'USS Alabama' (BB-60): From its humble beginnings on February 1, 1940 as the keel was laid at the Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia, Battleship USS ALABAMA (BB-60) has had a...

Dave Chinn

From its humble beginnings on February 1, 1940 as the keel was laid at the Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia, Battleship USS ALABAMA (BB-60) has had a remarkable career. She began her World War II adventures in the North Atlantic in 1943, then later that year, went to the South Pacific seas. She ended up in Mobile, Alabama as a National Historic Landmark and memorial to millions.

Here, I have placed her back at sea for the well deserved trials and observations only.

USS Alabama (BB-60)
USS Alabama (BB-60)...

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artBob Loc: Near Chicago

I like the idea. Some problems are the sea horizon does not match the ship perspective (she's gonna sink!) and the fog/fog of memory is applied unconvincingly, ignoring atmospheric perspective. One thing I do like a lot is your rendering of light.

Dave Chinn

artBob wrote:

I like the idea. Some problems are the sea horizon does not match the ship perspective (she's gonna sink!) and the fog/fog of memory is applied unconvincingly, ignoring atmospheric perspective. One thing I do like a lot is your rendering of light.

Thanks for your observation Bob !!!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

I think Bob has nailed the problems Dave, it doesn’t quite pull it off. Having said that, it is a great idea and worth progressing. How about helping the ship’s perspective with a heavier sea. A large wave in front would possibly help the perspective and remove that rather straight slipper line. Do maintain the light, it’s quite magical.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I do agree with the positioning of the ship, it looks like is sailing up hill. I think the fog, as applied is perfect. I can imagine being on the bridge of a Japanese cruiser and seeing that monster appear out of the morning mist.
It's a great start. I would work with this one.

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

A great Tribute to a War Ship hero.
Don

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Dave Chinn wrote:

From its humble beginnings on February 1, 1940 as the keel was laid at the Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia, Battleship USS ALABAMA (BB-60) has had a remarkable career. She began her World War II adventures in the North Atlantic in 1943, then later that year, went to the South Pacific seas. She ended up in Mobile, Alabama as a National Historic Landmark and memorial to millions.

Here, I have placed her back at sea for the well deserved trials and observations only.

Bob made some good points about the perspective. It is too good an image to give up on. A great tribute to a great ship. If you decide to work on it a bit more, I can't wait to see the final image. I feel strange commenting on your work since I can't even come close to your composites with my own images.
Erich

PaulG Loc: Western Australia

As pointed out, agree with the "perspective" thing. It looks slightly tilted back. Horizon realignment would largely correct that and also a bit of frontal spray to give impression of forging ahead. All up though, I think this is a fabulous image and you've done a great job, very atmospheric and moody

Dave Chinn

magnetoman wrote:

I think Bob has nailed the problems Dave, it doesn’t quite pull it off. Having said that, it is a great idea and worth progressing. How about helping the ship’s perspective with a heavier sea. A large wave in front would possibly help the perspective and remove that rather straight slipper line. Do maintain the light, it’s quite magical.

Thanks Dave. At most times, another set of eyes can be helpful. Things never appear to be what was intended. You have the right idea with heavier sea and that was my intention all along, but I didn't quite take it far enough. I appreciate your suggestion and I'll go back and make an attempt.
Dave

Dave Chinn

Curmudgeon wrote:

I do agree with the positioning of the ship, it looks like is sailing up hill. I think the fog, as applied is perfect. I can imagine being on the bridge of a Japanese cruiser and seeing that monster appear out of the morning mist.
It's a great start. I would work with this one.

Thanks Curmudgeon, you have a great imagination !!! Been working on this one and refuse to give up. Results will be posted soon.

Dave

Dave Chinn

donrosshill wrote:

A great Tribute to a War Ship hero.
Don

Thanks Don, much appreciated !!!

Dave

Dave Chinn

ebrunner wrote:

Bob made some good points about the perspective. It is too good an image to give up on. A great tribute to a great ship. If you decide to work on it a bit more, I can't wait to see the final image. I feel strange commenting on your work since I can't even come close to your composites with my own images.
Erich

Thanks Erich, I appreciate your complementary encouragement. I would like to think there is room for growth when it comes composites. Always a work in progress, with perfection nowhere in sight.

Dave

Dave Chinn

PaulG wrote:

As pointed out, agree with the "perspective" thing. It looks slightly tilted back. Horizon realignment would largely correct that and also a bit of frontal spray to give impression of forging ahead. All up though, I think this is a fabulous image and you've done a great job, very atmospheric and moody

Thanks Paul !!! Your suggestion are helpful, I appreciate your comments for corrections.

Dave

Dave Chinn

With the help of those that commented, encouraged me to push the envelope and make some corrections and changes that blindsided me from the beginning of this composite. So again, thanks to those for the encouragement. I reworked this composite into another direction. My intent was to create a foggy scene, which is what I had with the original background, so therefor no horizon can be seen or established. The ship DID have a lean into a direction that was sorta difficult to correct. It was more than not being level to give a perceptual optical illusion so to speak IMO.

I decided to post the original images used for this composite along with my final results.

The original background was in Bar Harbor, Maine 2016. The ship was in Mobile, Alabama 2018. The waves/rough water with several duplicated layers for the creation was in San Diego 2007.
Dave

Background (original)
Background (original)...

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USS Alabama (original)
USS Alabama (original)...

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Waves (original)
Waves (original)...

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USS Alabama BB-60 (revised final version)

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magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Dave Chinn wrote:

With the help of those that commented, encouraged ... (show quote)

That's a huge improvement to perceived perspective Dave. Think I'd take it even further though and find a shot with a heavier sea. Could the boat tilt back a little? Whether or not, I'd remove the small horizontal lines that remain at slipper level.