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Posted on 17/06/25 5:02:20 PM |
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dwindt
Realism Realiser Posts: 908 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
 _________________ The grass is greener on the other side of the fence because there is more $hit there. |
Posted on 18/06/25 06:50:30 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3047 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
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Posted on 18/06/25 08:11:51 AM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 3206 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike ride in the park.
There is an illusion of the wheels rotating... you may have to watch it loop several times to see it well. 
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Posted on 18/06/25 09:16:40 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3047 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Very clever Loyd. |
Posted on 18/06/25 1:16:55 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5648 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Wow! So much going on this week. Of course steam punk's a lot of fun! Just too many to comment individually but the standard is well up this week! I have always been fascinated by early automata since I was child, with frequent trips to the Science Museum to wind the brass handles on the lovely old wooden cabinets with (often rather naive) animated models inside them. . So what better than a bike riding automaton? Perfect! .......... Well not really. It proved to be one of those "seemed like a good idea at the time" ideas. Huge amounts of blood, sweat and dozens of different automata downloads later, here is the result. Because of the very odd position of the saddle so far back, this guy needed ridiculously long arms like an ape. I have to admit that I am quite pleased with the final result, but I can't begin to tell you how many hours of work went into this. The only thing that kept me going was that I really enjoyed it! (Just for info there is no AI or 3D here. It's entirely assembled from pieces of several real models ranging from the 18th to 21st centuries.) 
_________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 18/06/25 10:27:30 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3992 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Lots of really good work again this week. Sorry I can’t come out to play with this one as I have too many things going on. _________________ Why is it that all the contestants in the ‘Miss Universe’ contest are all from Earth? |
Posted on 19/06/25 00:57:46 AM |
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dwindt
Realism Realiser Posts: 908 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Looks like a lot of work, David. It was worth it. Stunning job. _________________ The grass is greener on the other side of the fence because there is more $hit there. |
Posted on 19/06/25 06:47:11 AM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5648 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
You know how it is as well as me. Once you get your teeth into something good, you don't want to let go.  _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 19/06/25 3:05:05 PM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3047 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
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Posted on 19/06/25 3:59:53 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5648 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
There's something about the utter simplicity of that I really like Micheal!
_________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 20/06/25 07:33:13 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3047 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Good, David. I will try to avoid over-complicating my pictures in future. |
Posted on 20/06/25 08:19:03 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7021 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
First of all, congratulations to all of you who so successfully removed the stand to rebuild the rear wheel of the bike. A tricky task well achieved by everyone. This week’s first cyclist was Ben Boardman, setting the bar high with a splendid collection of steampunk enthusiasts. The rider fits the bike perfectly, and the added steam is a real bonus. Excellent. A fine faux albumen print from lwc, the bike immaculately inserted into the photo – what was she holding before? The way it fades off at the edges is perfect. Utterly convincing. The autochrome image is beautifully textured, and that’s an ingeniously rotated angle of view. Again – what was that man holding originally? I’m not sure how the steam robot fits with the bike – he’s clearly not riding it, nor is a hand holding it; he’s just sort of behind. The four views are interesting. A most enjoyable animation, with well-timed movement of the balustrade in the foreground. And you’re right – there really is a sensation of the wheels rotating. Curious. Jules Verne time from DavidMac, with the bike neatly strapped to the outside of the basket. I like how Phileas and Aouda slit into the basket, but there’s something odd about Passepartout. Might it not be better for the composition (and more discreet) if he were facing the other way? 
The automaton is a magnificent piece of work, from the detail of the cutouts in the box top to hold the wheels to the perfect fit of the Frankenstein-created rider. Great reflections, lighting and shadows, but then of course that is your speciality. Splendid, David, and well worth the effort. (Oh, and of course you’re quite right about this bike not being vintage.) Of course I knew tooquilos would rise to this steampunk challenge, and that’s a glorious background (albeit one that I strongly suspect is AI-generated). The steam blends the bike in well, and I like the fact that he’s riding it down the stairs. I like the juddering in the animated version, the airship and the extra steam – and that’s a great crash at the end! My least favourite Queen song, but I can see why you chose it. A rather splendid workshop from dwindt, an interesting mix of old and new tech. The added bikes fit well. Is the background AI? I can’t imagine you’d have 3D modelled all that detail. I can see more of your modelling skills in the street corner image, with its range of colourful characters and depth of field. And talking of colourful… don’t you think that yellow vehicle is a little distracting? There’s drama in Ant Snell’s airship chase, with the man on the bike escaping from the more populated craft behind. I like the colouring, and the intricate balloons. Not sure about the way the front wheel disappears into clouds that are, to my mind, clearly some great distance behind it. A steampunk fashion show from Mariner, and I like the fact that they’re all vaping clouds of steam. Sitting the girl back on the saddle avoids having to contort her to ride the bike, which is a cunning cheat. Isn’t that a rather solid shadow of the rear wheel, though? I like the balancing act in the circus clown entry. As David said – utter simplicity. Excellent work this week from everyone! |
Posted on 20/06/25 08:57:42 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3047 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Thanks Steve. Keep up the good work. |
Posted on 20/06/25 09:15:26 AM |
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dwindt
Realism Realiser Posts: 908 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Thank you Steve. Yes, the background of the first image is ai. So is the steampunk mechanic. He consists of 3 different figures combined. The 2 bikes are 3D. Subtle shadows and reflection of the brief bike, on the garage floor, light flare, field blur and lens flare for welding sparks, were PS. _________________ The grass is greener on the other side of the fence because there is more $hit there. |
Posted on 20/06/25 09:49:33 AM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5648 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Yes!! Huge improvement! Such a tiny thing ..... such a big difference.
It's not effort when your enjoying it. Well it is actually But it's fun!
But still a delightful expression of somebody's love and enthusiasm. Mind you, I don't think i want to ride it. _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 20/06/25 09:51:15 AM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5648 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Please don't. You're so good at complicated too ..........  _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 20/06/25 11:18:16 AM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 3206 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
The woman and man in question were both holding bikes, made it somewhat easier to incorporate the steam bike. The robots right arm is in front of the bike but obscured by the steam in the entry. Thanks Steve, a fun challenge!  |
Posted on 20/06/25 12:54:35 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7021 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Now that's interesting – I'd have thought the presence of an existing bike would have made it harder. Yes, you have the pose, but you've also got a bike to get rid of. |
Posted on 20/06/25 1:11:35 PM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 3206 Reply |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
The clone tool is often my best friend. |
Posted on 23/06/25 05:25:52 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2898 Reply  |
Re: Challenge 1058: The steam bike
Thank you Steve. _________________ Wicked Witch of the West: I'm melting! I'm melting! |
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