April 2008: Contest Discussion

[byRo]

T's away for a few days - so, this month, you'll have to put up with me

Add your comments, questions or general discussion about the Contest entries here. This is also a great place to share your techniques or ask others about theirs.

Most members are eager to hear comments/suggestions about their entries, so please take the time to help each other out.

Rô

[byRo]

Sorry about the delay folks.

I was going to post a very fiendish contest
Another one of those terrible restoration projects.

But then I remembered that the most terrifying prospect of all is a piece of white paper.....

So here you are....
No holds barred, no guidelines, just a base image.
Let's see what you can do.

(Don't worry, T will be back soon)

Rô

[byRo]

See the link to a larger version of the image in the second post.

[Frank Lopes]

I'm surprised with the lack of comments on this month's contest :-)

[byRo]

Me too.

Either it's too easy - or too hard?

Rô

[pixeltek]

i may be in the minority, but while i think the idea of the contest is a good one, i.e., fashion/glamor/artsy magazine color for retouchpro, i believe the photograph that was chosen is the farthest from fashion/glamor/artsy, and i personally would not purchase nor want to look in a magazine with this cover.

it does not evoke fashion/glamor/artsy in any way, shape, or form nor can it be transformed to represent a fashion/glamor/artsy magazine cover.

looks more like a wildlife/hunting/fishing magazine cover

just my 2 cents

[Frank Lopes]

Originally Posted by pixeltek

i think the idea looks more like a wildlife/hunting/fishing magazine cover

That was very funny :-)

My guess is the image was carefully chosen: a not very flattering pic of a model, shot with a very wide lens thus the distorted lips and bulging eyes.

I would say, it was done on purpose...

[byRo]

Originally Posted by Frank Lopes

I would say, it was done on purpose...

[Kraellin]

"...nor can it be transformed to represent a fashion/glamor/artsy magazine cover."

hmmm, doth i hear a challenge, a gauntlet being cast to the ground? methinks, sir, thou art without skill, without wit, and without chivalry. surely, yon maiden couldst be made to be HOT! and is that not the entire point of this contest? dost thou spit upon yon maid/model casting aspersions upon her, artist and admin? dost thou throw down thy gauntlet and yet not take up said challenge thyself? art thou coward? dost thy cahones trail behind thee some distance like a cowering curr mongrel? to arms with tablet, mouse and pc, i say! be bold, be brave and cast light upon said maid that she may shine ever brighter! or be gone and stay thy tongue forever more!

[0lBaldy]

OMG!! Craig you put words to my thoughts!

What Craig said....!!

[saby]

There is no choice in life when U got a problem to solve Pixeltek, can U imagine what could have happend if Michelangelo told Pope Sixtus: This ceiling is too concave.?

[pixeltek]

no offense, but in the real world, a photo such as this would never be "chosen" for a fashion magazine cover....never, ever, ever

i mean, please, it's kind of insulting to suggest that such a photo would be...there is no "challenge" here...it just simply is not a fashion photo nor can it ever be!!!!!!!!!!!!

more of my 2 cents

[saby]

Originally Posted by pixeltek

...simply is not a fashion photo ...

I agree with U in this,

and just chating about, I think sometimes it's profitable to tinker

cover pict for the magazin of a wedding business, A5 retouching 18K HUF what is about 100$

what do U think (not about the picture exactly just about tinkering in this contest)?

[byRo]

Originally Posted by pixeltek

..it just simply is not a fashion photo nor can it ever be!!!!!!!!!!!!

You may have noticed that, even though this site is directed at PRO-Retouching there are hardly any real fashion shots on this site.
We can only post images that do not have any usage problems.
We need permission from the photographer and permission from the model - in writing.

Which is pretty much why the pro's amongst us are never able to show their work - copyright problems.

If someone wishes to help by supplying a good base fashion image with due written permissions we would be only too glad to run a contest with it.
There's a thread set up exactly for this - here.

In the meantime - what Craig said.

Rô

[dataflow]

pixeltek can i ask a question? (i just did)

where and who said it was a fashion/glamor/artsy image?

the following is the only mention of it

8. Tasks:

*Turn the image into a cover appropriate for a fashion / glamour / art magazine.

and that is only mentioned as a task
which means you as the contestant have to try to make that a fashion/glamor/artsy image for a mag cover.
(this is a retouch forum after all)

i believe any half decent image can be retouched for a fashion/glamor/artsy mag cover.
its just down to how good of a retoucher you are.(im not 1 of them )

so in conclusion Get Over It

[pixeltek]

dataflow, chill...

when i think fashion, i think "vogue" not "field and stream" -- that's all i mean.

sure, you can "retouch" her to have flawless skin but she is not a fashion model nor does she belong on a fashion mag cover, imho...just 'cause she can be "retouched" doesn't mean you can magically transform her into a fashion mag cover...all the retouching in the world won't do that for this photo.

i think i'm up to 6 cents

[Cassidy]

Guys, a challenge is a challenge, so step up to the plate

[0lBaldy]

I will simply refer pixeltek to the old "Dove Evolution" short video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn...eature=related

[saby]

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

I will simply refer pixeltek to the old "Dove Evolution" short video...]

thanx for sharing this 0lBaldy, it's nice when there is a team working and make perfect.

there isn't in my space

[Kraellin]

yup, that's what i was talkin about, OB

[LonK]

Hi hankw. Welcome to the Contest forum. It's always nice to see new members here. I'd hate to see you disqualified though. As the rules state, "Final image must be exactly 600 pixels wide and 800 pixels high" -- a vertical (aka Portrait) format. To achieve this you will need to CROP the horizontal (aka Landscape) source photo, NOT just resize it. I'm not familiar with Elements' tools, so you'll have to find out how to crop with it on your own. It should look something like the attached.

Hope that helps,

[hankw]

Lonk... Thanks I'll try the crop. As stated had my moments on the sizing.

[pixeltek]

okay, so i took you up on your challenge, olbaldy, and did my version of the "dove evolution" retouch...they're all her parts, just a lot of manipulation...i only added eyelashes (thanks rudd)...hope you like

[Kraellin]

excellent, pixeltek. that's the spirit

[0lBaldy]

Pixeltek, Looks pretty good!

Thanks for joining in!

[saby]

Originally Posted by pixeltek

...they're all her parts, just a lot of manipulation...i only added eyelashes (thanks rudd)...hope you like

little changes achieves more, I like Ur contribution

[pixeltek]

kraelin, olbady, saby...thank you! i know it's waaaaaaaaay overdone but i was trying to go for the whole "evolution" thing.

[0lBaldy]

Lonnie, I think you just set the Bar up a few notches! A very nice job my friend......well done...!

[LonK]

Thanks 0lBaldy. That's very kind of you to say.

It was an absolute joy for me to work with this gorgeous young lady's photo. As has been noted, the source photo is certainly less than ideal, but that should never stop a determined, creative retoucher. Confronting such challenges is, after all, what most of us do!

I took the liberty of adding a complimentary new "do" to accentuate a demure, "girl next door" digital makeover. While not necessarily glamorous, fashionable or "artsy", I believe the result is surely appropriate for a 'zine with the requisite title of _RetouchPRO_.

[pixeltek]

lonK...i double that, you definitely set the bar...each challenge retouchpro has, i always look forward to seeing your entries, they are always exceptional...keep up the fantastic work!!!!!!!!!