Jan Handman  

Rushing to Have Tea with the Queen by Jan Handman

December 2025 - Rushing to Have Tea with the Queen

December 2025 - Jan Handman

Original

December 2025 - Jan Handman

Original 2

December 2025 - Jan Handman

Original 3

About the Image(s)

I saw this snail out on a walk after a rain shower and it looked kind of regal to me, for some reason. When I got home, a stack of tea cups in my china cabinet caught my eye, so I thought maybe I would create a table-scape tea party for the snail to attend. That idea didn’t pan out very well, but I noticed that the bottom of a cup could fit nicely on top of the spiral of the snail’s shell, even though the size ratio isn’t realistic. It seemed quirky and fun, so I pulled up an old image of a castle to add in the background for him to head towards, and then a new sky image. The teacups had a lot of bright highlights that I used the Spot Healing Brush to get rid of. The sidewalk was in focus near the snail, but very blurred in the distance because I shot it with my iphone sitting down on the sidewalk, so I blurred the castle and sky to correspond. I added the top hat to dress him up properly to meet the Queen for tea. Next, I used PS Filter Gallery > Poster Edges > Oil Paint at reduced opacity. Then, lastly into On1 FX for vignette and a HDR effect to enhance the detail in his shell.

6 comments posted

Angela Bonner   Angela Bonner
(Groups 20 & 81)
Great idea, love it!!   Posted: 12/05/2025 15:49:18
Bob Wills   Bob Wills
Hi Jan, I think that the image is reminiscent of the Mad Hatter, so I think your description of what captured your fancy is what the viewer will see. Your image tone evaluation matches what I was trying to say to Frans this month. The creator of art should lead the viewers eye to where the important elements reside. My wish would be for a lighter vignette and maybe dodge the hat, but otherwise a recognizable Jan Handman image for sure.   Posted: 12/07/2025 16:42:13
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Jan Handman   Jan Handman
Thanks Bob. Perhaps I didn't understand your comment, but I felt that the snail and teacups were the important part of the image, so I wanted them to be dominant in the foreground and in full focus, while the castle was just a supporting element to show where he was heading. So it made sense to me that, even though the castle was a large part of the scene, if it was blurred it would recede in importance. The tonal balance in the B/W version seems very harsh, but I appreciate that you took the time to offer an alternative.   Posted: 12/11/2025 21:44:46
Bob Wills   Bob Wills
I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I'll try to clarify how I evaluate images. These are just my opinions and I seldom do well in competition. I use tools for tonal and color evaluation designed by Blake Rudis, f64 Academy. The tone evaluation of your image isn't actually a B&W version, but an evaluation of the brightest and darkest areas of your image. Gray areas are midtones. I used this to support my comment that your brightest areas include your subjects and therefore draw the viewers eye. IMO the silhouette is distracting by being too large and grainy. I made a mess of the vignette.
My eye is drawn to the snail by his clarity, but not until I've finished the bright areas which include the castle and some of the clouds. When I try selecting the subject in LR or PS the brightest part of the castle is included. That may be too technical, but me eye seems to see part of the castle before I see the Snail, even though it is sharper. I still think it is representative of your style, which is lovely.
  Posted: 12/15/2025 22:01:39
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Jan Handman   Jan Handman
Ok, yes, I see what you were getting at now. You're right that bright areas do draw the eye, so your point is well taken. Your revision does address that issue. Thanks Bob!   Posted: 12/17/2025 20:50:48
Peter Katz   Peter Katz
Jan, this image is so much fun! I can imagine the snail's tension at having so much distance to travel, and so little time. It's a perfect fairy tale picture. The blurring of the castle works perfectly at blending with the sidewalk, and also succeeds in turning the viewer's attention to the snail - the star of the show. I also like the canvas like texture you applied to the piece.   Posted: 12/15/2025 01:50:55

 

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