Alan Kaplan  


The Wizard's Windows by Alan Kaplan

November 2024 - The Wizard's Windows

November 2024 - Alan Kaplan

Original

November 2024 - Alan Kaplan

Original 2

November 2024 - Alan Kaplan

Original 3

About the Image(s)

I’m a retired high school English teacher so by law I must quote Shakespeare. This composite was a “joyful trouble.” I started by placing 4 women behind her own window. Then, I used a layer mask to trim the overlap of each woman to fit comfortably behind her window and Merged the two Layers giving me a total of 4 women behind windows. After all of the Layers were Merged, each window occupied its own Layer so overlapping the windows was simply a matter of moving one layer on top of another and using the Layer Mask to correct any conflict that the overlapping might have created. I used Photoshop’s Free Transform tool to control the size, perspective, and slant of the 25 windows that comprise the composite. There was a lot of Layer copying and resizing involved in getting the final 25 windows. My original vision was to have the Wizard’s sweep of windows appear in 3 levels, but the small windows were just too small. Trying to form 3 levels while controlling the sizes of more than 25 windows contributed to the “joyful trouble.” Nik Software’s Viveza helped bring out the color in the women’s outfits. I find it’s more sensitive than Photoshop’s Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer. The disk on which the wizard is standing was created by Photoshop’s Ellipse Tool.
I can’t afford models so I create my own when I find them. The woman in Original 3 was a London street performer enjoying being the mad hatter. The other three women were performers in stage productions on various cruises. The wizard was an actor at a costume-party wedding. All wedding guests were invited to come in medieval costumes and join the actors who were dressed in their medieval attire as they performed their roles.


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




Matt Conti   Matt Conti
Wow, the wizard and use of the "card" deck makes for a magical image. I like that you changed the direction of the wizard and layered the windows in a curved shape. The disc helps ground him in the scene. The women in the frames really pop with those colors on a black background. Your angling and perception (sm to lg) make for a smooth flow of the window cards. If you wanted you could play with the angles and overlap of the windows for variations, but I like it as you have it.   Posted: 11/05/2024 17:51:38
Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
Thank you for your kind words. I did play with the angles and overlap as you suggest. Every time I came back to look at the "finished" image, I saw an angle or overlap that I felt needed to be adjusted. Then I made the adjustment(s). When I finally felt that I did have a final Image, I serendipitously
added the disc.   Posted: 11/06/2024 16:03:31



Kirsti Näntö-Salonen   Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
Hi Alan, magical is the word, both for the image, and the process of its production. I think that the characters are just perfect, from the wizard in warm red who conjures up the cavalcade, to the ladies who all seem to take a pose in their frames in their cooler pastel colors. I love the way you have used the space and perspective for a three-dimensional effect and a sense of movement, and the last frame that is partially out of the image completes the illusion. It really feels like the frames were flying out of the image towards the viewer.   Posted: 11/07/2024 23:42:09
Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
You read my mind. Thank you for your enthusiastic feedback.   Posted: 11/08/2024 03:08:26



Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
This image is enchanting, Alan! I love the richness of the colors against the black, and how the composition flows through the frame as organically as a river. I really like how the wizard can be seen in such detail even though he is in the distance, and that the windows also are clearly identifiable in the distance.
My favorite part is that you made them windows rather than cards, so we can see the windows that are behind another window. I think it adds depth and interest to this floating procession.
I think having the windows going out of the corner of the frame gives a nice additional sense of motion.
I wouldn't change a thing. Well done!   Posted: 11/10/2024 21:50:05
Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
Thank you for appreciating what I was after. Every time I came back to look at the "finished" image, I saw an angle or overlap that I felt needed to be adjusted. After making the adjustment(s), and feeling that I actually had a final image, I adjusted more. When I felt that I had adjusted enough, I pushed the windows off the page and serendipitously added the disc on which the wizard stands. Only then did I ask you to switch my "final" images. Thank you for your help. This composite was indeed "a joyful trouble."   Posted: 11/11/2024 00:29:36



Bruce Harley   Bruce Harley
Hi Alan, This works for me.However the guy is floating and the lighting is confusing.
Let me explain. See attched mock up.
1. In the interests of more is less, I just added a line the same color as his base, behind the guy and the windows, to give grounding, like he is on a stage.
2. Applied path blur the rear windows to give them pace and tapering out before they reach the viewer. Gives depth and momentum.
3. There was lighting issues under his arms that were confusing so merge them into the black background.
That's all as I love the story and concept - the layout was on the thirds and had a lovely leading line into the image, where the windows were sharp and could be appreciated by the viewer. Great stuff ! Bruce   Posted: 11/11/2024 16:21:34
Comment Image
Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
Thank you for taking the time to explain your point of view. I feel your approach mixes reality and fantasy. My point of view in creating the image is pure fantasy. If this were a dream, of course everything would be in focus, and the wizard would not be anchored to a stage. If this were reality, there would be no cards in the air and only a mere mortal would be dressed in the wizard's outfit. In my August composite there are cubes floating in the air, and in my September composite a woman and her doppelgangers walk in and out of disconnected doors. I try to create surrealistic and/or fantasy images. Sometimes it even works.   Posted: 11/11/2024 20:40:17



Brad Becker   Brad Becker
Alan, I really like your image. It fits your less is more perfectly especially given the number of images within this image. I find the whole thing perfectly crafted and I like the pure fantasy version you've created over a grounded image, although I understand Bruce's perspective.   Posted: 11/18/2024 02:15:19
Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
Thank you for your positive feedback.   Posted: 11/18/2024 03:26:53



Angela Bonner   Angela Bonner
(Groups 20 & 81)
Wow, so original and so well done!! Love it and has given me some ideas!   Posted: 11/19/2024 12:44:43
Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
Angela, I like feedback that begins, "Wow." I'm glad my composite has given you ideas. That's what Digital Dialogue is all about.   Posted: 11/19/2024 19:15:50