Brenda Fishbaugh, QPSA
September 2023 - Magic by Merlin
Original
Original 2
About the Image(s)
Canon R5, Canon RF 24-105 lens, tripod, cable release
ISO 125 f/5.6 15mm. 1/125 sec
Ed Ogle had entered a wonderful magic image in June(his image is pictured as "Original 2 here"). He shared how he did it and I tried it with friends.
In mine, a friend held my newly purchased crystal ball with his back to the window. It's actually just a sleeve his wife sewed for us, not a whole costume. See original 1.
I selected the subject from the background, and then added a night sky I created in Photoshop as the new background (hundreds of videos on You Tube). I then used different brushes in Photoshop to created the different colors and lighting effects. Most I then lowered the opacity, so I could layer them (and delete if you thought it would be better if gold streak was gone, etc).
After I learn from your suggestions this month, I'm going to create another one using wispy smoke instead of light flashes. I shot the sleeve intentionally dark for this look, but I have lighter ones, where it will work better with my idea of golden smoke.
This is my first attempt, so I'm open to any suggestions. Loved doing this! I'd like to enter in PSA Color Open, if you think this type of fantasy does well.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
24 comments posted
Very interesting and thought provoking. My first thought before reading the title is that it might be "The Hand of God." To forestall such thoughts, perhaps the background should not be the stars, but something that might have been in Merlin's immediate environment. To me, the hand looks too young and vigorous to be Merlin's. Perhaps remove most of the color from the hand so it looks like it belongs to someone very old? Posted: 09/01/2023 19:28:36
Robert, Thanks for your thoughts! My friend will love that you think his hand looks young! I hadn't thought it might look like God, I'll mull over how I can stay with the magic idea. Thanks! Posted: 09/08/2023 22:12:53
Thanks! I reworked the ball, see below. I did keep the galaxy background, and tried to age the hand. Any better? Posted: 09/26/2023 23:09:45
Interesting, I would not compare with Ed's image, both have similar prop but different interpretations.
Now about posted image, light coming from the right and from the left, I would use from the right only, also add some detail in the sleeve of the robe.
Posted: 09/03/2023 19:31:35
Now about posted image, light coming from the right and from the left, I would use from the right only, also add some detail in the sleeve of the robe.
Posted: 09/03/2023 19:31:35
Thanks so much, Sunil! I'll work on the sleeve and consider limiting my light flashes. Posted: 09/08/2023 22:16:08
My new version is below, what do you think? I used a different pic where I could make the sleeve more prominent. Thanks for your thoughts! Posted: 09/26/2023 23:10:55
Two things,
Why change the color to green?
Also, green version ball looks solid colors, little more transparent may look good.
Attached quick edit, more work required. Posted: 09/29/2023 09:24:40
Why change the color to green?
Also, green version ball looks solid colors, little more transparent may look good.
Attached quick edit, more work required. Posted: 09/29/2023 09:24:40
Well this is totally cool. How did you do the lens flare? Posted: 09/04/2023 18:45:48
Thanks, Ed! A bunch of links are available on creating a lens flare, here is Adobe's easy directions.
https://www.google.com/search?q=create+lens+flare+photoshop&oq=create+lens+flare+&aqs=chrome.0.0i512l2j69i57j0i512j0i22i30l4j0i15i22i30l2.22237j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#vhid=me0avxlgYkj5eM&vssid=l
I added brushes, the blue and gold are brushes, and a few radial gradients. Posted: 09/08/2023 22:24:56
https://www.google.com/search?q=create+lens+flare+photoshop&oq=create+lens+flare+&aqs=chrome.0.0i512l2j69i57j0i512j0i22i30l4j0i15i22i30l2.22237j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#vhid=me0avxlgYkj5eM&vssid=l
I added brushes, the blue and gold are brushes, and a few radial gradients. Posted: 09/08/2023 22:24:56
A very interesting creation. But to me the sleeve is too large as it occupies about half the image and the sleeve is not the subject of the image. And, I feel the hand is too bright since the bright illumination is coming from above the hand, not below it. I made a quick revision in which I cropped much off the bottom of the image, darkened the hand, tilted the hand more upward and darkened some of the bright areas. Posted: 09/10/2023 20:56:06
Thanks so much, Jim. All good suggestions! Posted: 09/10/2023 20:58:49
Jim, I have posted my revision below, using some of your suggestions. Like it better? Worse? Thanks! Posted: 09/26/2023 23:13:51
Brenda, much improved. Posted: 09/27/2023 19:56:34
I worked with your final edit and cropped off an inch on the right side. I am not sure that the lens flare and the foggy look add to the image however, the sleeve is beautiful work. Posted: 09/11/2023 13:49:47
Thanks for the ideas, Ken! I'll zip back in with some edits when we aren't in the Wild West boondocks. Clearly Wifi is not a thing in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana! Posted: 09/11/2023 13:54:56
Ken, I got rid of the foggy look. what are your thoughts in. my new revision, posted below? Thanks! Posted: 09/26/2023 23:14:39
This is a very interesting image Brenda! I love what you've done with the original to completely change the look!
I agree with Ken in that the fogginess is a bit overdone. I do not find the amount or size of the sleeve to be distracting nor the hand to lack sufficient "age" to offer interest.
All that said, I do like the crop that Jim H. offered, even with the bottom of the sleeve cut off. And I really like what Sunil did as far as the light direction and color striations.
Posted: 09/17/2023 18:06:44
I agree with Ken in that the fogginess is a bit overdone. I do not find the amount or size of the sleeve to be distracting nor the hand to lack sufficient "age" to offer interest.
All that said, I do like the crop that Jim H. offered, even with the bottom of the sleeve cut off. And I really like what Sunil did as far as the light direction and color striations.
Posted: 09/17/2023 18:06:44
I removed the fogginess and used a lot of the suggestions. Do you like my new revision below? Thanks! Posted: 09/26/2023 23:15:29
Hello from the Grand Tetons! I reworked my image and toned down the various rays on the ball. I used a different image that shows the sleeve as not so long and shows better definition. The hand has less attention, as he's holding the ball with his other hand.
I used the background I had created and used in my first rendition. I'm not in love with the stars in the center...thoughts on what you like and don't like?
Thanks!
Posted: 09/26/2023 23:08:47
I used the background I had created and used in my first rendition. I'm not in love with the stars in the center...thoughts on what you like and don't like?
Thanks!
Posted: 09/26/2023 23:08:47
I very much like the hand and the cloak. The ball, hand, and cloak fit the Merlin title, but still, to me, they do not fit the background. In order to fit the background, I'd expect the cloak to be white and without trim at the end of the sleeve. With more time, I expect that you would eliminate the ball's green from the two fingers of the hand. Posted: 09/27/2023 07:22:04
I went back and forth on the green/blue on his fingers. Would the ball light radiate on his hand? I can certainly remove it, as you found it distracting. Posted: 09/27/2023 09:42:34
The ball could not cast green light on the side of the finger facing out, only on the inside. If you are going for versimilitude, the illuminated area near the base of the thumb could be tinted green.
You are right, calling him "Merlin" invokes in my mind King Arthur's time, and not a galactic presence.
With respect to the stars on the glove, I believe that whether they are to be reflections, or magnified images of stars behind the globe, or eminating from within, those closest to the edge need to be elongated in the direction of the nearby edge of the globe and foreshortened in the radial direction.
Posted: 09/27/2023 20:16:04
You are right, calling him "Merlin" invokes in my mind King Arthur's time, and not a galactic presence.
With respect to the stars on the glove, I believe that whether they are to be reflections, or magnified images of stars behind the globe, or eminating from within, those closest to the edge need to be elongated in the direction of the nearby edge of the globe and foreshortened in the radial direction.
Posted: 09/27/2023 20:16:04
Hi Brenda ... I like your redone image a lot better than the first one!
If anything for me, the stars could potentially feel a bit better if they had a bit more of a fake/mystical feel to them. They also do not bother me as they are.
I still disagree with Robert regarding the background not fitting together well with the sleeve/cloak. I'm willing to concede that perhaps they do not fit the theme/title of "Merlin," specifically, but I do believe they work together very well and in my mind, they conjure up images of the evil Yen Sid from Disney's Fantasia.
Maybe just change the title to "The Magic of Yen Sid" or something similar?
Posted: 09/27/2023 12:03:38
If anything for me, the stars could potentially feel a bit better if they had a bit more of a fake/mystical feel to them. They also do not bother me as they are.
I still disagree with Robert regarding the background not fitting together well with the sleeve/cloak. I'm willing to concede that perhaps they do not fit the theme/title of "Merlin," specifically, but I do believe they work together very well and in my mind, they conjure up images of the evil Yen Sid from Disney's Fantasia.
Maybe just change the title to "The Magic of Yen Sid" or something similar?
Posted: 09/27/2023 12:03:38
Ahhhh, I think the problem is calling him "Merlin" and that means different things to different people, depending on the books or movies you've seen. What about "Mystical Magic" and then one doesn't have to have the same reference points?
The stars in the ball bother me, so I'll play with them and see if I can make it more mystical. I was trying something besides the rays I had shooting out from my first rendition, but I will try some more "magic" tricks. Thanks! Posted: 09/27/2023 19:51:32
The stars in the ball bother me, so I'll play with them and see if I can make it more mystical. I was trying something besides the rays I had shooting out from my first rendition, but I will try some more "magic" tricks. Thanks! Posted: 09/27/2023 19:51:32