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The Unseen Forest Dweller
The Unseen Forest Dweller
PeterPic


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Sci-Fi Celebration (Expert Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD for Canon
Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Date: Jun 24, 2007
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/125 sec
Galleries: Digital Art, Self Portrait
Date Uploaded: Jun 24, 2007

 I really pushed the envelope with editing for this one taking full advantage of the flexibilty allowed by the expert editing rules. Basically it's a composition of two photographs - one with me in the scene and one of the background only with the camera on tripod and the exact same camera settings for both shots.

Post Processing:

I can't recall the exact sequence of everything I did but I'll try and outline the process as well as I remember:

I used Fluid Mask (A cutout plugin) to make a cutout of myself and pasted it on a new layer which was selectively masked off. This layer was duplicated and the Chrome filter was applied and selectively masked off. The selection path of the cutout was used to copy a part of the background in the shape of the subject onto yet another layer which was also selectively masked (this is the invisible arm) and the smudge tool was used on this layer to distort the part of the arm that's invisible and a slight inner shadow and outer glow layer effect was applied. The color replacement brush was used on the chrome layer to bring in some of the greens so it would look like the surrounding forest is reflected in the chrome. The edges of the background was darkened and some other finer adjustments and details were edited, but that's the essence of it.

I really like this image but I have no idea how well it will do seeing that it probably falls more in the category of digital art than photography, but hey who knows.

Statistics
Place: 22 out of 93
Avg (all users): 6.3527
Avg (commenters): 7.0556
Avg (participants): 6.1311
Avg (non-participants): 6.4213
Views since voting: 2213
Views during voting: 679
Votes: 258
Comments: 21
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 07/11/2007 07:42:34 PM
Greetings from the Critique Club

Definitely on the digital art side of the line, but that seems to have been appreciated in this challenge, and this piece seems to have been well appreciated. The idea fits the challenge very well, and it's fairly well executed. Perhaps a bit sloppy in places, but it doesn't really detract from the effect. The model is well posed, and his sense of wonderment clearly shows through his "mask". And I love the colors and the way they are used here.

My main complaint about this image is that the "forest dweller" seems very flat, almost like a cardboard cutout. This is partially from the lighting; there are no shadows to give him a three dimensional form. And partially from the processing, which posterized a lot of the details and eliminated the continuous tones. Perhaps that is what was intended, but to me the lack of realism kills the message.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/05/2007 06:54:06 AM
Very good processing, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2007 04:38:39 PM
Nice effect!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2007 06:00:17 AM
Nice bit of work. I like the idea, and a good try. I suspect you will do even better than this very soon. Best of luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2007 05:52:06 AM
cool idea but the editing is a little sloppy. The gray stuff on the far right of the shirt...eeeesh... the transition could have been smoother.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2007 01:24:07 AM
cool effect!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2007 01:17:20 AM
Campy but lyrical. It reminds me of a movie like Starman that might seem quaint to somebody today but is actually more heartfelt than most of what's in theaters now.

I like how he's amazed at himself. He is the poet transformed by his observation. Is he coming to be or is he disappearing?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2007 03:58:16 PM
Damn T1000 feeling effects of time travel. lol, nice entry.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2007 06:02:59 PM
I like the concept and the execution is pretty good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2007 03:46:28 PM
cleverly done :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2007 11:45:46 AM
Good idea.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2007 09:53:52 AM
I think this photo was very well processed in photoshop. I think the arm of the t-shirt is a little distracting in this photo but great idea.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2007 03:28:59 PM
Excellent effect, very "Predator"
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2007 01:24:24 PM
I see this more as fantasy than sci-fi, At first glance this is a decent image, but as I continue to look at the details it loses its mystery. This image just doesn't hold together at a closer inspection. It is a fun idea, but doesn't pull it off for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2007 06:01:03 AM
Lot of good work there.
Needs a better title.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2007 02:56:35 AM
10, great shot that feels very sci-fi while still keeping a feeling that the image could be a photograph
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2007 04:10:39 PM
Hmm some new cloaking devise, interesting. Please forward the specs of this devise to my government email: Agent_Kawana@FBI.gov :D giving this an 8 lol ;) Good luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2007 08:22:43 AM
My only 10 of the challenge. This should be on the front page unless people think it was too processed. Hope they don't.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2007 06:45:07 AM
Into the vat of molten steel you go, along with your high score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2007 12:13:24 AM
excellent...The Terminator! well done. Only thing I don't like is the way you painted the t-shirt, so 9 from me
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2007 12:09:22 AM
Nice effects... I like this, good job
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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