kenievans Loc: Dallas

I sometimes bemoan the fact that I can't get out of the city on photo trips as often as I would like or even just a day to shoot around the city. I decided to take just 30 minutes on my way home from work a couple of times a week to stop at a local park or someplace interesting and just shoot. I stumbled across some unusual trees that were still leafless and had all of these interesting bumps and bulges on the trunks and limbs. I didn't know what I was going to do with them but I shot the trees. Later as I pulled them up in PS and begin to look at cropping them I started to see the faces. I decided to process them to bring that out.

The actual processing was relatively simple. Just cropping, masking, adding a background and texture layer, and a little dodging and burning to help emphasize shape. Nothing I haven't done before but applying those tools to bring out what I saw in the wood was a challenging experience. I am so glad I made time even if it was just 30 minutes to stop and photograph something.

I would like to offer a challenge to you all. In the next few days or over the weekend just stop somewhere and take a photo of something that interests you. It can be in your home, in your yard, in your neighbor's yard (not their window), or an alley downtown. Find something in that photo(s) and use your PP skills to help us see it. It is too easy to do if you use compositing and that is not the exercise. Stretch your creativity and look beyond the scene or object you photographed and transform it. Come back and post what you came up with and how your processed it.

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dannac Loc: 60 miles SW of New Orleans

Interesting idea ... nice job ... have to keep an eye out ...

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks for the challenge, Keni. I love how you saw these! I'll check around this weekend. You said no composites, but it appears that "eyes" are OK?

kenievans Loc: Dallas

The "eye" on the right was in the original shot. I just cloned it for the left eye.

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

Clever. It would be my suggestion that, now that you've done so many creative experiments, to explore digging deeply into something that moves you, such as the nebula works. It depends on your goal: Do you want to make a lot of different but entertaining works, or do you want to use just some techniques that express your idea/emotions. Think of how artists/photographers of note have a style, or style periods. They are not interested in exploring technique for the sake of technique. Others, not aiming to be "of note" do precisely that kind of exploring because they want to. Neither is a commandment. I wonder what your goals are.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Beware the bat

(Trixie's shadow, in profile)



edit: added a vignette in Nik called "adapt edges." Got the idea from Curmudgeon here.

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without vignette

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

Grabs me! Strong emotional response, strong visual response.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Wow

kenievans Loc: Dallas

How cool! I like it better without the vignette but both have great creative vision.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Bob I am really on the fence. I love experimenting to see what I can create. Since I have gotten into PS it has been more about the visual impact with not a lot of thought to creating something of deeper meaning. When I wasn't doing a lot of creative work my photos were more trying to tell a story. I would eventually like to merge the two but I enjoy playing with my toys and stretching my creativity too much right now. I doubt that I will ever settle into a specific style although I do tend to favor bold colors. I get bored quickly when I am not challenged. It can take years to develop a style. Picasso was not born a cubist.

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

Quite right you are. A person's fascination with the work they're doing is the best sign that they are "in the groove." When boredom strikes, "it's time to move."

I am very happy for you, that you seem to be in a very good spot right now.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

Nature's capacity to stir a human response in its many forms has always intrigued me. In trees and rocks, and so many other places. One of my favorites is ice.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

#4 seahorse (upside down), #5 old man with his Segway

Intriguing images, Mark!

kenievans Loc: Dallas

These are wonderful! You have a great eye for the unusual with out any fancy PP. I love the ...dancing...trees.

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

They bring out the essentials of emotion and composition—a pleasure to contemplate.