Donna Sturla
March 2025 - A Child's Fantasy
About the Image(s)
This is a composite I made, with a picture of my Granddaughter, Allison, about 16 years ago. Then I took picture of mushrooms growing in the woods behind my home, and placed her in the image peeking out from behind the biggest mushroom. Then I went to the Garden Shop nearby and photographed these little pixie fairies in store. I took each and selected it and moved each into the image separately. Then I used brushes I have for light shining into the image, and I looked online how to create a star brush, which I placed in various places to create magic. Please do let me know what you think of this image and how I might do a better job. I did try to place light and shadow where they belonged. Thank you !
8 comments posted
This is quite a work Donna - and a great concept. You no doubt, put a huge amount of effort into its creation.
I have minimal experience with this type of image and so subjectively my thoughts (and only my thoughts) are these:
- you have totally succeeded with the fairy bottom left. She looks real and like she belongs sitting with her elbows on the mushroom.
- the male fairy, I would make a little smaller to be more consistent with your pink fairy and where I see his position in the image
- the fairy above your granddaughter's head seems like she is going to slide off her mushroom. She may be better placed further up or even on top of her mushroom
- I feel like your granddaughter needs to be the size of the fairies as if she were playing amongst or with them (my thoughts only)
- Consider blurring the trees in the background some more and softening the colour of the leaves
You have placed the light beautifully to make it glow in the right places and your stars are a wonderful, playful touch.
Keep going with this type of photography. You clearly love it and practice will bring with it a refinement of skills that will make us ooh and aah in no time.
Posted: 03/11/2025 22:33:34
I have minimal experience with this type of image and so subjectively my thoughts (and only my thoughts) are these:
- you have totally succeeded with the fairy bottom left. She looks real and like she belongs sitting with her elbows on the mushroom.
- the male fairy, I would make a little smaller to be more consistent with your pink fairy and where I see his position in the image
- the fairy above your granddaughter's head seems like she is going to slide off her mushroom. She may be better placed further up or even on top of her mushroom
- I feel like your granddaughter needs to be the size of the fairies as if she were playing amongst or with them (my thoughts only)
- Consider blurring the trees in the background some more and softening the colour of the leaves
You have placed the light beautifully to make it glow in the right places and your stars are a wonderful, playful touch.
Keep going with this type of photography. You clearly love it and practice will bring with it a refinement of skills that will make us ooh and aah in no time.
Posted: 03/11/2025 22:33:34
Meredith, I redid the picture. Do you think this one is better?
I haven't got it totally nailed -- it's a lot of layers and lots of images in one pic. Posted: 03/13/2025 00:23:11
I haven't got it totally nailed -- it's a lot of layers and lots of images in one pic. Posted: 03/13/2025 00:23:11
Meredith, Thank you for your suggestions, they are great !
I will try to re-do this image with your suggestions in mind !
Donna Posted: 03/12/2025 02:43:26
I will try to re-do this image with your suggestions in mind !
Donna Posted: 03/12/2025 02:43:26
Hello Donna, this was quite a project, but I bet you learned a lot. I like Meredith's suggestions. I like your edited version. Very creative! Posted: 03/13/2025 16:35:22
Thank you, Diana.
I showed it today at a camera club meeting and they liked the re-done image, so I appreciate your comments !!
I just bought some yellow translucent ranunculus and am looking forward to photographing them ! Posted: 03/18/2025 22:52:16
I showed it today at a camera club meeting and they liked the re-done image, so I appreciate your comments !!
I just bought some yellow translucent ranunculus and am looking forward to photographing them ! Posted: 03/18/2025 22:52:16
Great use of composits!! I love the 2nd version. The only thing I like better in the original is that the rocks become too dark in the 2nd version. Posted: 03/16/2025 19:59:42
Dona, this is a wonderful composite. Very creative and lots to look at. I must admit that I do like the 2nd take much better as the blue provides a better view of the subject. Great image!! Posted: 03/18/2025 13:26:43
I love making montages (fun work for a rainy day), and you have a lot of great starting material here with which to work! Your revision of the image with Meredith's suggestions improved the layout. For what it's worth, here are some more suggestions:
1 - Have the angel above Allison sitting on the very top of the mushroom.
2 - Add a new mushroom to the right side of the image by cloning the toadstool from lower left: Select the toadstool, place on a new layer, modify size, etc. with the Transform command, and move to the right-side background.
3 - Add an angel looking down from the upper right corner. Clone the upper left angel in the same manner as for the mushroom. Flip it horizontally so that it is looking down on Allison.
Continue to have fun! It's a work in progress! Posted: 03/20/2025 22:32:22
1 - Have the angel above Allison sitting on the very top of the mushroom.
2 - Add a new mushroom to the right side of the image by cloning the toadstool from lower left: Select the toadstool, place on a new layer, modify size, etc. with the Transform command, and move to the right-side background.
3 - Add an angel looking down from the upper right corner. Clone the upper left angel in the same manner as for the mushroom. Flip it horizontally so that it is looking down on Allison.
Continue to have fun! It's a work in progress! Posted: 03/20/2025 22:32:22