Maria Mazo, QPSA  

The Surfer Cormorant by Maria Mazo, QPSA

August 2022 - The Surfer Cormorant

August 2022 - Maria Mazo, QPSA

Original

August 2022 - Maria Mazo, QPSA

Original 2

August 2022 - Maria Mazo, QPSA

Original 3

About the Image(s)

This month’s image has been a challenge for me after some weeks of some computer problems it seems that it is now working well.
For a moment I thought about taking the month off so much technological stress, but an idea came up in my head and it led me to try to materialize it.
I am not totally happy with the result. I need to refine the idea and how the elements work together, but I still want to present the image that is far from perfect. Sure, you can give me some feedback that help me to improve it.

I have removed the surfer from the original image and instead I have put the cormorant
After I have taken the phot of the frame and framed the scene, I have also wanted to recreate the idea of water coming out of the image outside the frame and at this point I have had the dilemma of where to place this image. I have returned to a wave image and helped by the transform tool in perspective. I have placed the picture that I have blended with the wave.
To finalise some darkening and lighting was applied.

6 comments posted

Brad Becker   Brad Becker
Maria, This is a very interesting idea worth continuing to develop. I'm biased as I'm quite obsessed with frames, birds and water. The simplest handling would be to keep the surfer and have the image outside of the frame darker or blurrier, and increase the contrast and sharpness of the surfer and the wave that enters and exits the frame. That simple handling would make the surfer pop 3D from the frame. I find this bird doesn't sell your idea as it isn't moving in a way that is convincing. If you have another image of a bird in flight that might work. Why not stick with the surfer theme as you have a classic image there. I've also found abandoning an actual frame and just using a rectangle with a drop shaddow can create a very stylish handling.   Posted: 08/09/2022 11:12:34
Maria Mazo   Maria Mazo
Hi Brad, many thanks for your comment and ideas. I agree with you the bird doesn't work very well. May I start again using the concept with your ideas and see what happens.   Posted: 08/11/2022 22:02:09
Kirsti Näntö-Salonen   Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
Hi Maria, I think that Brad's comments are excellent, but I do love the story of the cormorant. I wonder what a bird would really look like balancing on the board - I wonder if you could tilt him in slightly straighter position, or leaning to left, like the original surfer? I was also thinking about another option of placing the frame and the perspective: what would it look like with the frame facing more directly the viewer, and the wave throwing the surfer straight towards him through the frame? I think that there are so many options in this wonderful image.   Posted: 08/12/2022 03:12:36
Aavo Koort   Aavo Koort
Living in Santa Barbara I enjoy watching surfers.
The waves and the frame are well placed. The bird somehow does not
make it. How about leaving the surfer in and placing the bird on the frame ready to take off.   Posted: 08/13/2022 12:27:49
Peggy Nugent   Peggy Nugent
Such an imaginative image!
I love the power and texture of the water and the flow of the spray. I really like the way the spray bursts through the frame.
The frame and having a cormorant on the surfboard add an interesting surreal aspect that I think works really well.

You might want to consider not warping the bird; to me, the original pose looks like it's just trying to keep its balance when it's on the board. For me, the water at the bottom doesn't really add to the story, and a crop lets me see the bird more clearly.   Posted: 08/13/2022 13:32:45
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Alan Kaplan   Alan Kaplan
As someone who uses frames/phones with people/things protruding from them in a 3D fashion, I am partial to your effort. I've attached an incomplete composite that illustrates that sometimes "less is more." My waves are simplified, and the man dominates the scene in a 3D manner. Your composite is breathtaking, but you have an awful lot going on. It doesn't matter whether you have a surfer or a bird, they get lost in the waves, and the 3D aspect is reduced. You have a wonderful wave in your image, but as in nature it's difficult to tame. This is certainly worth working on.   Posted: 08/16/2022 09:16:38
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