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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Canon SLR Challenges - FAQ >> CSLR - Best of... >> Best of 2007 > 1st Place
Barry's Boots
by Michael Puff
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01-JUN-2007 Michael Puff

1st Place
Barry's Boots
by Michael Puff

Admit it, you *knew* I was going to do this.

As the title might indicate, this is dedicated to a good friend and colleague.


other sizes: small medium original auto
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Richard Callan28-Feb-2010 16:22
How very different and how very, very good. Great idea that works well
pepe_carmona200010-Jul-2007 07:16
realmente genial y fantastica gran voto
Dan Chusid09-Jun-2007 17:13
Awesome job on this one!
Canon DSLR Challenge09-Jun-2007 14:02
Masterly Done!
-Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge09-Jun-2007 12:48
this gives me the creeps. That was a compliment.

Grant
Ann Chaikin06-Jun-2007 07:16
Wow... now I really am sorry I've been away so long wrapped up in my oil painting and just brushing by this site. I can see there's lots I've been missing. This is great Michael. I'll have to go back and peruse past challenges to see more. Bravo! Ann
P.S. Here's what I've been doing:http://www.pbase.com/ptkitty/paintings
Canon DSLR Challenge05-Jun-2007 03:35
Magic Michael, ... I do miss the blood and chunks of bone sticking out from the boot though... you are too clinical.. lol!

That is code for " its great and I wish I had thought of it first?) ~ Regards Melbob
Guest 04-Jun-2007 23:35
I posted in the challenge thread about where to download the psd file for this image:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=23499999

-Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge04-Jun-2007 18:43
For Traveller:
I know a good book about "derivations"
Joel-Peter Witkin "Disciple-Master"
Elena
Vikas Malhotra04-Jun-2007 08:22
Michael, brilliantly done as always, superb. And yes, one expected nothing less from you :-)

Cheers, Vikas.

PS: Would love to see the 8MB file with notes on this pic, if possible could you email it to me at vikasmal@gmail.com? Thanks.....
Canon DSLR Challenge04-Jun-2007 06:01
Everything, if you dig deep enough, is derivative of something. No this is an "Original," with maybe a hat tip to Magritte...but nothing more. This certainly isn't a copy, and I don't even see it as derivative...it is a Michael Puff maybe inspired by Magritte and other surrealists.

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it...lol

Best Wishes, Traveller
Guest 04-Jun-2007 05:01
Traveller, you raise an interesting argument. There's no doubt in my mind that the work is derivative, but I do also agree there is a difference between a "copy" and a "derivation". The goals are very different in my mind. A "copy" should be just that, a copy, and be impeccable in doing so. A derivation should be inspired by an original but should stand as an original piece with its own merits. Perhaps we are saying the same thing :-)

As to technique on transitions...well, it's not complicated, just time consuming. I do all of my work on layers with layer masks. The transitions are done with a mask, painting on the mask with a brush at only 3% or 4% opacity. This way you can build up the mask slowly and with very smooth transitions.

This piece is actually one my "simpler" images with only 10 layers, all of which are fairly self-explanatory. If I reduce the size to 600 pixels on the longest side, it's a psd file of about 8MB. If you can download a file that large and think it might be useful, I'd be happy to write up some notes and share the file. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge04-Jun-2007 01:00
The very interesting question that this image raises is...is this derivative of Magritte or, because the work is so superior to the painting that...the image is in fact sui generis?

Also, because all your Magritte based work is so uniquely yours, and placed within your entire oeuvre, could even conceivably be seen as just yours...an extension of where you have always been going.

I think this not an unfair argument.

Better than Magritte is not a bad place to be.

(and while I'm at it....how do you get your great transitions...in all your work...but here, from leather to skin?)

If you don't mind, of course....and if you have the time.

Best Wishes, Traveller
Guest 03-Jun-2007 20:25
Your imagination blows me away! I hope you never stop posting as I love your work and I always get a good belly laugh!
Wonderful!
Debbi
Canon DSLR Challenge03-Jun-2007 20:02
Gosh, I did not know this painting.Thanks!Looks really spooky with purple toenails.I prefer yours anytime!LOL
Elena
Guest 03-Jun-2007 20:01
Oh, I also meant to say that the "Surreal Digital Photography" book which Elena mentioned is excellent for anyone interested in composites. While its slant is definitely surreal, the techniques can be used towards any style. And the cover photo is a good one, LOL! -Michael
Guest 03-Jun-2007 19:45
Thanks all for the comments.

Elena, no pretense of originality meant. However, credit does not belong to photoshop books and tutorials but rather the surrealist master himself, Rene Magritte. You can see the painting here: http://www.abcgallery.com/M/magritte/magritte22.html . Since the painting is fairly famous and I do a bit of surrealist work, hence my caption that people would guess that I would do this for a footwear topic.

Lonnit, LOL! Shu, not my boots or feet :-) Traveller, it never occurred to me that I might influence another's life...you leave me speechless but to say, yes, you can do it too.

-Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge03-Jun-2007 19:10
Greatness again!!!!!!!!!Everything is said already.Outstanding, as usual in skills.Can't give 5 for originality, however...This was in many tutorials and books (Barry Huggins and Ian Probert "Surreal digital photography" (on the cover)).Love the image, never less!
P.S.Traveller, if you need any help with your topic on Russia, just ask!
-Elena
Canon DSLR Challenge03-Jun-2007 18:25
You've gone and disgusted me again! LOL! What IS your obsession with disembodied extremities? Oh, it's good, as far as creativity and photography go, but man, you do know how to make a girl sick! LOL! ~ LOnnit
Canon DSLR Challenge03-Jun-2007 16:30
Ditto all below. I should also mention that the background choice is outstanding. Congratulations. Sam Attal
Canon DSLR Challenge03-Jun-2007 14:24
Just one question? Are those Barry's boots and YOUR feet Michael??? LOL (All of the posted comments and then some.......) shu
Canon DSLR Challenge03-Jun-2007 11:59
I knew and very well done!
theFly
Daniel Bollag03-Jun-2007 10:48
That, Michael, is just *wonderful*, IMHO; of all your work I’ve seen, possibly the most appealing image to me (though subjects like «feet» or «footwear» are not exactly what fascinates me...). Congratulations! — db.
Canon DSLR Challenge03-Jun-2007 06:48
Of course I knew this was yours...but I did not know that you would do "this."

Let me tell you a story Michael...when you won both sides of Challenge 93, I said to myself...I can do that. Since then, your winning images that prompted me to say..I can do that...have had....interesting ramifications.

I really don't do e-mail, (except professionally), so I'll write a little here...First, I said it was a "Swooning Eroticism," but maybe "languid," would have been a better word for Angles in America. Because I live so much in my mind...I said I can do that...I can do languid eroticism, I can re-connect to my body, the physical side of my existence.

And so I did it...languid Eroticism, full body massages, lather me down in baby oil, no sex, what I am paying for is....to lie here and try to get back in touch with my nerve endings. In the past I would have been too embarrassed to even try this...but I've done it, twice and it was...if not revolutionary, still, very nice.

And from Phantom, if you can expose yourself like this...so can I...and I am doing this also. I am still not seeing women, but I have told some people that I would consider the possibility. Maybe not now, but I'm thinking about it.

I am just reaching out to people more...I always listen, I always advise, I often even help. I am now considering allowing for the possibility of....maybe getting actually close to people. I don't know, but I am working on this. When people give me phone numbers, of late I'm not throwing them away. When people want to come over, not me going somewhere, but actually allowing people into my house...I am doing this.

People are shocked but, like tomorrow, I'm having people over. Hey, people can change, take on new aspects, move to the foreground different parts of their personality. I'm even doing a little lite writing on topics of interest, recently Russia, and that is going...maybe well. We'll see.

So I wanted to let you know that your double win actually influenced my life. If you can do it, so can I.

Odd the way this stuff works, no?

Thanks a lot,

Best Wishes,

Traveller
jnconradie03-Jun-2007 06:05
Dear Michael, I could guess that you would be doing something outstanding, but this exceeds even those expectations. Out of this world conceptually and of course also the editing, which is on a completely different level than my abilities. Perhaps we can ask you a hypothetical question: suppose you were to win... in which direction would your mind go for the next topic...? Just kidding. :-) Compliments and regards jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge03-Jun-2007 03:38
Well, I didn't know you were going to do this, but I certainly did know that it was yours just from the thumbnail. Once again, Michael, I am amazed by your PS skills, not to mention the imagination that goes into coming up with something like this. Well done as usual.
--Mary Anne