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Posted on 14/04/23 08:13:14 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 6838 Reply  |
Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
I attended a talk last night by Mick Herron, author of the Slough House novels (and if you haven't read them, you really should). It took place in the Conway Hall, in London's Red Lion Square. The square itself is packed with history – Bertrand Russell lived here, as did Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the rest of the Preraphaelites. But there was one largely unsung hero who live and died in the square – the first man in London to carry an umbrella: 
I think he deserves a monument, don’t you? High res is here. The shadows might be tricky.  |
Posted on 14/04/23 12:14:57 PM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 2638 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
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Posted on 14/04/23 1:30:58 PM |
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michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1754 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Yes, I can see the logic of your suggestion; however, another problem is created: shadow in direct sunlight.  |
Posted on 14/04/23 1:41:57 PM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 2828 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Excellent, Loyd, but shouldn't the people be moving slightly to show they are alive? |
Posted on 14/04/23 2:30:24 PM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 2638 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Good idea Michael, have another look... that little bit of movement nearly doubled the file size, but I got away with it.  |
Posted on 14/04/23 4:46:10 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 4946 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Have to confess to being rather uninspired by this one. I have no ideas other than the literally obvious, which I haven't really pulled off very well. The statue is a real Mr Hanway statue..  _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 14/04/23 5:23:40 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 4946 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Alternative approach. Mr Hanway takes a stroll. 
_________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 14/04/23 6:55:49 PM |
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michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1754 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Loyd excellent as usual. David I noticed something wasn't right with your first entry: the stone block toning did not match the rest of the statue, so I made some adjustments, and i think you will find it's more realistic. Now I can say excellent work! Your second entry I simply adore: it's a "cracker", and I'm sure Mr Caplin will agree.
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Posted on 14/04/23 8:22:41 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 4946 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Michael I understand what you are saying but I am not convinced you are correct. As you pointed out very early on "Shadow in direct sunlight". The face of the plinth is turned away from the sun sufficiently only to catch the sun on its extreme edge. It would be in shadow as in my original version. As I said when I posted "I haven't pulled this off very well". I haven't and you have put your finger on a key weakness. The true solution to the statue plinth inconsistency is not to lighten the plinth but to darken the mid tones of the statue, which would in fact be in shadow. This however produces a very dark end result in which most of the statue's features are lost. So I opted for a compromise. Your's is the by far the easiest on the eye and, for most people, almost certainly the most acceptable. But I would definitely question your use of the word 'realistic'. We both have in point of fact accepted a compromise solution - mine to lighten the stature more than would be the case and yours to lighten the plinth more than would be the case. One or the other was more or less necessary, even if not strictly correct. It's the perfect example of "rock and a hard place". Your comment is well taken, but I don't think there is a "real" answer. It's totally subjective. I will be very curious to hear other reactions. _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 14/04/23 9:31:15 PM |
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michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1754 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Okay here's another crack at it.
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Posted on 15/04/23 07:57:26 AM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 4946 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Now that definitely hits the sweet spot Michael.
Looking back through the entries it is interesting to see that Loyd got his absolutely spot on. In his case the sun is directly behind the statue so no edge highlights, but he has managed to keep the statue dark enough to be believable and consistent but with just enough detail to appreciate the form. Note to self .... must try harder .......  _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 15/04/23 09:44:03 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 2828 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
That's good Loyd. |
Posted on 15/04/23 3:39:47 PM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 2638 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Sunset at Red Lion Square
Not Animated. |
Posted on 15/04/23 6:43:43 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 4946 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Apologies for the double post which I am unable to remove as attempts to edit the second result in an internal server error "Unable to complete your request".  _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 15/04/23 9:03:12 PM |
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michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist Posts: 1754 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
David, your Brolly-Folly is remarkably good, and in itself simply cannot be improved upon; however, the background can be for better "integration" of the folly. I have here only adjusted the background (your folly took an inordinate amount of time to cut out). The object here was to "trick" the eye that the folly was always part of the background, and--in this instance--I have used HDR courtesy of Topaz adjust 4. The first image is yours. The second image is with my background adjustments. 
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Posted on 16/04/23 00:55:37 AM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 2638 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Stormy Night at Red Lion Square
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Posted on 16/04/23 09:27:45 AM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 4946 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Something bizarre is happening. Yesterday I inadvertently double posted an image. When I tried to remove one by editing the post I couldn't, I got server errors. So added a quick post in apology. Today BOTH posts have completely disappeared. Only the apology remains. However they must have appeared at some point as Michael Sinclair has replied to them. So since they no longer show up here at all anymore I am posting once again. I do hope this doesn't mean I am repeating yet again a post you may already have. Red Lion Square in London is graced by an unusual umbrella roofed gazebo. It was built in memory of Jonas Hanway who, in face of strong objections and ridicule, first brought the umbrella and its use to London. It is know affectionately by locals as the "Brolly Folly". This was the stuff of nightmares and took a huge amount of work. It is constructed from multiple images from different sources together with matched 3D modelling and hand painting.  _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 16/04/23 09:29:04 AM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 4946 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Some of your most visual work for a long time Loyd. I really like them. _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 16/04/23 09:39:22 AM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 4946 Reply |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
We have been here before Michael ...... and I must agree to differ. In a word NO! You use HDR to very striking effect sometimes, but it is a style and has little do with looking natural. I am not quite sure what you are trying to achieve but your "integration" seems to be achieved by making the entire image look completely unnatural and post processed. Nothing could be further from my intentions. Sorry Michael ....... but, this time, I stand by my original image. _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 16/04/23 12:25:37 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3732 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 951: Red Lion Square
Some good efforts with the lighting this week. http://vimeo.com/818078315  _________________  |
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