Something for the Weekend - Part 235 - Rocky X

[davescm]

Thanks to all who took part in our previous challenges. For the last two challenges we started with small objects, first a spark plug then a dried clove, so I thought this week we should go large. Most artists like a blank canvas and today our canvas is a dry, rocky, and barren landscape. What you put in it, to tell us a story, is up to you.

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”.
• 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, hover over the image and click on the circle with the arrows at the top right. 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 blue reply button in this first post and use the 'Insert Photos' icon at the top of the reply box. If posting a comment on someone else’s entry, then please use the grey reply button next to their image post.

Have fun!

Dave

[Peru Bob]

Oops! 

I forgot to change the sky to an outer space view.

[fbeaume]

[Trevor.Dennis]

I love the highlight around the opening in this young lady's face.  It gives the skin thickness, and it is not just a stroke.  It tapers and has varying line thickness to account for viewing angle.  I also love the cloud at the top of that opening that fades behind, and is masked by her forehead, plus the shading on the inside of her face on the right which is just is beautiful.  Whether you are fan of the frosted glass effect or not, you'd have to agree that it has been very well done.  I absolutely love seeing this level of detail.  My favourite SFTW upload in quite a while.

If you are still reading, then today's free giveaway are these 3D glasses.  Print them. Cut them out. Hold in front of your eyes while viewing @fbeaume 's image, and you'll find your self ducking and holding onto your seat, in case you fall into the hole in this lady's face.

[Trevor.Dennis]

Many many years ago, I visited Alton Towers in the UK with a bunch of family members.  When we came out of the Michael Jackson 'Captain EO' 3D movie, my sister-in-law told us how she had been really lucky, as her seat was right in the middle of where the 3D effects were focused.  We tried not to laugh, and agreed that she was indeed lucky to have sat in that seat.

[fbeaume]

Thanks Trevor for your kind comments. I really appreciate!

[davescm]

Now this is an original use of the starter image. Strange and surreal, I like it. 🙂

Dave

[fbeaume]

Thanks Dave! I appreciate!

[Lavonne Hall]

Nice colors and concept!

[fbeaume]

Thanks  @Lavonne Hall!

[Monika Gause]

Love this.

[fbeaume]

Thanks @Monika Gause !

[Lavonne Hall]

Darth Maul looking for the pop-up ferris wheel.

Thanks Dave for the rocks!

[davescm]

I like the atmosphere here. He does, though, need to cast some shadow on the ground to help him sit in the scene. 🙂

Dave

[Lavonne Hall]

Thanks Dave! I knew I was missing something🤦🏽‍:female_sign: I'll have to try that and then repost.

[JR Boulay]

Lavonne Hall, just make a selection and ask Generative Fill to add a drop shadow 😉

[Lavonne Hall]

Thanks @JR Boulay, I'll be curious to see how it renders vs a PS drop shadow! 

[JR Boulay]

You have to insist several times, as the result is often incoherent or even funny.

[Myra Ferguson]

You can also apply and manipulate your own drop shadow from Layer Styles (Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow...). The Layer Style Drop Shadow will likely need adjusting. After you add it, you can separate it from the layer where it has been applied by going to Layer > Layer Style > Create Layer.

Once the drop shadow is on its own layer, you can use Free Transform to manipulate it however you like. This is the process I used to add a shadow for the Jeep.

[Leslie Moak Murray]

This is how I usually do it too. That "Create Layer" feature is very useful. Another way I do it is:

-Duplicate the layer

-Color Overlay>Black

-Reduce opacity as needed

-Edit>Transform>Distort as needed

[Trevor.Dennis]

It's pretty basic, but I'll add my preferred method when it will work.

Ctrl New Layer (places layer below the selected layer)

Ctrl click subject cutout to load the selection

Fill with black

Make sure Show Reference Point is enabled in Preferences, Ctrl T and Alt click to place reference point.

Ctrl drag cent top handle top place

Make Smart Object (for fine control)

Add layer mask

Run black to transparent gradient to fade

Add gaussin blur

Set layer to Multiply

Unlink mask to fine tune

I often use a full strength, fully hard Smudge tool to drag things into the right place.

Steps make things interesting of course.  Bert Monroy was the first person to deal with this in a tutorial, although it should be obvious.  I do often have to think very hard, or look for images of real life, to work out how shadows, reflections, and all sorts of situations should look.  

Chrome is a good example.  We know how hard it can be to photograph because of the reflections.  We know that it's basically a mirror with complext curves, but I used to be reluctant to treat it as such.  You can just about see the photographer in the dead center of the sphere. 

[Myra Ferguson]

Just a little off-roading 🙂

Got the Jeep image from https://unsplash.com/photos/grey-jeep-car-vhUTz7z1xrA?utm_content=creditShareLink&utm_medium=referra...

[davescm]

I'm not sure which would more scary, going up or down that hill 🙂

Dave

[Anna Natter]

Ok maybe this counts as cheating but as a 3D person I just couldn't stop myself. Models from Adobe Stock Nasa collection and the blob is from Zbrush (a very old model I made) Objects rendered on the image with Substance 3D Stager with perspective matching, then post processed in Photohsop with Shadow matching and a Color Lookup layer. 

[Lavonne Hall]

@Anna Natter, that's not cheating, but your creative vision! Love the blob!

[Anna Natter]

Thank you! 🙂 I love to play with photo matching in Stager, it's fun!