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davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 14, 2026

Something for the Weekend – Part 265 – ‘Holy Island’’

  • August 14, 2026
  • 76 replies
  • 842 views

Thanks to all who took part in our previous ‘Where there’s smoke’ challenge. There were some great images based on the Victorian pipe.

This week, we go to Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island. It is situated just off the Northumberland coast of England, and reachable by a causeway. This view of the castle, which was built in the 16th century, is from the rugged rocks of the beach. In its day, it must have been a formidable castle to breach. Of course, with the power of image manipulation, you can show us how it might be done.


The “rules”:

  • Use the starter image as at least part of your own image entry.
  • Anything goes, as long as it meets the forum rules on decency, copyright, etc.
  • Anyone, and everyone, is welcome to have a go, whether you are a complete beginner or a Photoshop expert. This is not just for our forum “regulars”.
  • The challenge is not limited to Photoshop. Any Adobe software can be used. 
  • There are no prizes apart from the chance to practice, show off your skills, or bring a bit of humor and fun. Don't be shy, join in and have a go!
  • The starter image is made available for you to use in this forum challenge only.

 

To download the starter image, click it, then, when the image opens in its own window, right-click and choose “Save Image As/Save Target As” (or similar, depending on your browser).

 

 

When posting back your image, please use the reply button in this first post and use the 'Insert Photos' icon at the bottom of the reply box. If posting a comment on someone else’s entry, then please use the reply button next to their image post.

 

Have fun!

 

Dave.

    This topic is closed to new replies. Start a new post to keep the conversation going.

    76 replies

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 18, 2026

    Two hours of manual Photoshop. Five minutes of Gemini 3.1

     

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 18, 2026

    Trevor, I should vote for 6 seconds of actual mounting the second upper (life saving) safety hook, and preferably moving the lower one forward.

     

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 19, 2026

    You are absolutely right Jacob.  I had done some more work on it fixing the lower harness mount, but I didn’t spot the CoG problem.  I’ll change that and say thanks for pointing it out.  I’ve looked and looked at the upper carabiner on the t-handle problem, but not seeing an easy way to fix it. :-(  The easiest would be to erase the t-handle and mount the carabiner directly to the pulleys.  I was going to add a brake lever, but little Maisie got the hump and said brakes are for wimps.  

    I think I have mentioned before about trying to get down the Jackson Hole luge without braking, and almost wreaking my holiday because of severe gravel rash.  I can still remember how much that hurt!  :-(

    [EDIT]  I couldn’t leave it like that.  A lot of this is free hand illustration as I honestly couldn’t think how to do it any other way.  Least ways and have any control of what it looked like.

    [EDIT again]  I am amazed at often I am using Free Transform > Rotate.  How did we manage before we had it?

     

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 17, 2026

    I don’t think this works, but you can’t win them all.  I asked for scooters that floated close to the ground, and that they should look old and in need of a coat of paint.  I stupidly imagined something out of Star Wars (These are not the drones you are looking for) but The Force was not strong with this one.

     

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    August 17, 2026

    With those scooters it must be the invasion of the mods, Trevor. Where are the parkas though? 😁
    Dave

    Community Expert
    August 17, 2026

     

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    August 17, 2026

    I see the castle has had a rebuild, Ronald. The overall theme looks like a book cover, I like it.
    Dave

    bonita3000
    Participant
    August 17, 2026

     

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 17, 2026

    My goodness, you’ve got some detail going on in this one.  I am not sure if there are three or four trebuchet up on the hill!  Welcome to the forum, and please keep your images coming.

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    August 17, 2026

    Welcome to the community and to SFTW ​@bonita3000  I love the way you have the whole army progressing up the rocks. 
    Dave

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 16, 2026

     

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    August 16, 2026

    Day into night, very nice. I love the crab reading by headlamp, I wonder what book it is?
    Dave

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 16, 2026

    The god like people are Dave’s favourite band Lindisfarne, which has been mentioned in the SFTW threads more than once before.  I heard them play in the tiny Palace Theatre in Westcliffe-on-Sea in 1971, along with Gentle Giant.  By far the loudest gig I ever attended.  It seemed only right that they should be watching over the Island named after them. ;-)

     

     

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    August 16, 2026

    You should have been hired for the album cover, Trevor! 😀
    Dave

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 16, 2026

    You could set the up escalator to eleven, and leap off the top all the way to the castle. The landing might be a problem though.

    Peru Bob
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 16, 2026

     

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 16, 2026

    He gets everywhere that Chad.  Why is he so shy?

    jane-e
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 16, 2026

     

    With the help of modern super-sized technology, the Vikings find it quite easy to breech the castle

     

    Dave, did you traverse the rock face or was there an easier way to the top?

    Jane

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    August 16, 2026

    An excellent idea, and thanks for getting us started this week, Jane. 😀

    You asked about climbing the rocks. In reality it is a trick of the camera angle. The rocks you can see are not that high but the castle is on a hill, that you can’t see, in the distance. So a little scramble then follow the path up the hill is all that is needed.

    Dave