donolea Loc: Nashville, TN

I took a few critiques from yesterdays post to heart and made a few adjustments to the original SHARK BAIT. This morning my wife suggested having some of the barracuda hanging from the sharks mouth ...

(Download)

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Your wife is blood thirsty!!!

:shock: :lol: :lol: :lol:

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

I like your wife!
:-)
:thumbup: :thumbup:

you definitely took the critiques well and made great improvements!
Bloodthirsty wife, notwithstanding! :D

GT

donolea Loc: Nashville, TN

Yes she is! :-D

donolea Loc: Nashville, TN

Thanks ... my wife wanted even more blood in the water.

forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

You have told a compelling story from two points of view, in just one frame.

A humbling experience to look at your work. Richard Wagner comes to mind because only Wagner mastered all the 19-th C storytelling elements -- musical score, historical research, libretti, staging, design of instruments, finance,... and pulled them together in a way that people like, across time. Your story about shark bait strikes me as having the same kind of integration going on, but pointing the way with today's possibilities.

I like the divers' clinical appearance, seemingly as unfeeling as the shark and the bait that ties them together at a critical moment.

I'm just learning about composition; maybe you could share how you thought about composition as you worked.

donolea Loc: Nashville, TN

Wow, Richard Wagner ... I'm not so sure about that, but I appreciate the compliment! :lol:

As far as the composition goes, initially, I just wanted to see if I could create a realistic looking, underwater background. After the BG was finished, I really liked the look and that night, my wife and I watch a program about the 72 most dangerous animals in Australia.

We left off at No. 24 where the Bull Shark was No. 1. So I created the shark first — it is a bull shark. Then I needed to think about depth of field (to include the foreground). I went to my neighbor's house to shoot some of their tropical fish for use in the foreground.

The rusted hull is a royalty free image I found that I wanted to help create my DOF. It was actually on dry land and on blocks. I think it looks more at home under water.

I knew I wanted a diver or two, so I pulled a photo of me off the wall that was taken while I was diving off the Catalina Islands in So. California. I was actually feeding a moray eel and I was just trying to make sure I didn't loose a finger or two! ;-)

The barracuda (bait) was from a photo I shot of my niece catching and pulling it off the line while fishing down in Baja CA, Mexico.

Sometimes I have an idea that instantly comes to mind for a finished piece and I can set up a photo shoot with the end product in my. However, I would say that most of my work just develops as I move from phase to phase. This piece is a perfect example of this.

I hope this explains a few things for you and helps as you learn and work more with your compositions/compositing.

~ Don

RicknJude Loc: Quebec, Canada

Wow!! Composite to the max. Love it. I'd better go practice my Photoshop now. :D

forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

Much obliged for the good wishes, donolea -- and for this feedback. You have made me think about something useful for business that I could do by composing with CC apps. If only I knew how ;>)

Wagner? Yeah, I know. Still, you have something Wagner did not, an interest in others' input. And van Gogh died with no idea...

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

Well, you did it again.

donolea Loc: Nashville, TN

:thumbup: :thumbup:

donolea Loc: Nashville, TN

Thanks. Practice makes perfect!