PHOTO ART: Mini-challenge #125 – Robins

[pstewart]

FIRST MINI-CHALLENGE -or- NEW TO PHOTO-ART?
Click here for "Information and Guidelines."

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PHOTO ART: Mini-challenge #125 – Robins

Here’s another “mini-challenge” to play with in the Photo-based Art category until the next major challenge is posted here.

The base image can be downloaded by clicking the link below the photo description.

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Thanks to Jeanie who climbed a ladder to take this fantastic photo of a family of robins in their nest. Mom looks so proud of her brood, and who can blame her? I just know this is going to be a very popular challenge!

Phyllis

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LEGAL VERBIAGE
Jeanie retains the U.S. and international copyright © not only for the original image, but also for any photo-art versions of it. Unauthorized distribution or use of this image without permission are prohibited.

[BillC]

Jeanie - very nice picture, and very brave for climbing the ladder!
Fishboy - nice lacquer job as usual. (you must order it by the 5 gallon pail).
Here's mine ...
Bill C

[BillC]

Second version ... framed
Bill C

[TwinbNJ]

Jeanie - Wow what a great image to work with --- Thanks.

fishboy- very nice! the lacquer works with this image --- I think we are going to have to start calling you "Sir Lacquer" ! lol

Bill C. - love both submissions - the frame on the first one is a great idea. BUT the second one --- the lighting softness with the slight hint of lines --- Thumbs up

Here's mine. smudge - added sandstone textue, then dry brush.

[TwinbNJ]

oooo fishboy - very nice - I like the way the nest flows over the frame - GREAT idea!

Here is the effie action with some extra stuff! lol

[BillC]

Jill - very nice, I like both renditions, but the first one is my favorite ...nice dry brush with sandstone...
Fishboy ... excellent! Going traditional!? The mat/framing are just that something extra on this one that makes it stand out. Nice job.
Bill C

[TwinANJ]

Fishboy...Great texture with the lacquer.

Bill C Both submissions are lovely but I have to say the second is my favorite.

Jill...Like them both. I kind of like the second one better.

Here is mine. Used multipal layers.
desaturated then used pattern stamp and various brush styles. Added Vignette.


Jean

[Pam]

Fishboy -
I really like your first one, it has great texture!

Bill C -
I love your first one. It's also full of texture, almost 3-D. And the torn paper edge is perfect with the bg. Great work!

Jill -
Excellent job on the smudging. You're getting so good at that. I can't smudge for the life of me

Jean -
Good work. I like how you handled the lines, makes for a nice sketchy base.

I also used Effie...this is Effie Deluxe.

Pam

[LactoBeeZor]

Had to try my hand at this wonderful picture. Cant remember what I did maybe, cutout, edges, watercolor then matte and frame.

[jeaniesa]

Thanks for the nice comments on the photo everyone. I love what you've all done with it!

Fishboy - I love the "sparkle" in your first version, but your second one with the frame is just great. That mat/frame combo really works with the photo!

BillC - I love your watercolor version! (I wasn't being that brave up on the ladder - I was only about four feet up. Besides, my husband tells me that when I have a camera in my hand, i'm a lot more "adventurous" than when I don't. I just gotta get that shot! )

Jill - Your painting is my favorite! I think you can safely say that you've learned that technique and apply it well!

Jean - I love the style, just wish it was a tad lighter (though that could easily be my monitor as well! )

Pam - The way you made the beaks of the babies glow is perfect!

Lacto - Very cool effect! (I just with the mother's beak didn't have the green on it.)

Jeanie

[pstewart]

Fish, great lacquer look, and I like the shape as well. The second one is a striking moody portrait...love it!

Bill C, very nice watercolor with perfect framing. Your second version is just superb...love the simplicity and softness and how it fades away...beautiful!

Jeanie EXCELLENT smudgeroo!

Jill, your Effie has bit of 3D to it...nice!

Jean, lovely portrait, nice mottled overall texture.

Pam, nice and simplified the way I like ‘em! Smooooth!

Lacto, neat look with the outlined areas...clever.

I loved this picture soooo much that I made six different versions at one sitting...couldn’t stop! I won’t bore you with all of them, but here are the three simplified/outlined sorts. Version #1: Basic abstract method

Phyllis

[pstewart]

Version #2: Outline layer with anisotropic diffuse blended over smart blur layer combined with low opacity abstract layer, KPT6 materializer for slight 3D effect on birds and trees.

Phyllis
www.eightpainters.com

[pstewart]

Version #3: Since I cannot use Effie (not made for Macs) I have been trying to get a similar look. In this attempt I started with basic outline method, duped several layers at multiply, merged, then applied anisotropic diffuse, very high contrast and increased brightness, setting layer to soft light.

Phyllis
www.eightpainters.com

[TwinANJ]

Phillis....You achieved the Effie look. Nicely done.

Jean

[BillC]

Hey Phyllis - it's OK to take a break and get some sleep once in a while! You sure are cranking them out!! Very nicely done - each of them. It looks like you've been watching Bill M's success with the diffuse/ansiotropic filter effect. Nice job. - keep experimenting!
Have a nice weekend.
Bill C

[pstewart]

Originally posted by BillC
It looks like you've been watching Bill M's success with the diffuse/ansiotropic filter effect.

I'm glad Bill and others are reaping the benefits of anisotropic diffuse, because that's been my favorite filter for years, since I got PS7. In fact, I'd say it's a good enough reason for anyone to upgrade...worth the price! Has so many uses, not just for the effect, but also, when faded, to soften jpeg artifacts or jaggies or just overly grainy areas. It's an integral part of my "abstract" method too, though the end result is not smooth by any means. Yep, that's a great little filter for sure!

Phyllis

[tyeise]

oooooohhhhh so many beautiful renditions!

My muted one first.

Tyeise

[tyeise]

I agree with Phyllis, it waas hard to stop playing.

Tyeise

[Blues_X]

I had to join in...

[pstewart]

Tyeise, nice sketch look, and I like the high contrast version with this subject.

Blues X, nice soft portrait.

Here is a “quick sketch” and the method I used:

Version #4: Quick sketch method: Outline technique using distort>glass instead of gaussian blur, followed by motion blur after merging b/w layers, unsharp mask at .3, then select a blend mode/opacity that looks good.

Phyllis

[BigAl]

Been a while since I tried my hand at a mini-challenge.

[pstewart]

Version #5: Sketch method from #4 set to difference mode at some point, then more glass/faded to lighten and set to low opacity overlay (?)...forget exact steps, but difference mode was a layer for sure.

Phyllis
www.eightpainters.com

[pstewart]

Version #6: Oil painting from craquelure with all sliders set to left, then faded to darken. Brighten, then add oil paint stroke pattern layer and Trimoon’s canvas, embossed, in overlay mode. Tweak saturation and contrast.

Phyllis

[eightlegs79]

Here's mine.
Nicole

[CJ Swartz]

Jeanie -- this is such a wonderful image!! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful family with us.

Everyone is doing such good work!

Phyllis -- I'm not sure which ones I like best of yours, and I'm glad you uploaded more than one.

Jill, Jean, Bill, Fishboy, Tye, Lacto, Pam -- you've done your usual good work on this beautiful photo. I'm having trouble thinking of something that hasn't already been done beautifully.

[e.b.west]

I like the effect that the pattern stamp gives you. What steps or methods do you use, I played around with it but didn't get anything like what you got.

Thanks,
E.B.

[e.b.west]

Here's my go at it. I used Phyllis' abstract tutorial, then used a soft smudge on the top layer. I changed the top layer to overlay after USM at about 300. I still need to work on this smudging stuff, but I'm getting close (I think).

E.B.

[jerry]

Great pic and nice work everyone..Not much time to play lately but taking time for a quick peek..

Phyllis..#6 is a wallhanger.....Awesome..

Jerry

[spinnnz]

It looked like everyone had fun with this image, so I decided to give it a try as well.

-Lisa

[TwinANJ]

EB West..... I never write step by step when working. I have purchased a notebook and am going to keep it at my side!
Anyway the basic way I played with the picture was made two copies of the base picture. The middle layer I desaturated, then went to the color layer on top of the desaturated layer. Took the pattern stamp and changed the brush setting (dry media) and pattern styles and played until I liked what I got. . I used different brush styles and pattern stamp on the background and the birds. Made a new layer and merged visable layers. Then I used filters to sharpen and emboss being one of my favorites I may have used that also. I hope this will help, I am not really good at explaining what I do since half the time I do not know myself!
Thank you for asking and I hope it will help. Let me know how you make out!

Jean