Multiple skills will be tested in this month’s contest.

Download the 8 provided images. Then use elements of at least 6 of the images to create an entirely new image. You can use all 8 images if you want, but you can only use the provided images. Images from other sources are not allowed. You can, however, use brush strokes and various other effects such as dodge, burn, lighting, hue/sat and so on.

Images from Stock.xchng (http://www.sxc.hu/index.phtml):
mantis (http://www.retouchpro.com/contests/source_images/mantis.jpg)
trees (http://www.retouchpro.com/contests/source_images/trees.jpg)
sword (http://www.retouchpro.com/contests/source_images/sword.jpg)
moth (http://www.retouchpro.com/contests/source_images/moth.jpg)
park (http://www.retouchpro.com/contests/source_images/park.jpg)
dummy (http://www.retouchpro.com/contests/source_images/dummy.jpg)
mask (http://www.retouchpro.com/contests/source_images/mask.jpg)
girls (http://www.retouchpro.com/contests/source_images/girls.jpg)


The prize is a copy of LightZone 3, donated by LightCrafts (http://www.lightcrafts.com)

Advanced photo-editing made simple
LightZone is the essential desktop photo-editing software for people who value their photographs. LightZone is purpose-built for photography and allows anyone, regardless of photographic skillset, to edit photographs quickly and easily.


THE RULES:

1. Contest will run from 1 July to 24 July 2007. Deadline for entries is 5pm EST 24 July 2007.

2. I will not answer questions concerning the rules. Interpretation of the rules is as important as execution.

3. Tasks:

* Use elements from at least 6 of the 8 provided photos to create an entirely new image. You can use all 8 if you want.
* List what 6 images you chose to use.
* No other images may be used.
* Final image must be exactly 800px wide and 600px high.

4. When you submit your entry put your username in the filename (ie: tpaul.jpg). This is so users can save the images to a local directory and remember who did what--important when it comes time to vote.

5. Post your entries to this thread. Links will not be accepted. Please restrict your comments, questions or discussion to the July 07 Contest Discussion thread. Inappropriately placed posts will be deleted.

6. Only one entry per person. You can change your entry up to the deadline.

7. Voting will run from 25 July to 31 July 2007. Only those with entries may vote.

8. Voting:
* Submit the 5 best entries (by artist name) in order, starting with your favorite.
* You cannot vote for your own image.
* Once you have voted, you cannot change your votes.


Finally, please remember that this is a friendly contest and suppose to be a learning experience. Tips and suggestions to help others are highly encouraged. Also please don’t limit your comments to just the top 5 when you vote. Most members are eager for feedback about their images, so remember to help each other out.

The 'girls' pic is terrific, but I couldn't figure out how to use it - used all the rest.

I used all of the 8 photos; some with extensive masking.

trees
sword
moth
mask
girls
dummy

Images used:

Girls
Mask
Dummy
Mantis
Trees
Park
Moth
Sword

I think there's a fairy tale in there somewhere

Files used:-

Girls
Mask
Dummy
Mantis
Trees
Moth
Sword

Peter

I'm noticeably lacking in talent in this kind of thing, but I've missed out on the last couple of contests, and I wanted to be able to vote on this one, as I expect there'll be some really imaginative creations.

I used the following.

Trees
Dummy
Mantis
Moth
Sword
Park

So many fabulously creative entries so far!

My effort was an enoyable way to spend a rather soggy Independence Day afternoon. I used 6 of the 8 source images in my fantasy composition: dummy, girls, mask, moth, sword and trees.

"The Guardian"

EDIT (16 Jul 07): Added elements from the remaining two sources: mantis and park. Did some tweakage and added some details to complete my vision of the legend of "The Guardian".

I'm back!! And what a fun contest to come back in on!

I used
dummy
girls
mantis
moth
park
sword
trees

to make my art gallery:

I don't know why, but the supplied images reminded me of Druids and King Author..

Girls, Mantis, Mask, Moth, Sword, Trees

Fun challenge! Not the kind of thing I normally do, but I enjoyed it :)
I managed to use all of the pictures.

I used moth,sword, girls,mantis, dummy, trees.

mantis
trees
sword
moth
park
dummy
mask
girls

I got in all eight: mantis, trees, sword, moth, park, dummy, mask, girls! I had so much fun doing this...I hope the quality didn't get hurt too much when i had to make it 100k. Thanks!

Used park, girls, trees, moth, mask, dummy...

I used Park, Trees, Dummy, Mask, Mantis, and Sword.

I used all 8 images to create the Luna Park adventure. The poor lady in the front with the blue sweater (and her hand shielding her face) was unfortunately stabbed by the lady in the turquoise sweater.

this is may first post-

i used
dummy
girls
mask
moth
sword
trees

Here is my version.

I used
trees (motion blur and set to difference mode)
moth
girls
dummy
mask
mantis

I got in all eight.

here is my try, had fun hope yall like it.
used all but the mantis

Hey Everybody! This is my version of the photos. I used a little bit of all eight of the pictures. It was a lot of fun to do!

I used all of the images and made a poster, for a fictitious movie called 'the sweet escape'. A woman turning her back on the record industry by going invisible with the help of a mantis-moth creature.

*Update!*
Now the right format, thanks to T Paul and Gary Richardson for the heads up!

I used all images. Thanks for a fun contest!!
The 100k limit is really hurting this, but I hope you can see past that - lol
Dawn

EDIT - took out the mantis, so officially I used the sword, trees, moth, girls, dummy, mask and park.

Hi all
had a lot of fun with this contest - hard to put all these different elements together!
I used:
dummy
girls
mask
moth
mantis
trees

There are some very creative entries in this contest. I used 7 of the images. They are dummy, girls, mantis, mask, moth, sword and trees. Very fun set of images.
Trae

I used all of the images: mask, moth, mantis, park, sword, trees, girls and dummy. I see some very creative entries this month.
Cathy

Hi I have used:

1. Mantis
2. Trees
3. Sword
4. Moth
5. Park
6. Girls

I used:

Mask
Moth
Girls
Trees
Sword
Dummy

Wonderful contest. Great entries.

Janet

Contest is closed.

To help with voting here is a temporary link to the entries in Photo Album format:

July Entries (http://www.retouchpro.com/contests/source_images/July07/index.htm)

The wait is finally over!

Congratulations goes to linus_photo!!!

Top 5:
linus_photo: 49
YMS: 36
LonK: 26
PhotoB: 25
Swampy: 24