RUSSIAN OLIVE - THEME

[gary ellwein]

This was a histogram check while trying to get decent images of a Dark-eyed Junco. The branch stood still, the junco didn't.

The post processing is Dennis Bishopish with a watercolor base and a few B&W line layers. A light poster edge was applied to the berries for a bit of texture. The bg texture is from two-lil-owls.

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Gary,

Greetings. I like the graphical look and the diagonal composition. Perhaps, the texture draws my eye too much particularly in the lower right corner. Thanks for posting.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Anita Bower]

As much as I hate Russian Olive (an invasive that takes over), I love this image. Excellent composition, simple, elegant. The "Dennis Bishopish" processing works beautifully--just right for this image. The colors are luscious. I agree with Michael about the lower right corner, about 1/4 up--that detail on the texture is a bit distracting; maybe tone it down?

[Dennis Bishop]

Uh-oh. In a way, I wonder if I should say how fabulous this looks. The color, the composition with that primary diagonal, and your choice of texture are all so good.

The dark part at the bottom right really doesn't bother me. It's like an extension of the diagonal. When putting together an image, I don't always succeed, but I like to have elements that guide the eye through it in a way that returns it to the entry and invites it to keep following the same path. That area certainly demands attention, but the border at the bottom leads the eye from there and back to the top of the diagonal. Because of that, one might argue that the dark area is a good thing.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Gary, I love this image - the colors, the subject, the texture that you chose - emphasizing the drooping of the branch. I'm kind of the same mind with Dennis on the corner - it doesn't bother me but he's got a much more coherent reason that I have

[Nancy Bell]

I don't miss the junco at all ! I really like that the texture has those obvious oval shapes that mimic the drooping olive berries. You have applied those Dennis techniques very effectively, and the subtle frame look is a nice touch. I think that dark corner could be a bit lighter.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

I love the palette and the LRC doesn't bother me as it completes the diagonal from the branch which if you drew a line would extend to that texture. I may have pulled the texture on the left side over removing the blue squares in each corner, it would look a little less framed to me. Overall very nicely done.