Something for the Weekend - Part 245 - Hiding in Plain Sight!

[davescm]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone who took the time to put forward an image in our previous 'Electric Avenue' challenge. The imagination in this group is excellent.

This week we have different challenge. Cellphone masts appear everywhere these days and sometimes they are bare masts but occasionally the cellphone companies disguise them with a few tree tree branches or similar. I got to thinking that the collective imagination around here could do better than that. So I bring you a undisguised mast, actually it is an an Adobe 3D asset that I textured, rendered, and added to a photograph of some trees near Loch Morlich in Scotland. How will you cunningly disguise it?

For this week can I add an additional request, when you post your response can you add just a few words on how you went about it. It may help others see the potential of different approaches, software, and tools to such a challenge.

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, 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

[AlanGilbertson]

Okay, so I cheated a bit: Once I had the idea of a statue as a "disguise," I created a "crown" in Illustrator and exported it as a 3D model. The mast (same as yours), basic statue, and oxidized bronze material came from Substance 3D Assets, and  I assembled the whole in Stager, orienting the mast and lighting to match your original. Export as PSD for a clean, isolated statue.

That done, I removed the mast from the original image, replaced the sky with something a bit less Scottish, sandwiched Her Royal Statueship between sky and trees, and cropped to put her at a rule of thirds point.

[AlanGilbertson]

Forgot to mention adjusting the focal length of the Stager camera to 200mm to match the perspective.

[davescm]

Very effective Alan, and thanks for including the description of how you went about it. Getting the perspective and lighting right is a key part of combining 3D with real images. When I use Blender, I often use the FSpy plug in to calculate the camera position, made even easier if I know what lens was used for the original and how high off the ground the camera was.

Dave

[AlanGilbertson]

Yes, it's the little details that sell an image, and anyone who does retouching develops an eye. As for camera position and lens: to quote Tom Hanks from "Scully," I eyeballed it. 😸

[Peru Bob]

[Leslie Moak Murray]

Love it!

[davescm]

That disguised it, although you realise there will be conspiracy theories starting on why the flag is flying straight out on what was a calm day, or do they keep those for the moon 🙂 
Dave

[Oh.N8]

very nice

[fbeaume]

Starlink?

[Oh.N8]

Star bright?

[davescm]

Less of a disguise and more a change of use, I think. 🙂
Dave

[didiermazier]

Gone

 

[fbeaume]

Haha... New remove tool? 😉

[Oh.N8]

Adding a new step to the process? 🙂

[davescm]

Well, you have hidden it, didier! 🙂
Dave

[Junior Rocha]

Here is "My Precisous" entry.

[Oh.N8]

very cool... 

[davescm]

I like that - very clever use of the mast. 🙂
Dave

[Oh.N8]

 All seeing "Jelly Eye"

[davescm]

I wonder if it makes an appearance in Junior Rocha's book? 🙂
Dave

[Christelle RD]

We are not yet familiar with this type of wind turbine, but it is very efficient and discreet, considering its size 😁

 

 

[davescm]

Haha - good use of the mast - we've got the power! 🙂
Dave

[Christelle RD]

🤭 Thanks Dave!

[PaintedKitty]

Reminds me of something you'd see in a Teletubbies show? 

[Yss12345]