DSS10 Concept...

[PaulThomasMcKee]

Probably 98.7% of all my post work is done in Lightroom. I'm not at all conversant in Photoshop - so this topic seems like the perfect subject to try to get to know it better and learn some new techniques.

Here's my admittedly botched-up 1st attempt at a concept for DSS10. I'm pretty sure I could make the ghost me better with more trial & error and practice.

http://paulthomasmckee.smugmug.com/photos/389391877_m3XUQ-M-1.jpg

[tamplum]

very creepy. I would like to see the "ghost" better. I see where you going with the transparent look. But the couch through the ghost is distracting a little. :scratch

[PaulThomasMcKee]

Thanks tamplum. I agree that the ghost's face shoud be less transparent.

Your comment about it being "creepy" made me think that perhaps the solid me should be in a casket and the ghost me should be looking down from above...hmm.

[pemmett]

Paul, I'm in awe that you have come up with something so fast and wonderful:bow . I'm still looking at the words of the poem trying to understand them enough to start to get my head around this one:cry

Cheers/peter

[pyroPrints.com]

looks good. That white on the far left is distracting though, crop it a little maybe?

[richtersl]

Paul, I'm in awe that you have come up with something so fast and wonderful:bow . I'm still looking at the words of the poem trying to understand them enough to start to get my head around this one:cry

Cheers/peter

Me too!

[richtersl]

very creepy. I would like to see the "ghost" better. I see where you going with the transparent look. But the couch through the ghost is distracting a little. :scratch

I agree, I think you need to try to get the ghost's face to show up just a little bit better.

[divamum]

Great idea!

Is it possible to have the ghost peering over from behind the sofa? Just a thought - it would lose the sofa-through-the-nose effect and perhaps be even creepier?

And I too am impressed! I've been wracking my brains since it was posted and as yet have only the vaguest ideas, none of which quite float my boat. Not sure if I'm up to this one, but we'll see how i get on in coming days....!! :)

[shatch]

I think you are on to something already. Looks great!

[PaulThomasMcKee]

Thanks pemmett, pyroprints, richtersl, divamum & shatch for your comments!

I took another run at it this morning...I tried to keep some more detail in the face of the ghost.

http://paulthomasmckee.smugmug.com/photos/389489770_tgoeN-M-1.jpg

Off to my day job now...

[darkdragon]

I think it is a great concept and is very intersting photo. Have you tried doing the whole thing in-camera instead of going with photoshop? Just an idea but you could do the same thing with a long exposure and possibly create a more "real" feeling... i dunno. :dunno

[AaronNelson]

Paul, I'm in awe that you have come up with something so fast and wonderful:bow . I'm still looking at the words of the poem trying to understand them enough to start to get my head around this one:cry

Cheers/peter

:scratch theres a poem?

[richtersl]

:scratch theres a poem?

:D Yep. http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=107850

[AaronNelson]

oh crap, i thought that was just an example of text....

[tamplum]

oh crap, i thought that was just an example of text....

LOL, so did I at first.

[Tentacion]

Hi Paul,

Have you tried "reflections" action or perhaps a "Mirage" action.

[PaulThomasMcKee]

I think it is a great concept and is very interesting photo. Have you tried doing the whole thing in-camera instead of going with photoshop? Just an idea but you could do the same thing with a long exposure and possibly create a more "real" feeling... i dunno. :dunno

I could try doing something in-camera, but I really want to use this round to learn some new stuff in photoshop because I currently suck at it and I want to get better. I see the stuff the shatch cranks out so effortlessly and I don't even have a clue how to start.

Hi Paul,

Have you tried "reflections" action or perhaps a "Mirage" action.

I've only tried one action before and that was a kind of thing that made a photo look a little like a cartoon. I've seen some really amazing ripply reflection stuff that I think was Photo-shopped - do you have a link to an action or tutorial that you can recommend?

My mind is going crazy with ideas, but my skill-set to make them happen needs improvement. For instance, I know how to make a selection, but I don't know how to make a mask or what the difference is.

[darkdragon]

I could try doing something in-camera, but I really want to use this round to learn some new stuff in photoshop because I currently suck at it and I want to get better. I see the stuff the shatch cranks out so effortlessly and I don't even have a clue how to start.

I've only tried one action before and that was a kind of thing that made a photo look a little like a cartoon. I've seen some really amazing ripply reflection stuff that I think was Photo-shopped - do you have a link to an action or tutorial that you can recommend?

My mind is going crazy with ideas, but my skill-set to make them happen needs improvement. For instance, I know how to make a selection, but I don't know how to make a mask or what the difference is.

I'm not really sure how much time you have to dedicate to photoshoping for this challenge, but to learn some of the techniques/tools I suggest picking up a copy of Photoshop Creative magazine and follow one of the tutorials. Just going through one of the shorter tutorials will expand you're photoshop knowledge so much that you will then find your current exercize very simple (at least, that's what happened with me). The magazine is a UK mag (they make the best magazines there!) but I usually pick up a copy at Fry's Electronics or Barnes & Noble. I am sure Borders has it too. Not sure what stores you have in your area, but these are all chains. Expect to pay around $16 for the mag - totally worth it.

I also learned a bit about masks and such by following the very simple tutorial for OOB photos here: http://www.logicscape.com/oob_tutorials/

[idiom]

Cool idea, nice work so fast man. :)

[HumpreyCogay]

I like the first image sir... =)..... IMHO, the drama is much more felt on the darker lighting....

[Tentacion]

I could try doing something in-camera, but I really want to use this round to learn some new stuff in photoshop because I currently suck at it and I want to get better. I see the stuff the shatch cranks out so effortlessly and I don't even have a clue how to start.



I've only tried one action before and that was a kind of thing that made a photo look a little like a cartoon. I've seen some really amazing ripply reflection stuff that I think was Photo-shopped - do you have a link to an action or tutorial that you can recommend?

My mind is going crazy with ideas, but my skill-set to make them happen needs improvement. For instance, I know how to make a selection, but I don't know how to make a mask or what the difference is.

Hi Paul, sorry for the late reply, I'm sort of out of it a bit (messed up arm). Send me your email address, I work alot with actions. My email addie is admin@dnty.com

Peace
Donna P

[JAG]

Nice work Paul! I like the second one with the face showing more. Very nice work!:thumb

[PaulThomasMcKee]

darkdragon, I went to the web site and downloaded the OOB tutorials - I'll definitely be trying my hand at a few of those! It looks like a lot of fun!

Tentacion, Thanks, you can reach me at paultmckee at yahoo.com.

idiom, Thanks for your kind words.

HumpreyCogay, I agree w/you and darkened the version I entered to bring back a little of the drama.

JAG, Thanks and I've tried to strike a balance between the two.

I have a half dozen other ideas for this round but don't know if I will make them happen - so I've entered the current shot.

BTW - Here's an article (http://www.gretachristina.com/comfort.html) that I read three years ago on the subject of mortality and our place in the continuum of time that I found thought provoking...