Hi
We had a great response to last week's waterfall challenge, thanks to all that took part. Regulars to "Something for the weekend" will know that sometimes we start with a scene and sometimes with an object. Well, given that last few challenges have been scenes, I thought this time we should start with an object. So I bring you this old chest.
What can you do with the chest to incorporate it into an image that tells us a story? Will you tell us the secrets it keeps, show us who used it, or will you use it for something else entirely?
As always, 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.
There are no prizes apart from the chance to practice, show off, or bring a bit of humour and fun. Don't be shy - come and have a go!
When posting back your edited images please use jpeg and downsize to 1200px on the long side.
To download the image below in jpeg format with ICC color profile (sRGB) and without the forum scaling artefacts , right click and then use Save Image As /Save Target As (or similar depending on your browser).
Enjoy the weekend.
Dave
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You can indeed offer critique. Constructive criticism is welcome in this thread 
Actually I did use a curve - but you are right - a little more saturation may have helped further. It is good to see how some of thse are constructed, I see your image in the chest.
In case anyone is interested for the chest in sand:
Without curve
Using curve
Layers
Dave
https://forums.adobe.com/people/Ged+Traynor wrote
Ged that is spectacular. Beautiful lighting, great shadows and detail. I am not sure if the lid panels are supposed to be tinted glass, making it a sort of terrarium? I love the tree growing though the lid. Top stuff matey. My favourite in quite a while.
hopefully I don't speak to soon, 15 minutes to go
Just an thought, but it looks like Dave's trunk has been discovered at the bottom of Ladybower reservoir in Derbyshire UK. BBC News published this picture in a report about low water levels there.
Going further off topic, Ladybower has a very cool feature 'The Plughole'.
\
Is this cheating? I will see if I can think of something else too 
Here is version 2 - a more arty approach and my first animated gif
Final version
Animated Creation
How it was done:
- Removed the background using Quick selection of the chest and selecting inverse.
- New layer - Filter > Render > Clouds.
- Select chest layer - Filter > Pixelate > Pointillize. Choose cell size.
- Duplicate above layer. Filter > Stylize > Find Edges.
- Move layer from step 4 over layer from step 3, adjust opacity to blend layers.
- Adjust brightness and contrast and colour balance.
- Filter > Render > Lens Flare....
- Adjust brightness and contrast and colour balance.
For animated gif. - Duplicated and merged layers to make each main step a full screen layer.
- In timeline - click Create Frame Animation.
- In timeline - Make Frames From Layers.
- Change time of each fame to 0.5 seconds and loop from Once to Forever.
- File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy)...
- Choose Preset - GIF 128 Dithered.
Get what off my self? Or should I say, get what off my me?
I wonder whether my choosing colours, which is stronger than I, is bearable or (too) boring.
davescm wrote
Trevor - I would not want to swim near that plug-hole !
Dave
Dave, I will admit to feeling a wee bit queasy just looking at it. In actual fact, I think that it would be reasonably safe to swim up providing the water level was _just_ level with the brim. It looks barely any more dangerous than an infinity pool.
Brave souls do rope down it when dry, and it is a long way to the bottom.
I am not sure if once at the bottom, you can exit via the tunnels, or if you'd need to climb back up. Cavers, and even arborists, would laugh in the face of so trivial a climb, but it looks like hard work to me.
BTW I am working on an image for this week. Honest injun.
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