Peggy Nugent  


Fantasy Journey by Peggy Nugent

March 2023 - Fantasy Journey

March 2023 - Peggy Nugent

Original

March 2023 - Peggy Nugent

Original 2

March 2023 - Peggy Nugent

Original 3

About the Image(s)

I've always wanted to create a fantasy outer space image, and finally found the elements to create it.
The background was a shot of frozen pond water. The light circle reminded me of a planet, and the texture made me think of space as filled with asteroids and matter. I moved the spot to the right, to give the dolphin a destination. I added the layer with the iridescence in Linear Light mode at 45%, and then a layer with the folded cloth at lowered opacity to create a cleaner background for the dolphin. I also added the aqua layer in Linear Light at 42%, after tweaking the colors of that layer. I added a layer with the dolphin cut out in Normal mode at 78%. I wanted it to be a little transparent but still let some of the colors come through.
My planet looked a bit bland, so I put the image with stripes over it, and used transform=>warp to shape it roughly into a circle, and then Liquify to move the lines into a more spherical shape. I masked it into a clean circle. I clipped a layer in Color Mode with the sparky colors onto the planet. I created an ellipse shape and duplicated it, making it slightly smaller. I inverted the sparky color layer and clipped different sections of it to each of the ellipse layers, then flattto ened them into a single layer to make the planet's ring. I used transform => perspective to make the top of the ring look a little further away, and masked out the part that went behind the planet.
Although I had liked all the texture from the original background when I started, it looked too busy for me at this point. I cloned out the "asteroids" and used a Topaz Impression filter twice, masking out parts of the second filter to keep the detail in the dolphin and the planet.
I then used a Topaz Star Filter to add the glow on the planet and the dolphin.


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




Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Here it is before the Star Effect glow. Sometimes I think this version works better.   Posted: 03/01/2023 08:16:21
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Kirsti Näntö-Salonen   Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
Hi Peggy, I would vote for the image without the Star Effect glow: I think that the colors of your fantastic nebulas come out more clear and vibrant. I can hear the song of the dolphin as she glides through the galaxies.- I wonder if tilting the planet a bit would add to dynamics of the image? Thanks for the deep space adventure!   Posted: 03/06/2023 00:09:00
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Thanks, Kirsti! What a great idea, to tilt the planet. I'll give it a try   Posted: 03/07/2023 14:48:59
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Yes, I like it better this way. Thanks, Kirsti!   Posted: 03/12/2023 14:48:23
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Brad Becker   Brad Becker
Peggy, I love how committed you are to an idea. You've done an amazing job pulling all these elements together. The colors are vibrant and alive with movement. I do like the tilted planet enhancement. I wonder if you could work to create a sense of distance between the celestial dolphin and the planet as they seem to be on the same plane, possibly darkening the area around the planet and reducing its size a little suggest further distance.   Posted: 03/12/2023 23:36:51
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Thanks, Brad! That's a great suggestion.
It took me a number of tries to get there, but I'm glad I kept trying. Here's what I've got now.   Posted: 03/25/2023 16:55:18
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Brad Becker   Brad Becker
Peggy, I love how you enthusiastically incorporate people's ideas and develop your image. Your revisions are all great.   Posted: 03/25/2023 23:32:20



Aavo Koort   Aavo Koort
As a SyFy fan I really enjoyed your entry. Maybe the extraterrestrials who visited us long time ago were shaped like dolphins.
Your work with colors and background shapes is wonderful. Good job!   Posted: 03/13/2023 18:20:22
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Thanks very much, Aavo!   Posted: 03/25/2023 16:55:45



Maria Mazo   Maria Mazo
Hi Peggy, many thanks for your detailed explanation about how you had created this image.
The textures and the colours are fantastic and create a surreal background that match with your idea. I like more the version with the tilted planet. If I can suggest something maybe I will darken a little the planet I found that it has too much luminosity. Beautiful image a nice story. Well done!
  Posted: 03/15/2023 05:50:13
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Thanks, Maria!
I've taken your suggestion and Brad's and come up with a new version in my reply to Brad. I'd be interested in what you think of it.   Posted: 03/25/2023 16:57:17
Maria Mazo   Maria Mazo
Hi Peggy I observe the progression of your image and I really enjoy the process and the discussion about the different alternatives. I certainly agree with the suggestions and I found that this latest version with a smaller planet and more glow in the highlights really enhance the image. You have done a very well ending up with a more mature and shocking image.   Posted: 03/27/2023 04:41:55
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Thank you, Maria!   Posted: 03/27/2023 17:41:29



Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
This composite's colors are certainly eye-catching, drawing the viewer immediately into the image. A dolphin and Saturn in the same image is challenging. Congratulations on pulling it off! After drawing the viewer into the picture with your wonderful colors you have asked a surreal question: Is the dolphin in space or is the planet in the ocean? I agree with Brad that there should be more of a sense of distance between the dolphin and the planet. Perhaps making the planet smaller and moving it more towards the corner might do the trick. You've definitely created an image that attracts attention!   Posted: 03/20/2023 17:52:29
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Thanks, Alan!
I hadn't thought of the planet being in the ocean, but that's intriguing... a lot to think about there.
I've moved and reduced the planet and incorporated some other suggestions, as you can see in my reply to Brad. I'd be interested in what you think of that version.   Posted: 03/25/2023 17:00:41
Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
You have reduced the "clutter" around the planet which gives it a more important role in this image, and reducing the size and moving it away from the dolphin a bit enhances its standing rather than diminishing it. This is a successful revision. As I say frequently, this is what Digital Dialogue is all about.   Posted: 03/25/2023 17:26:53
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Thanks, Alan!
I agree, the feedback I get on my images here go a long way in helping me see them differently and work my way to better images. Everyone's input is greatly appreciated.   Posted: 03/25/2023 17:43:42



Christian Serre   Christian Serre
(Group 11)
Peggy, The composition of textures and color around the 2 subjects strikes me as very well done. Notwithstanding the subtler merits of the final version, after Kirsti's comment about removing the star effect glow, and tilting the planet rings, I find the star effect glow on the dolphin "pops" more, like a poster. That's just me. It has a competing and/or complementary texture of thin sparkling diagonals in your texture composition that makes the dolphin stand out. We are trained to tone down highlights and consider them a little uncouth. Sometimes blown out highlights work. Not that the dolphin is blown out here. It also has an unusual and captivating reverse arc posture from the stereotypical imagery of jumping dolphins that looks great here. It's such an uncharacteristic posture that I almost took it for a seal at first look.   Posted: 03/20/2023 21:36:19
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Thanks, Christian!
I'm in total agreement with you about highlights - I think they are overly discouraged in photography. Sometimes the highlights are what make the image.
After thinking some more about what you said, I've added some more glow to my most recent version. I'd be interested in what you think.   Posted: 03/25/2023 17:37:38
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Christian Serre   Christian Serre
(Group 11)
Peggy, This looks like the picture you posted in response to Brad, to me. Or maybe I can't see the difference, so not to worry; it's not too much! Yes, this version addresses my previously posted comments. (Sorry I didn't reply earlier, BTW. I was on a field trip over the weekend.) I noticed you replaced the dolphin's sparkle diagonals with smaller swirls that blend in seamlessly with the general swirl pattern and you put a large dark halo around the planet, removing some of the flamboyance above the dolphin. Good solution with the planet and dark periphery to offset the relatively high key dolphin and its aura. It flows. You could still experiment further, maybe with a 3d effect on the textures, similar to oil paint, either digitally or even with texture on your prints - just brainstorming, I really don't know. But it's already purrfect.   Posted: 03/27/2023 17:27:11



Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Sorry about that, too many versions. Here's the one I should have posted.

Thanks very much for your thoughtful comments and interesting suggestions!
  Posted: 03/27/2023 17:40:46
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Christian Serre   Christian Serre
(Group 11)
I imported all the images into Lightroom and used the compare function. The differences were easier to track. I like the last 2, but the last one most. It is bolder and the pseudo-brush strokes pop and flow nicely. I am split about the red trail above the dolphin that directly touches its back and neck and has a larger more bluntly defined shape and border as compared to the same area of the previous version, that is more ethereal in shape and contour with a blended purplish buffer area with the back. I like that aspect of the previous version better.
  Posted: 03/28/2023 01:49:22
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Thanks for your thoughts, Christian. I see what you mean.
I'm at a point where I need to walk away from it for a couple of weeks and then revisit it. Then I'll be able to see it more clearly.
  Posted: 03/28/2023 13:31:41