Something for the Weekend - Part 239 - Misty Mountains.

[davescm]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone who took part in our last 'Blast Off' challenge. 

This weekend, we leave industry behind and move to open spaces. 'These mist covered mountains...', sang Mark Knopfler in Brothers in Arms. Well we have our own mist covered mountains here which, I hope, are more peaceful than those in the song. Of course that choice is yours, what will you make with this scene?

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

[Trevor.Dennis]

Hah!  I'm parsing this image and looking for the castle, but my eyes were locked on the foreground. When my gaze drifted up it was a proper 'Woah!!! Where the heck did that come from?" moment. It literally made me jump.  I love the light on the dragon, and that's one of the better jobs I have seen of fitting it to the background with the overlapping grass and some very nice shading.  I always try to place composited elements partially behind some foreground detail, even if it is just a branch or some grass.  The tiniest bit can give the introduced element depth and believability.   

Is the light coming from the wrong direction on the castle?  I think you'll find that is because it is cloudy over there, and the light is being reflected off the mist. 😉

[davescm]

Welcome to SFTW Morgan. As trevor said the light on teh dragon works very well as does the grass in front of his tail. We should forgive the light direction on the castle as, overall, you given us a very nice image.
Dave

[Christelle RD]

Beautiful background for a white wild horse !

 

[davescm]

A lovely horse Christelle 🙂
Dave

[Rollan Banez]

[davescm]

A cross between Game of Thrones and a chess game. Somehow those foreground warriors reminded me of chess pieces. 🙂
Dave

[Michelle Chocolita]

 

[davescm]

Nice one Michelle. I hope he's friendlier than he looks!
Dave

[Michelle Chocolita]

Don't worry Dave, he's friendly!

[jane-e]

Is that a horn or a traffic cone on his head Michelle?

Jane

[Peru Bob]

[davescm]

I like it Bob, the scene fits well.
Dave

[Jacob Bugge]

A most astonishing perspective, Bob.

[Gagan CM]

[davescm]

Welcome to SFTW Gagan CM. I wonder if that is the ghost of the famous 'Sycamore Gap' tree which, sadly, was felled in 2023.

Dave

[jane-e]

The NYT reported on May 9 that the two culprits were found guilty of criminal damage by a jury of 12. The two took a video, kept a wedge of the tree, exchanged messages the next day about how their deed had gone viral, and their cars were seen on traffic cameras.

The bit of good news is: "Last August, rangers spotted a few sprouts near the base of its stump, and seeds and genetic material gathered from it last year have also started to grow." 

This NYT's article is shared: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/09/world/europe/sycamore-gap-tree-verdict.html?unlocked_article_code...

Jane

[Joseph Labrecque]

[davescm]

Very dark Joseph. I could see it as an album sleeve for a suitable double album (remember them?).

Dave

[derekwatson]

Hiker's Special arriving at platform 1!