I always like this theme but never really have been able to figure out how to lighten and darken sides of an image and make it look real. Tonite I looked through photos trying to come up with a suitable subject. Not sure why I settled on this Mandrill image I had.
Only bit of color I left was the piercing eyes.
Used Topaz clean to show the hairs and hard edges.
Used CS5 converted to B & W
Used level ruler to skew image, and filled remaining canvas with white
Used gradient tool to go from dark in bottom left corner to light in top right corner
Created border and used gradient tool to go from dark to white in opposited direction
Not sure about it it looks pretty cool to me, what do you think?
What do you like and dislike?
Be honest, I've been a member here a long time, my skin is super thick......
It looks pretty cool to me also (but not sure it fits the theme). Nice effects--I like all the little lines and the B&W. Interestingly enough, the unusual tilted frame makes the image look two dimensional.
Paul, I like the way you processed this image. The B&W and the clean look really good. Bringing back the eyes was a great touch. My only thoughts are that the lower part of the subject looks a little muddy. The unique framing adds interest. I like the gradient BG and the "beveled edge?"
I like the image and the processing...I think I might have taken the eyes a bit further by using the Saturation Sponge on them to bring out the color even more. Another thought might be to bring out some of the color of the Mandrill's snout...the colors are so intense and vibrant...it might give another dimension to the image, even if the color was graduated down to B&W as you progressed down the snout. I like the tilt...it adds tension...I might have gone with a more gradual change in tone from LLC to URC and kept it a bit darker...but that's a matter of personal taste. Nicely done!
Thanks Anita, Denise and John..I will work on this image some more and post it later
I want to keep this image going, tweaking it, I love these magnificent Monkey's, I'd love to print this..
Anita I've always had trouble deciding what to use for this theme....
I'll try some other combo's of shading, Denise, trying to separate the muddy part...if I have the right muddy part
I've never used the sat sponge before cool tool, you gave me some good ideas, thanks John
Last edited by Paul Lagasi; 09-20-2011 at 12:40 PM.
Paul, I love what that did to the eyes...they now seem more intense, more piercing, and, at least to my eye, strengthen the mood and intensity of the image. When you painted some of the color into the snout of the Mandrill, you lost that great texture you had...what I might do is select the color from the original...use a soft edge brush with the Mode of the brush set to Color, and the opacity of the brush lowered to, say 20% or so...and then paint the color in where you want it. The more passes you make over a given area, the closer the color will come to the original...but keep that great texture you created with the filters. Just a thought!
This is awesome, Paul! Love the concept and your processing. Interesting progression with the colors... I prefer the original with the eyes of the repost. But that's just me Excellent work!
I really like the original and the eyes of the reposts. I like the rest in black and white better than with color. Great image!! And I like the way you tilted and framed it.
Hi Paul, very cool indeed. I like the original with the repost eyes, but I also like the less saturated repost showing the color on the Mandrill's face. What about the final repost in full B&W, but keep the intense eyes?
Andrew, this is fresh off the press...I worked on the image this afternoon. I probably will make a few minor changes..but I like the results, thanks everyone
I will print this and frame it, one of my favourite zoo primates...
Weekly Theme: Mandrill B & W
