun entry from Josephine Harvatt, featuring cowboy builders. The faded Rodeo sign is cute, but those saloon doors are a stroke of genius. A magnificent restoration in progress from GKB, with perfect angles on the scaffolding and ladder - are these 3D modelled? And a tremendous floor. I’d question the angle of the frieze on the top of the right hand wall, though. Needs to be higher on the right. I hugely enjoyed dwindt's entry, with its shiny new floor and intriguing cast of characters. There’s a real story going on here. And I really like all the extras - the chair, the scaffolding, the tables. Excellent. Fun from Ben Mills, channeling both Monty Python and, in a throwback to the 1970s, Frankie Howerd in Up Pompeii. And how appropriate that was. A mystical entry from Tom, featuring his trademark blue flames surrounding a statue of Diana. Beautiful, and beguiling. I like the way you’ve broken the ceiling away, and that’s a fascinating sky. A clever solution from lwc: why restore when you can hide in the shadows? The lamp and arm make great foreground elements, and the shadows are expertly realised. A neat take on the Raiders logo, too - a very entertaining image. A meticulous restoration from tooquilos, who has dealt with the pool issue by paving over it. I like the extra elements - but what are those curious feet on the table? A truly glorious animated version, showing the destruction of the town. I really like the what the wall cracks and the floor falls away. Some great new elements from JimH, fitting well into the restored room. That bench against the wall, though, does rather throw out the perspective… and to answer your question: following my instructions is a path that Forum members rarely choose to take. It’s all about your imagination. Mariner has rebuilt the room from scratch, incorporating the existing elements and greatly embellishing them. And it’s a beautiful piece of work: the lighting and shadows are immaculate. The figures who dress the scene are perfectly chosen. I’m entertained by the way you’ve turned the niche into a toilet. Mindful destruction from Michael Sinclair, but with such fine lava that I’m prepared to accept the vandalism. Expertly done. I like the exuberance of the second entry, but would question your choice of artwork. And, er, the TV? |
Posted on 02/10/20 08:58:31 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2898 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Many thanks to everyone for your kind comments 
Thank you Steve The feet were meant to be lion feet but I guess it didn't translate too well _________________ Wicked Witch of the West:I'll get you, my pretty! And your little dog, too! |
Posted on 02/10/20 09:38:03 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3055 Reply |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Thanks Steve, That was the most interesting and challenging (and lengthy) project I have had for some time. More please. |
Posted on 02/10/20 10:47:53 AM |
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JimH
Image Imaginator Posts: 74 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Thanks Steve and relieved that am not going to be excommunicated!!  So glad you didn't post the wide angle pic, struggled enough as it was!!  |
Posted on 02/10/20 10:53:08 AM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5666 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Mariner that's terrific. Lighting especially. _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 02/10/20 11:14:39 AM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5666 Reply |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Although I found the restoration phase rather tedious it was challenging and I did enjoy populating it. Correct me if I am wrong here Steve, but eyelines at horizon is a great rule of thumb if the photographer is on the same level as the subject. That is of course the case with most photographs, so it's an excellent guideline. The horizon is always at the photographers eye height. So if for example the photographer is squatting or on high ground relative to subject then this rule breaks down. I presumed, wrongly it transpires, that your photograph was taken from slightly above normal eye level. That is why the foreground dancers are placed below eye level as would be the case if the camera were slightly elevated. Strictly speaking for a photograph taken at eye level that should be wrong. Funny thing is, to my eye, it feels fine subjectively. Puzzling. _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 02/10/20 12:15:35 PM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 3218 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Thanks Steve, a fun challenge... |
Posted on 02/10/20 1:51:43 PM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3055 Reply |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Thank you David. Most people on this site don't seem to care much about lighting and shadows. If you want to brighten up your picture and make it come to life you must add shadows. It sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? |
Posted on 02/10/20 2:11:44 PM |
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dwindt
Realism Realiser Posts: 919 Reply |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Well done everybody. Thank you Steve. Yes, time to stop renovations. The wife of a Roman Officer has just received news that her husband has been killed in battle. Beautiful re-model Mariner. I agree with your shadow and lighting statement. I'd include reflections, surface form and secondary light. All items in a scene are affected by the environment that surrounds them. By changing colour of all layers with a hint of your back ground colours, blends them into your scene. _________________ The grass is greener on the other side of the fence because there is more $hit there. |
Posted on 02/10/20 2:21:26 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7023 Reply |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Absolutely. |
Posted on 02/10/20 2:37:46 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5666 Reply |
Re: Challenge 825: Herculaneum
Shadows are the 'glue' that binds everything together. They not only give atmosphere, they place objects in 3D space and 'glue' them to the surface where they belong or, conversely, can make things 'float' above a surface. They are one of those visual 'cues' that we use constantly to evaluate the world around us without even realising it. _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
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