Aerowen Reworked: I posted the second image about a year ago, the main image is a rework. I prefer the figure and the cross in the new version but think perhaps I should have left more...

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

I posted the second image about a year ago, the main image is a rework. I prefer the figure and the cross in the new version but think perhaps I should have left more foreground - and maybe the colours of the original are more interesting. Have you any thoughts on it? Any critique is welcome.

Aerowen Reworked
Aerowen Reworked...

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SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

…love the image…! These are the questions I have…is she protecting the cross…? A grave site…? If she is, what is she protecting it from…? Has she vanquished an army…? An evil wizard…? Maybe the bird should be screaming at whatever might be approaching…?

…but what do I know…?

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

SkyKing wrote:

…love the image…! These are the questions I have…is she protecting the cross…? A grave site…? If she is, what is she protecting it from…? Has she vanquished an army…? An evil wizard…? Maybe the bird should be screaming at whatever might be approaching…?

…but what do I know…?

Well, you might know too much SkyKing! She’s the Welsh goddess of the battlefield and decides who wins and who loses, so I think she’s certainly vanquished an army. She’s looking back toward the scene with a smug smile! The cross was just a handy leaning-post, although why anyone got buried at the top of a mountain I have no idea. It should really be a Celtic cross, so a third version may yet be sent to bother everyone! If so, I’ll liven-up that bird at the same time. Many thanks for your imaginative response.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Side by side (or one above the other), I like the newer colors because they aren't competing for attention with the other elements. And, even in sRGB the older appears slighty muddy to me.

I might not have thought about foreground, but your question and another comparision has me wishing for a little more context as to her position on the mountaintop.

A richly imaginative, fantastic work, Dave!

L-Fox

magnetoman wrote:

I posted the second image about a year ago, the main image is a rework. I prefer the figure and the cross in the new version but think perhaps I should have left more foreground - and maybe the colours of the original are more interesting. Have you any thoughts on it? Any critique is welcome.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I prefer the remake. It has much more definition.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Linda From Maine wrote:

Side by side (or one above the other), I like the newer colors because they aren't competing for attention with the other elements. And, even in sRGB the older appears slighty muddy to me.

I might not have thought about foreground, but your question and another comparision has me wishing for a little more context as to her position on the mountaintop.

A richly imaginative, fantastic work, Dave!

Thanks Linda, that makes it worth the effort!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

l-fox wrote:

👍

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

kpmac wrote:

I prefer the remake. It has much more definition.

Yes, I must admit I hadn’t realised the original effort was so fuzzy until I put them together! Thanks for commenting, it’s appreciated

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Sorry, I like the original better. She is partially obscured by the smoke and dust of battle as one would expect. Obviously she is a warrior or she would not be shown with a shield. Her sword in the original shows the wear of many battles and perhaps traces of blood as would be expected of a Goddess of the Battlefield.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Curmudgeon wrote:

Sorry, I like the original better. She is partially obscured by the smoke and dust of battle as one would expect. Obviously she is a warrior or she would not be shown with a shield. Her sword in the original shows the wear of many battles and perhaps traces of blood as would be expected of a Goddess of the Battlefield.

Good points Curmudgeon, I’ll attend to both. Thanks for pointing out these shortcomings.

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

I find the second one to be much better, with her closer there is more impact and the falcon is a great touch to the picture. I find the clarity of the picture to be much better as well and her pose is much better...

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

nanaval wrote:

I find the second one to be much better, with her closer there is more impact and the falcon is a great touch to the picture. I find the clarity of the picture to be much better as well and her pose is much better...

Thanks Val, you’ve touched on most of the points I felt needed to be addressed, particularly the pose. That took a slightly different choice of main pose and eventually making the figure of three or four separate pieces in order to manipulate the way I needed. Whilst I like the better clarity, I do agree with Curmudgeon that a bit of mist around would help the image. Thanks for taking the time to put such thought into your critique, I do appreciate it.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

I appreciate these photos that reminds me of "Game of Thrones" series. The rework is more real, we could meet her in the woods any day.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

magnetoman wrote:

I posted the second image about a year ago, the main image is a rework. I prefer the figure and the cross in the new version but think perhaps I should have left more foreground - and maybe the colours of the original are more interesting. Have you any thoughts on it? Any critique is welcome.

Ya know, Dave, you’re killin’ me! There is nothing worth talking about to change these images in any way! Both are beyond excellent. To a post processing hack like me, aspiring to this level of perfection in compositing is pointless - there’s not enough years left in my life!

Stan