Living History Composite: Another attempt to master the art, this is the third go at achieving what I had in mind and, whilst not as 'smokey' as I intended is the best of the three.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Another attempt to master the art, this is the third go at achieving what I had in mind and, whilst not as 'smokey' as I intended is the best of the three. Please chip-in if you have any thoughts upon it, critique is welcome.

(Download)

tramsey Loc: Texas

Excellent work and I mean work. You worked long and hard to accomplish what you set out to do. You have produced something that is truly remarkable. This attempt to master your art has brought you closer to that accomplishments. Congratulations!!

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

magnetoman wrote:

Another attempt to master the art, this is the third go at achieving what I had in mind and, whilst not as 'smokey' as I intended is the best of the three. Please chip-in if you have any thoughts upon it, critique is welcome.

Hi, Magnetoman,
As one who is also continually trying to improve my compositing "chops" I am always in awe of an admitted composite that I simply cannot identify as one. This is a great example.
I do, however, notice a feature of the scene that seems incongruous and thus is suggestive of compositing.

It may just be my imagination, but there seems to be some sort of contretemps between the fellow holding the tamping rod for the cannon and the fellow facing off with him and holding a long firearm in a threatening manner...and the fife-and-drum bunch marching on toward us past the body of the red-coat calmly and pleasantly as if all is hunky dory!
It's the internal contradiction that is distracting to me.

But technically a super job!

Dave

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

In download, there is so much detail + brighter colors - but not so bright as to detract from the overall, understated pp. Really amazing work, MM!

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Uuglypher wrote:

Hi, Magnetoman, br As one who is also continually ... (show quote)

Dave, I think you may have misread what's going on back there with that little field piece. The thing that looks to you like a firearm is actually a gunner's tool sometimes called a "gun worm." It's a double helix screw that was used right after firing to draw out any unburned but smoldering bits of wadding, fuse and so on, so that when the next charge of powder was rammed in it would not go up in the rammer's face. (And I almost forgot that next would come the sponge (just visible to the left behind the gun tube) to insure that there were no live sparks in the bore.)

I also don't think that little squad marching forward with their looks of fierce determination is a fife-and-drum corps. They look to me like a rifle squad (well, musket squad probably in this period) marching to the front to take their place in the line. Their arms are shouldered and their sergeant marches alongside. The looks on all their faces pretty much sum it up for me; they may be going to their doom but they are going anyway.

I think the picture is absolutely wonderful. I probably overuse the term "painterly," but that's the term that so often comes to mind.

Dave Chinn

magnetoman wrote:

Another attempt to master the art, this is the third go at achieving what I had in mind and, whilst not as 'smokey' as I intended is the best of the three. Please chip-in if you have any thoughts upon it, critique is welcome.

Absolutely stunning !!! You have posted some amazing work in the past but I do believe you have outdone yourself on this one. I love the color tones you chose for this. The only slight nit pic and I do mean slight, is the redcoat could use just a tad toning down. Still, an outstanding image. If you had not mentioned it was a composite I would have never known. So realistic it is. One thing comes to mind. Possibly adding (if it doesn't take away from the scene) is to add some sparks or fire/smoke at the end of the cannon barrel to simulate just being fired. Just a thought. Again, very well done.
Dave

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

Most all has been said magnetoman...I'll ditto Mr. Chinn.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

tramsey wrote:

Excellent work and I mean work. You worked long and hard to accomplish what you set out to do. You have produced something that is truly remarkable. This attempt to master your art has brought you closer to that accomplishments. Congratulations!!

Many thanks for the encouraging remarks tramsey, much appreciated.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Uuglypher wrote:

Hi, Magnetoman, br As one who is also continually ... (show quote)

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Linda From Maine wrote:

In download, there is so much detail + brighter colors - but not so bright as to detract from the overall, understated pp. Really amazing work, MM!

Thanks Linda - by the way, passed your good wishes on to the other Linda, who now wishes to be known as Linda from Matravers! Don't ask!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Chuck_893 wrote:

Dave, I think you may have misread what's going on... (show quote)

Crikey Chuck, you know your stuff - spot-on in all accounts!
The gunnery chaps were just as you say, and the musketeers all ended-up in line and firing away - and some bit the dust.
I hope to put something else together that will show them doing their stuff.
They were actually depicting the American War of Independance, but how accurately, I have no idea. I attended the living history festival for the photo-ops, and it didn't disappoint!
Many thanks for commenting.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Dave Chinn wrote:

Absolutely stunning !!! You have posted some amazi... (show quote)

Thanks for looking Dave, and I agree the redcoat turned-out a bit bright. Had trouble getting the right shot as this canon fired, but may have some fire I can add in. All the smoke is from the canon, not added, but lost some of it in the processing. Great fun though.

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

magnetoman wrote:

Crikey Chuck, you know your stuff - spot-on in all accounts!
The gunnery chaps were just as you say, and the musketeers all ended-up in line and firing away - and some bit the dust.
I hope to put something else together that will show them doing their stuff.
They were actually depicting the American War of Independance, but how accurately, I have no idea. I attended the living history festival for the photo-ops, and it didn't disappoint!
Many thanks for commenting.

I hope I didn't get so carried away with gunnery that you overlooked the fact that I think the picture is "painterly," because it mimics a painting, and it is gorgeous!

I've always been a military and history nut, and I've spent many, many hours, days, weeks in museums, any museum, of anything. I've never been to a reenactment; I've just always been interested in, um, stuff. Once again, though, that's a swell picture!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Chuck_893 wrote:

I hope I didn't get so carried away with gunnery t... (show quote)

Thanks Chuck. You should try to get to a re-enactment sometime, the sound of that lot firing at each other is something to behold! I'm sure you'd enjoy it all with the interest you have in history - you might even end up joining them!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

magnetoman wrote:

Thanks Linda - by the way, passed your good wishes on to the other Linda, who now wishes to be known as Linda from Matravers! Don't ask!