This is one of my first compositions (2016). I have no idea how I came up with the Orchid Alien idea, except the orchid looked like a one-eyed monster to me (instead of how most people interpret Georgia O'Keefe's orchid paintings). After I searched the Interweb, I found a reptile eye and shark teeth that I could work with. My first reaction to my transformed orchid was to laugh. After some time, I found myself wanting to insert my creature into a scene. After inserting the alien into the river landscape, my warped mind thought of creating a family out for a swim. The "father" was given a neck by copying part of the flower and using the PS Warp tool. The "mother" and "child" were simply cropped copies of the creature. For authenticity, the creatures' water reflections were duplicated creatures, inverted and given quarter opacity for partial transparency. The title is "Family Outing" with "outing" being a double entendre.
9 comments posted
Angela Bonner
(Groups 20 & 81)
Great fun and really well done!!! Posted: 07/06/2025 15:21:51
Patrick O’Brien
Thank you Angela! Posted: 07/10/2025 02:29:23
Jan Handman
What a hoot Patrick. Lots of fun, but also good technical aspects. The neck on the father is shaded just right to give a rounded contour. The reflections are very well done. Even though this is a completely unreal scene, your attention to detail worked to "sell" the concept and make the creatures seem realistic in terms of real-world factors. Posted: 07/11/2025 22:58:37
Peter Katz
Nice Patrick! Your image is vividly realistic but also fantastical and menacing. I like the way you used the shark's teeth to construct a scary stamen (?) - and the eyes work wonderfully to give the viewer the unsettled feeling of being tracked by the flowers. The reflections on the water are very good, contributing to overall feeling of realism. And I love the timid flower in the background poking its head out from behind a tree trunk. Posted: 07/14/2025 21:30:38
Patrick O’Brien
Thanks Peter! Since it's a family, the shy one is the kid. Posted: 07/15/2025 04:44:03
Steve Wessing
This is excellent. All of your edits are extremely well done. The only thing I notice is the transition from the original water and reflections to the extended water and reflections. The transition from light to dark looks unnatural Posted: 07/23/2025 18:59:02
Patrick O’Brien
You're right! Never noticed that, Steve. Thanks for pointing it out. I might fix it, but it's old and I have moved on. I will however, take your advice if I choose to exhibit it later! You have a very discerning eye and I appreciate that. Posted: 07/23/2025 21:57:38
Frans Gunterus
Hi Patrick. I really like your idea to combine the flower reptile eye and shark teeth and how to create the father stamp by using PS Warp-tool. You add stem shadow to make it look dimensional. You add flowers reflections light on the water that looked realistic. This demonstrate your awesome PS editing skill sets. My only suggestion here. This composite would be more interesting if you would reshape the flower like alien face shapes. Just my two cents. Posted: 07/25/2025 00:26:46
