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Comments
Hello, Peder, and welcome to EPZ and its Critique Gallery.
You arrived here because you checked the "Critique Wanted" option. I assume that was your intention. In the main gallery, reached by NOT checking that option, you can receive votes and even awards, but not necessarily constructive critique.
It's difficult to give critique on a heavily manipulated image, and one which I feel sure you are quite happy with. It's helpful if you use the Description box to tell us why you are seeking critique, what areas you want comments on, how you feel about what you have achieved, etc. We haven't had the benefit of seeing the original image, and cannot therefore comment on your technique in the manipulation.
All I can say is that I think you achieved your goal. Each has a distinctly strong personality and they held my attention for some time, wondering what sort of "gods" they might be, good or evil, kind or malevolent, gentle or violent, etc. The two on the right definitely look less friendly than the one on the left.
I wonder if you took the shot of your three friends with this manipulation in mind. I like the composition, the closeness and the fact that there are three, which is an excellent compositional number, but also a number that has been historically used religiously and spiritually.
I'd like to have seen a little more of the man on the far right, so that the back of his head is included inside the frame, but otherwise I like the balance.
The sky background is ideal for your theme because we often see godlike figures depicted in the clouds, or above the earth.
Pamela.
You arrived here because you checked the "Critique Wanted" option. I assume that was your intention. In the main gallery, reached by NOT checking that option, you can receive votes and even awards, but not necessarily constructive critique.
It's difficult to give critique on a heavily manipulated image, and one which I feel sure you are quite happy with. It's helpful if you use the Description box to tell us why you are seeking critique, what areas you want comments on, how you feel about what you have achieved, etc. We haven't had the benefit of seeing the original image, and cannot therefore comment on your technique in the manipulation.
All I can say is that I think you achieved your goal. Each has a distinctly strong personality and they held my attention for some time, wondering what sort of "gods" they might be, good or evil, kind or malevolent, gentle or violent, etc. The two on the right definitely look less friendly than the one on the left.
I wonder if you took the shot of your three friends with this manipulation in mind. I like the composition, the closeness and the fact that there are three, which is an excellent compositional number, but also a number that has been historically used religiously and spiritually.
I'd like to have seen a little more of the man on the far right, so that the back of his head is included inside the frame, but otherwise I like the balance.
The sky background is ideal for your theme because we often see godlike figures depicted in the clouds, or above the earth.
Pamela.
Thank you very much Pamela for the nice comment. When I asked for input, it was primarily the composition of the image I asked for. But if anyone knows anything about heavily treated images, it would also help with a comment here. Thanks.
Welcome from me too. This is fun - I wonder if you are aware that the site has a 'Silly Sunday' tradition, so the upload is perfectly timed!
So far as the processing is concerned, it is a bit too extreme for me in that the processing becomes the story, it's a distraction. The surface swirls seem detached from the figures, not really a part of their structure. But that's by the by, really. This was never intended to be subtle.
Thanks for clarifying what you are looking for here. So far as the composition is concerned, it's good, but with one reservation... What works of course is the natural balance of an uneven number. I do like the way you have positioned the figures, one plus two, with the hand on the shoulder as the plus sign.
I also like the way the direction goes horizontally for a bit, then cuts diagonally downwards on the right.
What doesn't work so well is the cut-off on the right, the last fellow looks as though he's having to squeeze himself into the frame. We need to see his shoulder and the whole of his wreath.
Is this cropped from a larger frame I wonder? It would be interesting to see the original, you can upload it as a modification.
Moira
So far as the processing is concerned, it is a bit too extreme for me in that the processing becomes the story, it's a distraction. The surface swirls seem detached from the figures, not really a part of their structure. But that's by the by, really. This was never intended to be subtle.
Thanks for clarifying what you are looking for here. So far as the composition is concerned, it's good, but with one reservation... What works of course is the natural balance of an uneven number. I do like the way you have positioned the figures, one plus two, with the hand on the shoulder as the plus sign.
I also like the way the direction goes horizontally for a bit, then cuts diagonally downwards on the right.
What doesn't work so well is the cut-off on the right, the last fellow looks as though he's having to squeeze himself into the frame. We need to see his shoulder and the whole of his wreath.
Is this cropped from a larger frame I wonder? It would be interesting to see the original, you can upload it as a modification.
Moira
Thanks. Well, there is not much to give off on the right side from the original image. This image is made up of double diagonals. Therefore, the guy in the right corner is put slightly to the side to make the composition work. But I am now considering making it all over again (7-8 hours of work).
Good Grace, it looks like painting now. The models resemble Jake Gyllenhaal, Gerard Depardieu and Louis de Funes. Not your typical ancient Gods but quite some achievement and skill there.
Well done,
pablophotographer
Well done,
pablophotographer
Coming late to the party allows me to read a good deal of to-and-fro discussion...
Welcome from me, too, and thank you for making this a dialogue: the more you tell us, the more we can give you what you want.
It's not clear to me how much the composition depends on the original picture, and how much you have constructed the relationship between the three friends in processing. For me, the angle down to hte third model works, but the separations between the models aren't completely successful - there's a relatively big space bwtween the two taller men, while the chap on the right looks as if he's trying to squeeze himself into the picture. I'd like to see him given a bit more space to the right - though I suspect that you've constructed the way he overlaps the man in the middle very carefully, and that works for me.
The overall effect is very much one of a carnival, or maybe, even, a Pride march - the bright colours, the deliberately over-the-top flamboyance...
Either your extensive processing has eliminated all the EXIF data (possibly by combining images), or you've used 'Save for web' which eliminates the information from the file. Usually, this data is useful for analysing technical issues, though that's not relevant in this case.
Welcome from me, too, and thank you for making this a dialogue: the more you tell us, the more we can give you what you want.
It's not clear to me how much the composition depends on the original picture, and how much you have constructed the relationship between the three friends in processing. For me, the angle down to hte third model works, but the separations between the models aren't completely successful - there's a relatively big space bwtween the two taller men, while the chap on the right looks as if he's trying to squeeze himself into the picture. I'd like to see him given a bit more space to the right - though I suspect that you've constructed the way he overlaps the man in the middle very carefully, and that works for me.
The overall effect is very much one of a carnival, or maybe, even, a Pride march - the bright colours, the deliberately over-the-top flamboyance...
Either your extensive processing has eliminated all the EXIF data (possibly by combining images), or you've used 'Save for web' which eliminates the information from the file. Usually, this data is useful for analysing technical issues, though that's not relevant in this case.
Thanks for the input. Well. It seems that everyone is in agreement that the man on the right should have more space. Then it has become the focal point of a review. I am working on an improved proposal where he gets more space. Incidentally, the setup of the three men is set in advance. While the sky is added later.
That's useful information in this context. Thank you.
A viewpoint a few inches to the left, and maybe a little further away would have done the trick.
Looking very closely, the figure on the right is not as sharp as the others, which suggests that depth of field or subject movement may have been relevant - so the EXIF data would be interesting (aperture, shutter speed, focal length, ISO, camera mode).
A viewpoint a few inches to the left, and maybe a little further away would have done the trick.
Looking very closely, the figure on the right is not as sharp as the others, which suggests that depth of field or subject movement may have been relevant - so the EXIF data would be interesting (aperture, shutter speed, focal length, ISO, camera mode).
You can't really rely on depth of field in this image. I have made artificial depth of field to create a little depth in the picture. So I actually put a little blur on the sides of the picture, but only so much that you can only perceive it instinctively. F9, 1 / 125s, 800iso and 70mm.
