Escape From Boston: This is not my forte. I'm just starting to learn how to manipulate layers and composites. I'm wondering two things: 1. Is there any appeal to this image or is it...

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

This is not my forte. I'm just starting to learn how to manipulate layers and composites. I'm wondering two things:

1. Is there any appeal to this image or is it just playing around.
(tough question to answer I know since it is certainly subjective)

2. Any ideas how I could fix the shadow. I used the transform tool to make a mirror image and then skew transform to make it look more realistic. The right arm does not really work and I'm wondering if anyone can steer me in the right direction.

(Download)

Reworked the original image.

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I think it's interesting, Erich! There are probably serious analogies to the plight of the working man, or other symbolism that a more articulate person than I can point out.

What is your reference to escape? Am very interested in your own take on the meaning of the image.

Can't help with the pp question, though the shadow seems quite natural to me.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

ebrunner wrote:

This is not my forte. I'm just starting to learn h... (show quote)

Looks like you may have a touch of BillyspadJimHill syndrome. Take two aspirin gargle with saltwater and hope for the best. Can't help with the pp as my skills also are still in training.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Linda From Maine wrote:

I think it's interesting, Erich! There are probably serious analogies to the plight of the working man, or other symbolism that a more articulate person than I can point out.

What is your reference to escape? Am very interested in your own take on the meaning of the image.

Can't help with the pp question, though the shadow seems quite natural to me.

Escape only in the sense that the figure (yours truly) is clearly disheveled and looks to be climbing desperately to get away from something or something. I had posted the photo without anyone in it as a study in lines and shapes. I thought they were interesting. Then, while I was falling asleep last night, I thought that it would be cool to have someone climbing down or up since the rivets made convenient foot and hand holds. So, I started contemplating how I could position myself and shoot using the timer so that the figure would fit in the picture. Then I started fretting about a shadow and remembered a technique someone showed me a long while ago to create a shadow from the figure. One thing led to another and this composite was the result.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Frank2013 wrote:

Looks like you may have a touch of BillyspadJimHill syndrome. Take two aspirin gargle with saltwater and hope for the best. Can't help with the pp as my skills also are still in training.

Yes, I think Billy enters into the equation somewhere. I seem to have composites on the brain lately. Only way to get better at them is to practice. Now my wife wants a picture of our bulldog with wings launching from a building. Maybe I should have left it alone and looked for some pretty flowers. They are soothing and cause fewer problems. lol

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

One thing I think would improve the rendered shadow is to make it partially transparent, such that some of the surface texture comes through. How much transparency can be determined through experimentation. I'd probably start out with about 20%, then adjust from there.

Of course there's the issue with the conflicting direction of light (often problematic when constructing composite images such as this), but a partially transparent shadow could create the illusion there is more than one light source acting upon the scene, and thereby make the conflict of light source direction a little less obvious.

An additional step you may want to try is to slightly blur the edges of the shadow you created.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

rook2c4 wrote:

One thing I think would improve the rendered shado... (show quote)

Thank you. That is all good information. I will try to work on the shadow and make it more realistic. Thank you for the suggestions. I'm sure they will help.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

ebrunner wrote:

This is not my forte. I'm just starting to learn h... (show quote)

I don't find the shadow objectionable. That it does not match the figure and the direction of the light and that it has harsh edges only adds to the mystery of what the hell is this guy doing here anyway. By making it more of a mystical rather than literal image is to it's benefit. The correction of the shadow would be to take away from the mystery. Only those who insist on photographic accuracy would refuse to accept the image. The lines are excellent and the sense of space is also excellent.

This image fits rather nicely into what we have been discussing in another part of this section as proof of my axiom. You have managed to scare the pants of me with the danger this fellow might be facing. I know I would not have felt this if I had witnessed the scene in person.

ediesaul

[quote=ebrunner]

Gee. Instead of escaping, he looks, to me, worn out from being on a treadmill of work.

Love the image. Just wish there could be more of a separation between the man's head and the rivet above it.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

jim hill wrote:

I don't find the shadow objectionable. That it doe... (show quote)

Very interesting observation. I was actually trying to achieve what you so eloquently expressed as the mystery of the situation. Thank you.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

[quote=ediesaul]

ebrunner wrote:

Gee. Instead of escaping, he looks, to me, worn out from being on a treadmill of work.

Love the image. Just wish there could be more of a separation between the man's head and the rivet above it.

Thanks, Edie. I couldn't remember exactly where the rivets were. When I posed, I was trying to imagine myself being in the scene. Thanks for taking a look. I'm glad you enjoyed the image. Lots of fun.