Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Its OK Dave but needs taking back into Photoshop cos I have to ask why the bit that is above the surface of the pickle is also outside of the jar? I know you would like it perfect so a little lost with all the praise when it needs adjusting to be correct. Not sure about the uniqueness of it either a Google image search shows quite a few but maybe its unique to the Hog?
Could be a winner with a bit more attention to detail my friend.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Thanks Min - don't want you to start worrying about my dark side, I'm a pussycat really! Glad you like the concept though. It does need, and I have done, a bit more to it. Always worth showing it to FYC, we have some sharp-eyed people here!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Yes, missed the head thing altogether last night, but see it plainly enough now Billy.
I haven't Googled so can't comment on what's on offer elsewhere, but I'd be amazed both if it was unique, and if people commenting really meant it quite so literally. It's just something a little unusual, both in concept and taste. Have you ever tried pickled bloke Billy?
I'll polish it a bit more before turning to something else. Thanks for keeping me grounded, much appreciated.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Very interesting.
--Bob

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Thanks again Frank - there are a few specks needing removal. They are flaws in the glass. I removed some larger ones before popping my man in. I'll attend to those remaining and spoiling things.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Thanks for looking Bob.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Creative and imaginative are adjectives that come to mind here. I like it very much. I'm not sure, though, as was mentioned, that the reflection is adding that much to the impression and impact of the photo. I'd have to see the results without the reflection, though, before I would make up my mind one way or the other about the it.
Erich

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Thanks Erich. I particularly wanted to include the reflection as it added to the Ps practice requirements. In the long run, once the jar is sorted, I can see it reappearing somewhere as a detail in another composite, but that would be without the reflection. Meanwhile, I'm sticking with it.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Asking Dave's forgiveness after the fact for straying off-path a bit, I want to say that the feedback on this image illustrates rather well what I find most helpful about our many-sets-of-eyes approach to image feedback here. Some of us (Jim Quist, JD750, rmalarz, NeilDS37) responded out their impression of its creativity, and artistic impact. Others responded to some technical issues that might be improved on (Billy, DaveChinn, me, Frank2013, ebrunner) and some of us responded, to various degrees, to both. It is at the confluence of opinion that the greatest value can be found. Both kinds of feedback are valuable in equal measures but for different reasons.

What Dave will probably do is evaluate each snippet of feedback and figure out whether it will help him reach his goal. He may experiment with some to test them out. He may (and I hope he does) continue to work with this image or a similar one and later show us a version that suits his purposes. If he does, it may or may not be his final version, but perhaps one more iteration. He knows now that it is an interesting concept, unusual enough for us here to grab attention, well done enough to warrant the extra work it needs to be complete, and he has a few ideas for that work.

Thus it is with the journey we have, both for ourselves as creators of images, and for the images we create (and refine). And all of us are valued fellow travelers.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Here, here Min - but we don't all see it that way, which, for me, adds even further interest.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

min you make some good points but I must admit to being slightly lost. We are a photographic forum basically although we try and flirt with other visual arts.
But the work in the main comes from a camera. I fail to realise how it helps in anyway to heap fulsome praise on work with obvious flaws when they are the type of image that cries out to be perfect. I sort of think many do not download the image before commenting and I would question the value of a comment based on a UHH thumb type image. If we were talking of sketches or even a painting then yes maybe a download is not required but we are engaged in a technical skill both at the time of shooting with a camera and later in PP. We seem to have slipped into the world of anything goes and will be well received and possibly wrongly given attributes it does not possess. ie unique which should be unlike anything else. Dave knew a guy in a jar was not unique but some other members seem to have grabbed at a word that just seemed right and gave totally the wrong impression.
The fulsome and constant praise has in fact driven standards down so your journey would appear to be happening in reverse gear at present.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

If you actually read all the comments you would find that this was not all "fulsome praise" but a mix of opinions about impact and technique both positive and negative. Impact is not measured by how similar an image is to other images but how this particular image affects the particular viewer here. (I never saw a man in a jar before so it was unique to me though I didn't use that word in my response.) Since we respond here with Consideration rather than Critique, impact (or lack thereof) is just as acceptable a response as a list of technical flaws. The value, I'm suggesting, is in the MIX of responses, rather than restricting it to one particular script for all responses to follow.

I totally disagree with you about the standards, and can attest to my own journey being catapulted forwards with this kind of variegated feedback, but I won't take up any more of Dave's real estate on his thread with this sidebar that might work out better in its own thread.

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

As I was first to use the term unique in reference to this image I will say with my limited worldly exposure, that I did not grab at the word but rather choose it specifically as it was right for me because the image was unlike anything I have ever seen. I believe you have totally taken the wrong impression and hope this clarifies it a bit for you Mr. Spad.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

My bad young Frank I sometimes forget the sheltered existence you live lol. Trust all is well with you and yours my friend.

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

It is, thank you for your concern Mr. Spad...when it comes to images and art I'm a lost soul sir.....