| » Forum Index » The Friday Challenge » Topic: Challenge 276: Fill the moat |
|
Posted on 26/11/09 11:48:35 PM |
|
michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1871 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Some good work this week 
Click on pics for bigger: 
|
Posted on 27/11/09 08:33:40 AM |
|
Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7047 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Some outstanding moat treatments this week - who'd have thought a body of water could provoke such variety and imagination? From a technical standpoint, too, I think this week has seen some of the most accomplished work on this forum. Congratulations all round, and a special thanks to Nick for the original image. First to take the plunge was Jeepy, with a sepia-tinted old photograph effect. I like the rippling, but the reflection needs to follow the lines of the original - and you must make sure that where objects touch the water, they meet their reflections. Look at the drainpipe in the middle of the left wall: it has to touch the drainpipe in the reflection as well. A clever dodge from Josephine Harvatt - tremendous ice fitting. I particularly like the edge treatment. But it looks to me as if the couple would have to be floating a foot or two off the surface to be in that position... didn't I remember reading somewhere about eyelines and the horizon? A beautiful, glorious winter scene from Luka: everything about this is perfect, from the way the snow rises up the side of the walls to the elongated shadow, to the dripping icicles. A beautiful, striking piece of work. I know you've only been a member here for a couple of months, but this is certainly enough to earn you an early title. I think Skilful Snowman appropriate for this entry. Excellent work. I prefer the original to the second entry - a little too artificial - but I do like the snowman! A fantastic night scene from tat, wet at night with a couple of lit windows - they really punctuate the scene well. I really like the colouring here, and the water surface is beautiful. Is this the Glass filter at work? Great shading, a really striking image. And as far as I'm concerned, you're free to use the image on your blog - check with Nick first, though. Perfect reflections from Nick Curtain - and I really like the blanket weed effect at the edges, it adds a lot of realism. The swan is a fantastic touch! In fact this image is so realistic, I'm starting to wonder whether this is the original, and Nick placed the dry moat in there before sending it to me. Now that would be a cunning cheat! A well-used moat from GKB, complete with duck house, swans and sailing ship. Is that a plug hole at the bottom? Nice touch! Reflecting boats is always tricky: yours bends down too much. From this angle, it would be as if we were looking up at the boat from below, so we shouldn't be able to see any deck. Tricky business, reflections! I like the new sky - but a day as bright as that would produce much stronger shadows and highlights in the buildings. Interesting work from Jonvee Leo, with an acid building reflecting a realistically coloured original. the reflection and rippling is good, and I like that we can see the bottom of the moat through the reflection as well. Not entirely sure about the green, though... I really smiled when I saw Jota120's entry - what a beautifully constructed set of sluices! and so much detail here - the spray, the ducks on the water, the subtle blending... fantastic work, Trevor! A calm and reflective scene from Ben Mills: very fine reflections, a good green tint. The whole image has an increased contrast to match the new sky: a very consistent, accomplished job. The new tree at the front of LonnieK 's entry frames the view perfectly. An excellent reflection, with great rippling detail around the swans: and the leaves just floating on the surface add great detail. Very good work. I'm trying to read the mystery object that breaks the )immaculate) surface in brewell's entry, but so far I'm stumped. It looks like a giant aquatic cockroach, but that seems unlikely... has Nessie found a new home? A glorious animation from tooquilos - the splashes and the rippling surface are really well achieved, but it's the way the objects continue to the bottom, beneath the water, that's so appealing. A fabulous piece of work, Anna! And I love the added leaves on the surface, they really add perspective and a sense of the water as a real object. A semi-submerged drama from katew - glad to see the moat isn't all that deep! I'm still trying to work out where you found a picture of a cameraman with his trouser legs rolled up... A subtle splash from gaoxiguo: I like the way this has been blended into the scene. But surely such a big splash would create some ripples around it, as well? A tremendous perspective fit on the wave pool from jwhite - the barrier and walls fit the scene well. Rear wall of the pool does need to turn the corner as the building does, though: or maybe it's the wave that's confusing my sense of perspective? A stealthy night scene from vibeke. I like the boat, but it needs to have a wake to show where it's been. There are some lines coming towards us, but they imply the boat is moving sideways! Cool lit up windows, though - I can't believe you selected every one of the vertical slits in the door! Really clever work from drlasher - not just the initial idea of draining the pool, but the perfect execution: the diving board (great angle on that, I love the tudor handrails), the tiled floor with the crenellated shadow, the cleaners and the warning sign - oh yes, and the lifebelt on the far wall. Fantastic attention to detail, a really clever and intricate piece of work. A dramatic scene from laddition, with turbulent water splashing against the side walls. I like the recolouring, and the lit windows, as well as the new sky. Is the boat sinking, though? Shouldn't it be turned at more of an angle? I prefer the original to the second entry - I like the drama of the splashes on the walls. A host of people falling into the moat in horonggo's entry - it's raining men! Since the building is so toned down, I think you need to adjust the contrast of all the people to match - and maybe rotate them, which will give a better sense of falling. Extraordinary balletic swans from james: I love the symmetrical dancing, and the high drama as they fly towards us. I can't imagine how many swan pictures you had to source to make this one work! You really have this animal movement down to a fine art... fantastic. The rippling water and scrolling sky really add to the effect, as well. A dramatic lightning strike from Emil: I like the way it illuminates the whole scene, some great shadows there. As always, it's the attention to detail that makes Emil's work so appealing: note the weed in the moat, the subtle rain, the reflections of the lightning strike in the windows. Terrific! It would be horribly pedantic of me to ask for reflections of the lightning in the windows reflected in the water as well... Much animation from michael sinclair, starting with an appealing rippling moat - I like the randomised treatment here. But surely the duck in the second entry should have been on the water in the first? And the reflected duck should never be transparent - we must not be able to see the windows through it! Ducks are opaque objects! After all that animation, it's quite a relief to come to the relative calm of the third entry. Has half the building been washed away, then? |
Posted on 27/11/09 08:36:29 AM |
|
laddition
femme fatale Posts: 585 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Thank you Steve! Have a good week!! _________________ Mais je me connais, je lâcherais pas l'affaire.... Je vais piquer de grève comme on pique une colère... Plus têtue que tous les vieil homme et la mer... Pour que continue le combat ordinaire! |
Posted on 27/11/09 08:46:30 AM |
|
Emil
KAFKAsFRIEND Posts: 413 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Steve, many thanks for your comment. You are absolutely right, the reflection of light in water is missing. I did not notice that. Thank you for that point. Have a nice weekend. _________________ I have the true feeling of myself only when I am unbearably unhappy. - Franz Kafka |
Posted on 27/11/09 08:49:20 AM |
|
Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Thanks Steve and I'm glad members enjoyed working on this one. I can assure you the moat was dry and I'm more than happy for Tat to use the image. Nick |
Posted on 27/11/09 08:53:11 AM |
|
tat
* Posts: 29 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Thanks Steve, Solid Black Colour layer then the stock photo of the actual water (texture) Both layers have an opacity of 50% Some dodging and burning on the waves there. I have the full explanation here just in case somebody interested: http://blog.tatianaphoto.com/ I am new to the Photoshop jargon, but hopefully the steps are clear. It's not meant to be the exact flow, just wanted to capture the basic logic. Thanks for the wonderful webinar on Wednesday! |
Posted on 27/11/09 09:01:04 AM |
|
Jeepy
Modeleur Mystique Posts: 174 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Steve Caplin wrote:First to take the plunge was Jeepy, with a sepia-tinted old photograph effect. I like the rippling, but the reflection needs to follow the lines of the original - and you must make sure that where objects touch the water, they meet their reflections. Look at the drainpipe in the middle of the left wall: it has to touch the drainpipe in the reflection as well. You're right Steve, I realized my mistake too late.  Thank you Steve.
|
Posted on 27/11/09 09:13:14 AM |
|
Luka
Skilful Snowman Posts: 94 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Thank You very much Steve. And thank you for a title.
|
Posted on 27/11/09 09:44:17 AM |
|
tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2905 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Thank you so much Steve! _________________ Dorothy: Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore |
Posted on 27/11/09 09:46:32 AM |
|
katew
Virtual Virtuoso Posts: 681 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Thanks Steve. You've forgotten what I do for a living! The people are from an actual glamour shoot I did in south Wales. The cameraman is David (my husband), I'm on stills in the background, and the model is one we hired. David and I were actually wading in the sea to get the shots. |
Posted on 27/11/09 10:17:18 AM |
|
brewell
Pixel Pentagrammarian Posts: 752 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
'Tis a walking catfish from South Florida, living among other exotic species such as poisonous toads, piranha and boa constrictors.  _________________ Onward and upward! Excelsior! |
Posted on 27/11/09 12:27:27 PM |
|
Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7047 Reply |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Eeurgh! When you say walking, you mean... walking? |
Posted on 27/11/09 3:42:03 PM |
|
brewell
Pixel Pentagrammarian Posts: 752 Reply |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Yes, they crawl out of their ponds and scuttle around in the streets and cause great anxiety among small dogs. _________________ Onward and upward! Excelsior! |
Posted on 27/11/09 5:38:15 PM |
|
GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4033 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 276: Fill the moat
Thanks Steve, Yes it is a bath plug! I was going to cheat and just leave it there with the plug removed and no water but ........... And there is an old wheel beside it to the right. I didn't fix the reflection from the boat as I didn't have too much time and I didn't think it would be noticed with all the water ripples distorting it........wrong!! Looking forward to the entries for the Sarko Challenge. Perhaps we could do one showing Tony Blair actually doing the job he is being paid for or Berlusconi as an innocent little angel? Or (for Neal) what Dubya is doing in retirement? _________________ Why isn't 'phonetic' spelled the way it sounds? |
| page: 1 2 3 4 last |