| » Forum Index » The Friday Challenge » Topic: Contest 177: Put on a show |
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Posted on 18/12/07 09:53:51 AM |
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james
Surreal Spoofer Posts: 1194 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Michael, it’s pleasing to see you back. Great work as usual. Wish you well. |
Posted on 18/12/07 09:59:00 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2805 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Thank you everyone for your comments 
Michael, its good to see you back. Hope you're feeling ok. |
Posted on 18/12/07 10:10:49 AM |
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james
Surreal Spoofer Posts: 1194 Reply |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
[quoted] Xiggy wrote: Hello all, I've had HTCIP for a few weeks now and this is my first attempt at a montage using Photoshop. I think I could keep adding bits to the image and fiddling around with it forever so I've decided I should probably post it now to get some rest! I have only worked through the first 6 chapters and am looking forward to learning all the other techniques in this great book. I have been really impressed to see how popular this forum is and have been inspired by lots of the work that's been posted. I couldn't decide if the image looked best with a snow effect added (after all the Globe is an open air theatre) or not so below are links to full sized versions of each (if I've done it right!): http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh173/xiggy1313/XmasStage.jpg http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh173/xiggy1313/XmasStageWithSnow.jpg Steve Welcome to the forum, I like both of your submissions, but if I may, a little tweak on the sleigh to correct perspective, Steve's hot on that. Joy |
Posted on 18/12/07 11:46:38 AM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3733 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Michael - welcome back. Xiggy. Nicely done. Welcome to the forum. Gordon |
Posted on 18/12/07 9:15:34 PM |
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josephine harvatt
Gag Gadgeteer Posts: 2596 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Another wanderer returns... Sorry to have been absent for so long, here is my take on the nutcracker suite - I got carried way with the stage snow effect before I remembered the globe was an open air theatre - it must be a very localised storm!  _________________ I'm not really bad - I just draw that way |
Posted on 18/12/07 11:39:50 PM |
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fngirl
* Posts: 20 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Rockin' all over the world - 'Status Quo' 'It's the holiday season - so let's all play - the Photoshop way!' (sung to the tune of 'Happy Holiday') Basically now that I am on Christmas holidays from College (and soon from work) - I can join in the fun! 
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Posted on 19/12/07 00:35:41 AM |
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mguyer
Incisive Incisor Posts: 799 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
here's mine. Ho Ho HO !!!  |
Posted on 19/12/07 11:35:42 AM |
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katew
Virtual Virtuoso Posts: 676 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
An 'angelic' choir! And who's that on the balcony?  |
Posted on 19/12/07 1:38:23 PM |
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jwhite
Collage Critter Posts: 274 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
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Posted on 19/12/07 3:31:06 PM |
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katew
Virtual Virtuoso Posts: 676 Reply |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
jwhite, that's a brilliant idea!! |
Posted on 20/12/07 00:25:05 AM |
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brewell
Pixel Pentagrammarian Posts: 752 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
The Madonna with Cherubim gives me visions |
Posted on 20/12/07 4:26:58 PM |
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jwhite
Collage Critter Posts: 274 Reply |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Thanks, Kate! |
Posted on 21/12/07 03:04:14 AM |
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brewell
Pixel Pentagrammarian Posts: 752 Reply |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Can't get that picture out of my mind - King Kong BF (Before Flashbulbs) |
Posted on 21/12/07 08:26:21 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 6842 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Plenty of seasonal (and not so seasonal) entertainments for us this week. First to tread the boards was Neil O, with a suitably Elizabethan pair of fighting bears. The bears are great, with perfect perspective: but they appear to be fighting on a disk of polished marble, which seems a little extravagant. It also looks rather out of place, as its contrast is at odds with the surroundings. I think painting a red circle on those wooden boards would have been a far stronger option, Neil. A splendid array of acrobats from vibeke, with some fantastic perspective matching. How you cut out all those spinning plates is beyond me: must have taken forever to do! Good to see Santa up on the balcony, too. My only small problem is with the shadows, which look rather more like water stains. This is a tricky one: how many shadows should each acrobat cast, given the large number of stage lights? None, I think, would be the safest answer. More acrobatics, this time from gaoxiguo: his Chinese acrobat is performing on a giant football-shaped ice bucket, it would seem. I like the idea of the crowd on the stage, but they're too far to the right and the furthest away are to small for the scene; but that photographer on the balcony is a good touch, and the new scenes through the doors are a nice idea. A feline extravaganza from CharlotteBabb, with dancing cats for our entertainment. Do watch the perspective, Charlotte: the pair on the far right are the same size as their copies on the left, but they're much closer to us in the scene. A great banner, though, and I do like the spotlight effect. I see you've taken the mask off in your avatar, Charlotte - where will this end? A beautiful and evocative scene from brewell. Clearing the stage and placing that simple backdrop produces a stark, highly theatrical effect. The spotlights on the backdrop highlight the unreality, and the subtle lighting and shadows on the stage itself bring subtle focus to the scene. Most impressive of all is the angle of view of the figures, with perfect perspective: even the spacing between them has dramatic tension. I know you've only been with us a short time, Bruce, but this entry is such a leap forward for you that it's enough to earn you an early title. As someone who's into geometry, I think it just has to be Pixel Pentagrammarian, for no real reason other than I like the sound of it. Dancing skeletons from james with a grace and wit that would put Ray Harryhausen to shame. I especially like the finale: one trick too far, eh? We've all enjoyed your animations tremendously this year, James, and greatly look forward to them. A salutory Christmas tale from tooquilos, with a modern twist: Santa never passed out among the presents when I was a kid! With all that's going on here, it's easy to miss out on some of the detail - the great snow, the translucent banner, the dancing elves... so much to enjoy. My only small issue is that Santa disappears behind the far tree a couple of times - whoops! Layer stacking order! Moody, powerful stuff from vicho, with King Kong chained between those perfectly positioned pillars. There's even a reflection of the beast in the newly polished wooden floor - and good to see you've added reflections of the rest of the stage as well, to match it. Excellent lighting helps here. My only problem is with Kong himself, whose outline seems a little too smooth in places: use the Smudge tool to soften his fur. Good to see michael sinclair back after his illness. He's transported the theatre to the wilds of Arizona, it would appear - no easy cutout job, that one. Still, as all roads lead to Rome, the troops shouldn't have too much difficulty finding their way home. The strong shadows of the soldiers and the pillar help, but don't quite match each other; and shouldn't the theatre backdrop be casting a shadow behind it? A rather splendid nativity in the second entry, though, with a perfect choice of sky for the scene. Hope you're getting better, Michael. A first entry from Xiggy, who tells us this is his first attempt at a montage. Hard to believe, when you see the skill and attention to detail in the image. It's not just the choice of elements (santa, the snowmen, the way the nearby reindeer is standing on the column, the two trees, the stockings in the upper gallery) but the skill with which all the painted elements are created. A fantastic string of icicles, a translucent street lamp, snow creeping up the side of the pillar base, the sleigh's tracks in the snow - excellent. And the second entry adds driving snow to complete the effect. This is seriously good work: welcome to the forum, Steve. I hope we see a lot more of you here. A delicate ballet scene from Josephine Harvatt: I particularly like the recolouring of the background to match the snow scene, and the falling snow is rather touching. A bit of a problem with the dancers themselves, though, who appear rather bottom-heavy to me: you've distorted them to match the perspective, but I think in the wrong direction! Some great elements from fngirl: the spotlights, the bank of speakers, and Status Quo themselves ft perfectly into this scene. But I'm not sure about the purple fog that's enveloping the audience: surely it shouldn't be anywhere near as bright as this? Change the mode of the fog layer to either Hard Light or even Multiply, and we'll get a much better focus on the stage. I can understand Santa's preference for long-legged women in mguyer's entry, but I think there comes a point when legs can get too long for comfort... Be careful how much you distort your figures, Marty! A good dark background, but perhaps a touch too much yellow in the spotlight? A great set of singing angels from katew - with Santa on one side, and Satan on the balcony. I like the spotlight effect, which draws attention to the stage rather neatly. Watch the perspective on those angels, though: it can help to compare their height with the two pillars, as they stretch between them. The nearest one has the stone/marble divide almost at waist height, whereas for the one in the distance it's at the level of her shoulders. There are almost always visual clues in the picture to help with perspective issues. A giant aquarium from jwhite - and it certainly has the audience's attention. I think it would have been fairly easy to make the near panel match the perspective of the theatre, though: look at the direction those roof beams are going in. You could just put any odd views down to the distortion of the thick glass. Good work, everyone. |
Posted on 21/12/07 10:33:32 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2805 Reply |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Thank you Steve The reason for Santa going behind the tree was, he was having swigs of Brandy  He was hoping no one would notice 
Wishing you and your family a lovely Christmas, Steve and a happy and healthy New Year. Thank you for everything this year. Its been terrific. Ive enjoyed and learned so much from this forum. Anna |
Posted on 21/12/07 10:53:13 AM |
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josephine harvatt
Gag Gadgeteer Posts: 2596 Reply |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Heh! Nothing to do with me 
....they must have been at the mince pies backstage ! _________________ I'm not really bad - I just draw that way |
Posted on 21/12/07 11:22:54 AM |
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katew
Virtual Virtuoso Posts: 676 Reply |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Thanks Steve. Perspective is one thing I find quite difficult. I know the theory - it's just applying it to any particular picture! Happy Christmas to you and your family! |
Posted on 21/12/07 11:44:48 AM |
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Neil O
Cartoon Contractor Posts: 389 Reply  |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Thanks Steve. But the bears aren't standing on polished marble! They are standing in a circular pool of water! The original picture was a couple of bears wrestling in a river and I cut the rest of the river away from the bears and left just the "pool" around their feet. If you look closely you can see the bears are submerged in the water. Thanks again. And I hope all of you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year! 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 21/12/07 2:54:00 PM |
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Xiggy
* Posts: 7 Reply |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Thanks for your comments Steve, I enjoyed doing this montage and learned a lot from it too. Thanks also to Abby Helen, James and GKB for your comments and suggestions. Steve |
Posted on 21/12/07 2:56:05 PM |
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james
Surreal Spoofer Posts: 1194 Reply |
Re: Contest 177: Put on a show
Thank you Steve. Have a good Christmas. A MERRY XMAS EVERYONE |
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