Matt Conti
December 2024 - Olas the Beach Snowman
Original
Original 2
Original 3
About the Image(s)
I’m relatively new to Florida and still adjusting to the weird holiday decorations without snow and cold (not that I mind the warm weather!). But since it’s the season, I thought I would get in the spirit with the local Fort Lauderdale display of Olas the Beach Snowman.
I added a large palm tree to the snowman scene behind the Fort Lauderdale sign and blended it.
The sunset sky background was used to add some interest and texture to the scene.
For the main snowman image, I used some gradient lighting and selective color to emphasize the most interesting accessories, such as the glasses and buttons. A dramatic vignette completed the scene.
10 comments posted
Hi Matt! I love the gentle humor of the image that, to one from my cold and snowy corner of the world, has a delicious slightly surreal feel. The silhouette of the palm adds to the effect, as well as the new dramatic sky with the lovely colors. Your treatment of the snowman makes him very three-dimensional, and I can almost feel the rough texture of his surface. Posted: 12/07/2024 10:37:37
Matt, At first I wondered how you were going to justify this as a three image composite as it looked like your final version was "real". After reviewing your process and comparing the details it became very clear that you masterfully crafted a believable final product. Nicely done! Posted: 12/09/2024 02:55:23
I'm afraid it's hard for me to adequately provide feedback on your composite. Your image is very close to the original and you've added some artifacts, but you haven't added enough to transform the original so that it is unrecognizable. I was a high school English teacher, and I always admonished my students not to use cliches in their essays but to use the wisdom of the cliche. The same applies to all of us in the Digital Dialogue but in a different medium. We have to be careful when using someone's else's art. Our own art should be the central focus. It's not always easy, but it helps us grow as artists. Posted: 12/11/2024 01:34:09
I agree Alan. Posted: 12/11/2024 17:16:13
I have been considering how to respond to your "admonishment" in response to a fun holiday composite / blend. My intent was to improve the scene, not completely replace it. I am still new to this group (though not to DD), but I did not know the primary goal was to make an image unrecognizable.
As Bruce noted in his comment, his red car on a landscape or your pasting a man in a doorway are hardly transformative, and frankly, quite perfunctory. Instead of shaming you about that, I offered suggestions that you might consider.
Regarding point of using "someone else's art," there is not another artist here as beach snowmen are generic displays in tropical locales that appear everywhere around the holidays, similar to Santa Claus or a Christmas tree. Would you attribute your attractive doorway to the architect or builder since you did not design it? Of course not.
As a sign of the value of this image's improvements with the tree and sky, the municipality saw my composite on Instagram and licensed it (for a fee) for their holiday event.
I hope we can agree to try and provide ideas and suggestions in the future. If you feel you cannot provide anything constructive, then I suggest you simply be quiet. Posted: 12/13/2024 17:49:50
As Bruce noted in his comment, his red car on a landscape or your pasting a man in a doorway are hardly transformative, and frankly, quite perfunctory. Instead of shaming you about that, I offered suggestions that you might consider.
Regarding point of using "someone else's art," there is not another artist here as beach snowmen are generic displays in tropical locales that appear everywhere around the holidays, similar to Santa Claus or a Christmas tree. Would you attribute your attractive doorway to the architect or builder since you did not design it? Of course not.
As a sign of the value of this image's improvements with the tree and sky, the municipality saw my composite on Instagram and licensed it (for a fee) for their holiday event.
I hope we can agree to try and provide ideas and suggestions in the future. If you feel you cannot provide anything constructive, then I suggest you simply be quiet. Posted: 12/13/2024 17:49:50
Matt, I did not mean in any way to offend you. My comment about using someone else's art was meant as constructive from my perspective. The world is loaded with doorways, lampposts, cars, etc. that are someone else's design, but if a Corvette were the dominant image in a composite, I would offer the same advice. I have offered this same advice to others both in this DD group and in DD groups that I have been in. In my comments about your entry, I noted that "we have to be careful when using someone else's art," and that "it's not always easy, but it helps us grow as artists." I repeat this because I include myself in the caution about using other artist's work. Again, I meant what I said as constructive advice so you can grow as an artist which is why we are all in these Digital Dialogue groups--to learn and grow. I've been a part of Digital Dialogue for several years and have, of course, received feedback that was disappointing to me, but I used the perspective of others as a learning experience. I will continue to share with you what I have learned over the years in Digital Dialogue because the advice that has been shared with me has helped me learn and grow as an artist. Posted: 12/13/2024 20:00:43
Hi Matt,
Both Alan and I share the same view of your composite. There is so little change to the original to make it something else. As for embleshing the original by adding a new sky and trees, you have done a grand job.
On reflection the same could be said about my attempt this month, its really just an embellishment of my original snow scape, and adding a car.
I think Alan's particular point in your case is using "someone else's art" as the centre piece of your composite, which I have to agree makes sense, and makes it difficult for me to comment.Cheers.
Posted: 12/11/2024 17:28:27
Both Alan and I share the same view of your composite. There is so little change to the original to make it something else. As for embleshing the original by adding a new sky and trees, you have done a grand job.
On reflection the same could be said about my attempt this month, its really just an embellishment of my original snow scape, and adding a car.
I think Alan's particular point in your case is using "someone else's art" as the centre piece of your composite, which I have to agree makes sense, and makes it difficult for me to comment.Cheers.
Posted: 12/11/2024 17:28:27
Hi Bruce, I appreciate your noting that some composites, such as yours, are worthy embellishments rather than transformative. I addressed the 'someone else's art" point in my response to Alan so I will leave it at that. Happy Holidays. Posted: 12/13/2024 17:55:10
This image makes me smile, Matt. I think you have definitely enhanced an interesting subject. I'm not surprised that the municipality licensed this image; it captures the spirit of Christmas in a warm climate (which is nostalgic for me, as I used to live in So. California).
I particularly like the gradient lighting and selective color adjustments you made in addition to the background additions.
Posted: 12/17/2024 15:23:28
I particularly like the gradient lighting and selective color adjustments you made in addition to the background additions.
Posted: 12/17/2024 15:23:28
uHi Matt,
I really like this image; I think it beautifully captures the warm Christmas spirit. Having lived in Australia for twelve years, I've often seen Santa sweating on the beach in the scorching heat-it's such a unique take on the holiday season!
In my opinion, you've successfully achieved what you set out to convey by combining these elements and blending them together so seamlessly. The colour enhancements work well, and the textures and patterns add a lovely touch to the image.
Posted: 12/19/2024 08:55:26