You guys have definately progressed a lot since the beginning of this battle. I mean if you look at your first few volleys compared to the last few, it's night and day. Everything from color palette to blending to imagery has been improved. Awesome job guys, love seeing this progression of talent...keep it up!
Thanks for your comments everyone, they really help to drive me on to better things. If you think anything is wrong or missing I'll be glad if you mention it, it will help me take things up another notch.
Here it is...i don't thikn i've put enough detail into it. I need help with brush techniques rather than just as an effect
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5952/65kr.jpg
Nice ideas again lefteye, I kept finding extra details evertime I look. I think the pool of blood is a nice touch and you were brave putting her in water and working with the reflection, I think you pulled it off. A little critique is that I think the angel is too bright compared to the background, she jumps out at you a bit. Nice image again though, I'll try getting a volley up soon.
sorry it took awhile, was having a bit of a crative block
http://www.mandissected.co.uk/md/files/smoking.jpg
I think i need help...lol
Also, I'm adding this because, I know there are many people from different countries here....
The images posted on the trees are of Smokey The Bear, who in America (not sure of the rest of the world) who tells kids "Only you can prevent forest fires", i hope this sheds some light on those images. Of course being American, I could be ignorant enough not to know Smokey is an international icon.
this volley does not exist anymore
WOW, no reactions in 24 hours?....should i give up?
lol lefteye, don't take it personal, I think its been a pretty slow couple of days in the arena really.
I liked your last pic, the way the top corner was 'rubbed out' with the smoke was really cool. I think the posters look too flat rather than curved around the tree, I think if you curved them it would have taken the pic up another notch. I didn't really get the cracky affect on the guy either, and it looks overlayed rather than on the guy. Overall I liked the pic though.
Sorry about this pic, I struggled for inspiration.
http://www.mandissected.co.uk/md/files/chair.jpg
I like this image mandissected, not a lot going on there though. I like the simplicity and it took me a few miutes to see what you reused.
All in all a good image.
well, from my last post, I have to say i went a bit overboard with the red cracks on the guys shirt....i had a cool thing going with just his skin lit up, but thought it was missing something.
When I put those cracks on the shirt and the glowing stuff his skin i was going for a body dissintegrating with the skin soaking up the niccotine/smoke....but i don't think i put enough subtleness into it.
I also tried FOREVER to wrap the posters to the trees, but i just couldn't find the right technique, so i just used the eraser.
I took some time with this one...actually got to use some of my own stocks
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7136/86qe1.jpg
I know everyone's busy with other posts/battles but I honestly need comments on my last post. Sorry. :*. I'm getting discourraged......if you hate it pleast tell me, i have no ego.
I like it. I think it's one of your best from this battle.
I think you try to do too much to the images. You have some nice ideas, but sometimes simple is better. And don't get discouraged because of the lack of responses. The time and thought on these images are not wasted. You have improved. Keep practicing and once you acquire the skills, you won't need to ask for responses. They will come automatically.
Xanthe00 hit it the head. In fact, I couldn't put my thumb just quite on it... your images overgo simplicity - remember, less is more sometimes - and go too deeply into plugins and overlaying layers that look "tacked on" as opposed to worked in.
The last image, you could have went with a simpler theme, less overlay around the edges, and it would have made a better impact.
The colors you used on the last one, the palette is nice and tight. But my eyes are drawn away from the middle back to the edges due to the stuff that's there.
Go simple, think about making an image that will stand alone by itself. And think about your layout much like an advertisement... keep the focus on the main things, not the smaller things. The smaller things should add to the bigger picture, not pull away from it.
Step away from the plugins a bit too. Work more with brushes and layers to create more subtle photo manipulations.
Hope that helps... and forgive me for not posting any critiques. I've all but left the Arena due to certain parties.
Thanks gerb, that really helps.
Don't leave!
Sorry for the wait Lefteye. Tried something a little different here so any comments would be great.
Critique on your last image - I thought it was nice but too cluttered, it just seemed to cramped. I thought you done well to make a complete window frame out of what was in my image. It took me quite a few looks to associate the two photos with the two headstones, shows a lot of thought went into all aspects of the pic. Keep it going and you'll get as good technically as you already are cretively, then your pics will be stunning instead of just good :)
http://www.mandissected.co.uk/md/files/stoneLady.jpg
Nice pic. It mixes a few different design aspects, espcially with the white knockout cloud/bubbles. It has a good balance too, however, i'd like to see a bit more work with the statue being worked into the image.
Thanks for the feedback. That's exactly what I'm trying to do, I know the ideas i have behind each post, but it's the execution and technical aspects I have to work on.Quote:
Keep it going and you'll get as good technically as you already are cretively, then your pics will be stunning instead of just good
Let's keep it goin...
I hope you can see where i used an element from the last one.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/7448/face8ir.jpg
I'm leaving the attached image just in case Geocities goes down (like always)
I have to credit http://www.sxc.hu for the pics i used.
yowza lefteye, my favorite so far...
I'm flattered...really I amQuote:
Originally posted by ondraedan
yowza lefteye, my favorite so far...
Willy..........now THAT is a great image. Definately your best so far. I can't find anything wrong to point out. Keep it up mang!!
...
- Mod Edit:
Post one more "..." thread here at FK, and you'll find your account taken away from you.
This is the fifth one I've found, and the only one I'm leaving.
Read this as your first and last warning. It's annoying. Don't have anything to say, just don't post - gerbick
great battle guys..
Yeah, I wish Mandissected would come back. Haven't seen him since round 1 of march madness
Sorry about the wait guys, I've had a couple slow weeks creatively and the flu. Not sure the results are really worth the long wait but at least things are rolling again, hopefully I should sharpen up again pretty quickly and start battling hard again, so I hope you enjoyed your rest Lefteye ;)
http://www.mandissected.co.uk/md/files/face.jpg
There was no rest for me man. I had so many volleys i had to pull out of my ass while you were sick.
ok... the last two volleys by you two... damn nice work guys.
I seriously think you've stepped it up a bit, both of you. If I were to give some advice, it'll be me just nitpicking... and there's no need for that.
No...Nitpick please...(can't speak for mandissected)..please.
wow how did I miss this one for so long? Love that last one willy, even though the spider does creep me out a bit. And mandissected I really like the last, but there is something...the foreground, it's a little flat, it loses a bit of the depth. But the flowers, the girl beautiful
Just a quick comment on your's mandissected...i would have like to see some text on that one...it would have worked (i think). Just seems like it's a bit empty.
That's where we disagree, lefteye. I think that image without text hold's it's own. In fact, I think that text would have destroyed that image.
It's like a page from a well-drawn book, or fantasy. The image says everything it needs.
Your last image, lefteye, you lost a bit shadows and contrast, and I would have personally made the pattern either show the shadows and contours of the face below it. Distorting it to the face would have probably meant using the displace tool and a high-contrast b/w version of the womans face.
Also, adding a shadow of the spider would have been high on my list. Dropping the text along the side also is something that I'd drop. A more compact, horizontal title/text, if any, would have been advised.
And perhaps a bit of highlights on the lipstick would have made it a bit more glossy, and would have drawn attention to the spider a bit more as well.
There... hope that's not nitpicking too much :cap:
Feel free to nitpick at my image all you want guys, it helps me improve.
mandissected, how about I start with a nitpick about your footer... only 40 pixels high please.
Only nitpick I have about your last image is a couple of masking mistakes around the right side of the image - look at the slight gap around the black bit and the shadow/grass. also, there's a slight white pixel fringe around the edge of her dress at the bottom where the feet would be located.
also the shadow is lighter at her feet, when it should be darker if you were to follow the shadows on her dress and back.
I'd say add a few more flowers behind her to maintain some balance, but that's about it.
there you go... both nitpicking by me...
Thanks for the nitpicks Gerbs, those little details will help take my pics up a notch. I just wanted to say though that there are no masking errors because there are no masks! lol but I still should clean up/improve those areas like you said.
Apologies for my footer being to big, it was supposed to be an avatar on the side but I got confused.... I'll go change it now
Hmmm...displacement...never used that tool. GOnna have to see if i can fool with it (i assume that's a displacement map where i'll need soem sort of psd file?)Quote:
Originally posted by gerbick
That's where we disagree, lefteye. I think that image without text hold's it's own. In fact, I think that text would have destroyed that image.
It's like a page from a well-drawn book, or fantasy. The image says everything it needs.
Your last image, lefteye, you lost a bit shadows and contrast, and I would have personally made the pattern either show the shadows and contours of the face below it. Distorting it to the face would have probably meant using the displace tool and a high-contrast b/w version of the womans face.
Also, adding a shadow of the spider would have been high on my list. Dropping the text along the side also is something that I'd drop. A more compact, horizontal title/text, if any, would have been advised.
And perhaps a bit of highlights on the lipstick would have made it a bit more glossy, and would have drawn attention to the spider a bit more as well.
There... hope that's not nitpicking too much :cap:
I thought i put the shadow on the Spider...but i guess it didn't show as well as i thought (actually spent a bit of time on it, but if you cant see it..it's obviously not enough)
Thanks for the nitpicks...they do help.
I'm very happy to get back to this battle...it's been great and I want to keep it going (although the Arena has slowed)
http://img33.exs.cx/img33/9771/timeout2mu.jpg
This girl looked so sweet before i got to her: Sorry
wow. now that's a radical change from the original! she's demonic now!
Dude...that is SOOOOOOO wrong......BAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAAAAA A!!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally posted by lefteyewilly
This girl looked so sweet before i got to her...
slap some black and white makeup on her and we have outselves a kiss coverband.