The New Capricorn Zodiac Sign: As some of you know, each month I enter the ShiftArt challenge Each month they give a theme to create a composite. You have to use at least three of the...

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

As some of you know, each month I enter the ShiftArt challenge Each month they give a theme to create a composite. You have to use at least three of the images they provide. Along with a choice of provided models and texture. I have had four honorable mentions. But I will not talk about the ones that didn't make it past, the "Thanks for entering" pile

Seems for me it is hit or miss. Of course I am still trying to win first place. Perhaps some day.
This months theme is designing a new Zodiac sign.

(Download)

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

This is unique, Frank. It would be interesting to know what various layers were used.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Ok Carol, here goes. The base shot is the moons, I duplicated it then flipped the both horizontally and vertically.
I combined skull and highland cow to make the center image. The round background is a clock that they furnished. I used motion blur and hue/saturation on it to make it a bit worldly. The smokey area of the sky was the texture that was one of the requirements. The woman was at 60% opacity. And once again I used hue/saturation on her. i am a big fan of using hue/saturation. There was a total of four images and texture layer to come up with the final result.
I have not yet decided whether this is the composite that I will submit. If it is I am sure i will continue to play with it before I submit it.

Edit. there is a fifth image. A faint moon of the skull.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Cwilson341 wrote:

This is unique, Frank. It would be interesting to know what various layers were used.

At first glance I’m sure most would not realize what a complicated process it is to create something like this! I’m on my iPad right now but I’m going to pull it up on my computer later and look at it along with your receipe. It’s pretty amazing.👍

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Cwilson341 wrote:

At first glance I’m sure most would not realize what a complicated process it is to create something like this! I’m on my iPad right now but I’m going to pull it up on my computer later and look at it along with your receipe. It’s pretty amazing.👍

Thanks, I pretty much gave you the abridged edition. Any questions you may have let me know, I will try to an if I can. But the way I usually work is try something if I like it I keep it. If not it is gone. So I may have a bit of trouble answering you question.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

NJFrank wrote:

Thanks, I pretty much gave you the abridged edition. Any questions you may have let me know, I will try to an if I can. But the way I usually work is try something if I like it I keep it. If not it is gone. So I may have a bit of trouble answering you question.

You answered what I was looking for - what were the different layers. It all fit together very smoothly and I was curious about all the pieces that went into it. Thank you.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

I am not completely satisfied with the composite. But that is not unusual for me. I rarely am happy with my composites. I always feel that I am either leaving something out, or could do better.

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Frank, don't get to down on yourself for not taking first place. In competitions like this it's all about what the personal preferences of the judges are. Unless you know the judges and know what they like, it would be very difficult to strike their fancy and capture first place.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

BrentHarder wrote:

Frank, don't get to down on yourself for not taking first place. In competitions like this it's all about what the personal preferences of the judges are. Unless you know the judges and know what they like, it would be very difficult to strike their fancy and capture first place.

Thanks for the positive outlook on the competition. I look at it more about learning new techniques. And for me it is a fun exercise. By having to use their images I am forced to think outside my corporate zone.

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

Very good Frank and I read what you did to it. Lets hope you get a winner soon...

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

nanaval wrote:

Very good Frank and I read what you did to it. Lets hope you get a winner soon...

Thanks Val, win or lose I really enjoy the challenge. By having to use their images I don’t have any emotional attachment to them .And it gives me a chance to try different things.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Nice effort. I really like the idea of designing Zodiac themes. Thanks. I would never use others' images though myself.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Fotoartist wrote:

Nice effort. I really like the idea of designing Zodiac themes. Thanks. I would never use others' images though myself.

Thanks, but part of the challenge is using the images provided. Everyone is starting out of the gate at the same point. Everyone who either reads the instruction or enters into the challenge know that the components of the composite are not their own. I see no problem with that. On the other hand if someone tried to pass off those composite as their "own" images that would be fraud.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Frank, you're back in the groove. I have always thought your unique composites and abstracts were your strong point, Not to say I don't like your "normal" pictures too.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Curmudgeon wrote:

Frank, you're back in the groove. I have always thought your unique composites and abstracts were your strong point, Not to say I don't like your "normal" pictures too.

Thanks Jack for your very nice compliment. I may or may not enter this composite in the challenge, but either way it was fun coming up with this one.