Brad Becker
August 2026 - Castles in the Sky
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About the Image(s)
This month I was exploring the innocence of youth and the passing of time. My kids have all left the nest and rediscovering images from when they were little activates many feelings. This image started more as a chance to revisit a beautiful milky way image from a backpacking trip over 10 years ago. In response to the magical feel of the night I added an image of a building and that led to further explorations. No fancy techniques here.
6 comments posted
This is such a magical image, Brad! I love the castle in that gorgeous sky of stars and the Milky Way. The water is beautifully soft, and the golden highlights on the water tie in so well with the castle. The little child toddling out to see it really touches me. I really like how he's just entering the scene; it makes me feel that the story is just beginning.
Personally, the highlights on the child feel a bit bright for the scene. I'd consider reducing them, perhaps by decreasing opacity a bit, and then maybe doing a levels correction on the bottom half of the image. That's just my personal taste.
I can imagine so many stories to go with this image.
Posted: 08/09/2026 19:48:06
Personally, the highlights on the child feel a bit bright for the scene. I'd consider reducing them, perhaps by decreasing opacity a bit, and then maybe doing a levels correction on the bottom half of the image. That's just my personal taste.
I can imagine so many stories to go with this image.
Posted: 08/09/2026 19:48:06
Peggy, Thanks for your suggestion. The brightness of the subject has been something I've tweaked quite a bit. On my monitor it seems balanced but I realize how variable that can be. Posted: 08/18/2026 19:11:58
Hi Brad, this is one of your worlds that keep living in my mind even when I close the screen. There is so much magic and mystery and beauty in the night scene, and I think that you have captured that sweet and fragile childhood innocence and open mind where one cannot go back when time goes past. I love the spot of golden glow on the dark beach that balances the castle, and I like Peggy's suggestions. I wonder if the castle might grow from the cloud, maybe blended in a bit, or just a little more transparent at the base? And I could kill for one of your Milky Way images! Posted: 08/15/2026 07:39:29
Kirsti, Thanks for your comments. I've been a huge fan of the Milky Way, especially on my backpacking trips when the sky is dark. Posted: 08/18/2026 19:17:25
Hi Brad! I really love this effect! It reminds me of a fairy tale in which a child, perhaps fast asleep and lost in his own dreams, accidentally stumbles upon an enchanting scene of a seaside castle. The castle is perfectly complete with an absolutely gorgeous night sky. The stars are so beautiful with a stunning shot of the Milky Way overhead. What a beautiful fantasy you have created! Adding the little boy to the scene creates a sense of awe and wonder. He is perfectly placed facing the castle - I can just visualize the expression and excitement on that little boy's face when he sees it! Well done. Posted: 08/17/2026 19:44:33
Peg, Thanks, he was pretty excited at that age. He's literally heading off to college right now. Posted: 08/18/2026 19:18:41