When I awaken...

[Nancy Bell]

...bits and pieces of dreams scatter and fade with the departing night.

The base image is a flock of blackbirds taken at Bosque del Apache. In Nik Silver Efex I used the high contrast to make the birds black and the bkgd pure white. On that I placed a texture, allowing the black birds to show through. Then using Pixel Bender "hole", I created a hole in the upper left where I wanted a moon. My next step was fractalius, glow 100, I think. I left the moon space blank since I wanted a separate effect there and not have fractalius blend the moon with the bkgd. For the moon I cloned a large circle from the image into the empty space. Then I cloned some of the birds onto the moon. The last application was buz sim from Topaz, Simplify.

Mark, we think alike. At some point one must awaken from sleep and dreams.

[Dennis Bishop]

Nancy, this is quite incredible. I'm often in awe, anyway, of the comments you make, but the concept and symbolism in this are amazing. The way you developed the image was thought out very well. Both the colors and the Fractalius treatment are very fitting, and the use of the birds was a great inspiration. Although I like the composition, I think I'd prefer the moon on the other side. It does fit with the shape and density of the flock where it is, though. Maybe flip the whole image horizontally? Just a thought.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Nancy, as much as I admire your workflow I admire your thinking that went into this image. Even though this is abstract it still evokes Bosque to me. Beautifully done

[Nancy Bell]

Dennis, Thank you so much for the great compliment! Much appreciated!

I know you have talked about the left/right orientation of an image before. Maybe because I am not strongly right-handed I don't really see the effect of changing the orientation.

Thanks, Cheryl. I thought you would still see the "Bosque" in this image.

[Wendy Kates]

Nancy, this is a striking and beautiful image. I love both the texture and the color gradient of the background. And, as others have mentioned, your conceptualization of the image is fascinating. Really good work.

[John Ippolito]

My this is a beautiful image. Agree with the others on your creating this wonderful piece. Brilliant !

It brings to mind one of my favorite qoutes: "A picture is something which requires as much knavery, trickery, and deceit as the preparation of a crime" Edgar Degas

[Nancy Bell]

Wendy, Thank you. BTW, I lived in Syracuse for years and years. I went to Jamesville-DeWitt HS, then to SUNY College of Forestry and Syracuse University. Did you grow up there?

Thank you, John! The quote is fascinating, an interesting statement for the creative process. It makes a good argument that digital art is more than just pushing a button!

[Anita Bower]

This is marvelous, Nancy. The colors--blue and gold--set the mood. The flying birds give it movement. The moon makes it dreamlike since it is night. The fractilus lines add to the dreamy quality. Creative use of your software. I'm impressed by your conceptualization. Did you think it through in advance or as you went along?

[John Ippolito]

Nancy, I agree with you about digital Art. I personally dislike the term "digital art" because, as you suggest, it is looked on by many as a push button, software driven creation. Everyone on this amazing OOTB forum knows otherwise, but the general public and a good many consumers of art believe these are software creations. It took a long time for photography to be accepted as a bona fide art form, and I think this will play out in the same fashion.
I much prefer the term "New Media Art","Multimedia Art", or "Photo Illustration".
Terminology does indeed influence perception ofquality. For instance, I have had a debate with a few photographers about Giclee prints, when the term inkjet really means the same thing - squirted ink. The average buyer's perception of inkjet is something they can print on their$79.00 desktop printer when in fact our prints can be made with archival pigment inks on acid free, pH buffered, substrates with longevity that equals or exceeds the finest original watercolors. I would hope people in this forum will not sell their beautiful Art prints as mere inkjets.

Again, great image.

[Cheryl Slechta]

John, I love the quote! It seems fitting that Degas would have said it.

My this is a beautiful image. Agree with the others on your creating this wonderful piece. Brilliant !

It brings to mind one of my favorite qoutes: "A picture is something which requires as much knavery, trickery, and deceit as the preparation of a crime" Edgar Degas

[Anita Bower]

I'm picking up the comment about "digital art." When I submit framed images to shows, I don't know what to call them. I often use texture overlays and other tricks we all use on this forum. I would welcome suggestions as to what to call my photos. I have tended to just call them "digital photographs."

[Nancy Bell]

John, thanks for offering some different suggestions for words to use instead of "digital art". Hope you don't mind if I use one of them on my website.

Anita, thank you for your lovely comments. "Did you think it through in advance or as you went along?" Yes & No. After I was partway through, I experimented with some other ideas and eventually finished with this.

[John Ippolito]

Anita, I like the terms "New Media Art" and "Photo Illustration" when referring to manipulated photo creations.

Hi Nancy, they are widely used alternate descriptions. PM sent.

[Judy Howle]

I absolutely love this image Nancy! Every element and process came together perfectly!

Referring to artistic images, I usually just call mine PhotoArt or artistically enhanced images. I don't think these terms are ideal but maybe one day I'll think of something better.

[Nancy Bell]

Thank you, Judy! PhotoArt is good.

[Bob Miller]

The image goes great with the concept!
Judy....I like Photoart TFS