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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 54 - Weather (hosted by Jim Harrison) >> Eligible > 8th Place
tempest in a teapot (*)
by Michael Puff
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09-NOV-2005 Michael Puff

8th Place
tempest in a teapot (*)
by Michael Puff

The exif data is for the teapot image. However, all images (clouds, birds) that create this composite were taken during the challenge period.


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Canon DSLR Challenge16-Nov-2005 22:49
This is gorgeous Michael, and very creative! --Melanie (mlynn)
Vikas Malhotra16-Nov-2005 06:11
WOW, stunning, amazing PS work, I am bowled over.

Cheers, Vikas.
alexeig15-Nov-2005 18:08
I do not like composites, but this one is special
Canon DSLR Challenge13-Nov-2005 19:10
Too late to comment I expect as it's all been said. So I'll just say "WOW!" Ann C
Canon DSLR Challenge12-Nov-2005 23:24
Michael...love the idea...almost Dali-esq! I wish I had "real" photo shop skills! I like the idea behind the image...

:-D
Guest 12-Nov-2005 16:32
A real improvement - the clouds are not so obviously "wrong" now.
Phil
Canon DSLR Challenge12-Nov-2005 13:18
neat. theFly
Canon DSLR Challenge12-Nov-2005 00:50
Much, Much Better! And the first one was damned nice also...but they are distinctly different, this having a more natural sky...as opposed to a graphic of a sky.
Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge11-Nov-2005 23:51
much better! Cindy
arminb11-Nov-2005 23:39
Hm, it looks great, yes, indeed. But I thought, this is all about photography?
Guest 11-Nov-2005 23:38
New version uploaded. The original version may be seen at http://www.pbase.com/image/52112517 -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge11-Nov-2005 20:17
Wow, 7 layers of clouds!!!! You are ambitious (or into self punishment. lol). Kudos for getting the Tea Pot, lid and background all at once. Cindy
Guest 11-Nov-2005 20:05
Cindy, yes indeed, I think making the upper sky more natural (less graphic) is the key. I have some additional images with which to work. FYI, the teapot, lid, and backgroud (a painted white to blue paper, lid held aloft on a dowel) are a single photo and background layer, one layer of the flock of birds, seven layers of various cloud formations. I'll post a comment here when version 2 is uploaded (later today or tonight). -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge11-Nov-2005 17:52
Love the creativity with this Michael! Very fun image. Would it be possible to use fewer images to do the same thing? It looks like you have 2 different cloud images, a bird image, 2 teapot images, and then a color gradient or something. Could the clouds and birds have been the main layer and the teapot added into them? Or were you going for such a graphic look that a natural sky would be too . . . .well natural? Cindy
Guest 11-Nov-2005 17:45
Thanks all for the comments.

Traveller, yes, a Margritte-ish fantasy is what I had in mind. The pup is well, growing at 2 pounds a week, so he's now a 25 pound monster pup (but a joyful one). I just got my copy of the miniature magazine and will try to scan the cover in a day or two. Thanks for asking.

Teapot, it took waaay too long - LOL! Olaf, I like the sound of your idea...hope you get the time to set it up and shoot it.

Phil, not controversial at all, just a good honest critique. Indeed, I am least pleased with the clouds at the top of the image. While we can accept the fantasy of the image, I think these types of images work best when the photoshop work is seamless and not obvious. I haven't accomplished that in the upper part of the image. As to the birds, the flock is flying exactly as shot but your point is noted as to how they work into this image. I did give a lot of thought as to "grounding" the teapot. In the end, I felt grounding it introduced another visual element which wasn't necessary in this fantasy. I have some ideas about working with the clouds in the upper part of the image, stay tuned, there will be a version 2. -Michael
Shu11-Nov-2005 13:37
WOW! shu
Guest 11-Nov-2005 12:59
OK, I'm going to take the controversial route here.
At first look, I'm very impressed, it's a striking image indeed.
However, looking a little closer it loses out somewhat. Most especially at the top - the clouds just don't look right, I feel they have been severly edited, and not terribly well (use of the eraser tool, for example).
In addition, there's insufficient variety in the bird shapes - most obvious in the two to the left of the lid.
I'd also have liked to have seen the pot more firmly "based" - it almost seems to be floating in nowhere, rather than sitting on something.
With all that said, however, there's no way I could do a better job! I like the image, but just don't feel it bears close examination.
Phil
Guest 11-Nov-2005 08:58
Wow Michael, how long did that take you? It is an excellent image and the photoshopping skill is superb.
Teapot
Guest 11-Nov-2005 08:35
Well I guess I might as well share what I was planning to shoot. In many languages it is not 'a tempest in a teapot' or 'a storm in a cup of tea', but rather 'a storm in a glass of water'. That was my idea from the get go. I was planning on using a slide projector and project moody stormclouds onto the background. The main subject would be a glass of water, whose surface would be whipped up by a powerful hairdryer... I don't know if I'll find the time to set it up though...
Canon DSLR Challenge11-Nov-2005 08:07
Well, Michael, You've got my vote! I personally wanted to do something like this and have been trying, but my clouds went beyond the beyond...but you've done it, finding a surreal world that is not off-putting. This seems very Rene Margritte-ish to me...is that the association you whated to call up in your audience? (Hope things are well with your dogs and cats...and while I'm chatting with thou...lol....I never got to see the magazinge cover on minitures...could you provide a link. Thanks, Traveller PS, very nice picture...lol