Steve Estill, APSA, EPSA  


Promise by Steve Estill, APSA, EPSA

February 2021 - Promise

February 2021 - Steve Estill, APSA, EPSA

Original

February 2021 - Steve Estill, APSA, EPSA

Original 2

February 2021 - Steve Estill, APSA, EPSA

Original 3

About the Image(s)

I thought it was time we looked forward to better times ahead. We're promised vaccines in the next few weeks!
The first thing to do was create a background. The sky image (Original 1) was cropped so that the sun was in the bottom right corner. The canvas size was increased with the image anchored to the top left. Then duplicate, horizontal flip and drag the new layer to the right. Duplicate, vertical flip and drag the new layer to the bottom right. Duplicate, horizontal flip and drag the new layer to the bottom left. Stamp up and used cloning and healing to give the background (Original 2). I used Nik HDR Efex to increase the texture and brightness.
The centre image was a Steampunk who I've got to know over the years at the Steampunk weekends - she smiles with her whole face! I used luminosity mode at 50% opacity to blend her into the sky. I duplicated this layer and used a mask to bring her eyes out some more.
I then used the spout of a lobster pot (Original 3) which was cropped and stretched to fit the background and placed in Darken blending mode. The spout is where a lobster enters the pot - once inside it finds another spout which takes it further into the pot and makes escape more difficult.
White doves would have been a good element, but I had to settle for seagulls - they're much more plentiful around here! These were selected individually then put into two groups as the layer stack was getting large. This reduced the stack to about 20 layers.
Then it was just a matter of putting various Goths into the image, predominantly using darken blending mode and layer masks.
When the composition was to my liking I stamped up, duplicated the new layer, and used Topaz Studio 2 to add a texture of an overhead lightburst - this was in lighten blending mode. The total number of active layers was 32, which would have been higher without the groups.
Now all we have to do is wait for the jabs!


This round’s discussion is now closed!
10 comments posted




 
I'm trying to learn layering and am very impressed with what you have accomplished. Your patience, attention to detail and creativity leav me speechless! *****   Posted: 02/07/2021 13:08:06
Steve Estill   Steve Estill
Thanks for your kind words. It gets quite easy with time.
Look out for the new 'Introduction to Photoshop' PSA course which will be launching very soon - it may help you with layering.
Thanks for looking in.   Posted: 02/07/2021 13:56:14



 
Steve, your imagination and creativity always amaze me. So interesting. I am also impressed with all your PS skills. :) I see this has there is hope with the light and birds but darkness is still swimming around her. I love the color tones. I wonder if you could have used less birds, or made them look a little more random, unless you wanted them to frame her face. That would be my only feedback.   Posted: 02/08/2021 11:56:19



Candy Childrey   Candy Childrey
Good job, Steve. Maybe there is light at the end of a really long tunnel. Your central image has such a sweet face, I would like to see some of the smuck removed from her face to reveal it a bit more. I agree with Lori about the birds-less is more.   Posted: 02/10/2021 14:21:54



Jan Handman   Jan Handman
Your central figure is lovely. You're right, she does smile with her whole face. She is the light that's emerging from the doom and gloom around her. Your image is extremely impactful and speaks to the entire world at this point in our journey past this dark time. Your layering and manipulation techniques are wonderfully done here; you are the master. Kudos Steve!   Posted: 02/10/2021 17:10:42



Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
(Group 54)
Let me speak for the birds. They are an inspired crown for the woman who is the central image. In addition the blending of the net and her face helps to unify the whole image. The eyes at the bottom of the net peering at the viewer are effective in their subtlety. Two suggestions if I may: (1) remove the masks from the net. They are too cliché for an image with so much nuance and (2) use the skull in the lower right hand corner in the masks' place but keep them behind the net. Nice work.   Posted: 02/11/2021 09:25:35



Georgianne Giese   Georgianne Giese
(Group 77)
I agree with Alan with respect to the skulls. I do find the skulls on top of the mask to be cluttering. To me, the dark gold color over the central Goth's face is too intense, too dark. With the light burst above her and the intended glow from her, it would seem to me to be more consistent if it were lighter in tone and brighter.

Your image is an inspired work of creativity, in my opinion!   Posted: 02/24/2021 11:23:45



Wanda Krack   Wanda Krack
(Group 28)
What an interesting image. The skulls are a little overpowering to me, but I don't care for them in any image, so that's personal. Your layering is awesome, and the central figure, with the birds and the clear eyes, makes this image pop for sure. Well-done.   Posted: 02/25/2021 08:44:56
Steve Estill   Steve Estill
Thanks Wanda.
Sorry about the skulls - we get a lot of Goths round here and they make 'different' portraits which are hard to dismiss.
Thanks for looking in.   Posted: 02/25/2021 09:07:35



 
Interesting image. I like that you have the eyes looking through from under the net. But I am not too sure if the masks are adding to the story.   Posted: 02/28/2021 01:09:42