The Fractalius Mental Hospital

[kirbinster]

Here is a shot I took of the old Greystone Mental Hospital in Morris County NJ, and next is a conversion using the Factalius plug-in in Photoshop. Sure looks like one spooky place in the conversion:

[i speak in math]

okay, but...why? What is that supposed to add to the picture? I mean, it was pretty good before, but now its just a wash of wavy lines for no reason.

[kirbinster]

Originally Posted by i speak in math

okay, but...why? What is that supposed to add to the picture? I mean, it was pretty good before, but now its just a wash of wavy lines for no reason.

Uh, its called art.

[i speak in math]

Applying a single photoshop filter, that you just downloaded, is art now? I really think the original image is pretty good. Nice deep blue sky and well exposed building. I would level the horizon and fix the distortion in the edges of the building. Do away with the fractal filter thing and you have a nice shot.

[Kaye]

I like both for different reasons. Life is to short not to have fun and if you are having fun, that's all that really matters.

[IainM]

As cool and fun as the fractalus filter for photoshop is, I have to agree somewhat with I speak in math, becareful of photoshop filters. Using photoshop to make art is fine, but just running a filter through something, even a combination of filters is not making art. Now if you built your own filter, and used it only yourself you could have some claim to art.

If you take that shot, and fix it as math suggested, then using the brushes in photoshop painted or added to it in some way as to make it look really creepy or whatever, then you'd have something worth showing off.

Sorry if I come off as harsh, I remember going through photoshop filters when I was new to it and thinking I was making cool pictures only to have other people who knew photoshop to just go "meh, you just ran the sketch filter through it.. "
I learned that if people can see you have used a filter they will discount it as the tool doing the work, not you. (so if you use a filter make it subltle and/or use it very creatively)

[kirbinster]

IainM I understand your point, but somewhat have to disagree. Why does it matter how you create an item of art, it really has to do with if you find the final result pleasing. I could have sat down with a brush and paint and created the same thing - the end result would be the same. You can either like the end result or not, but the process is really not the issue.

Eric, I don't know if you intended it that way, but your response comes across as extremely hostile. If you don't like the result that is fine - but there is no need to attack. People like Picasso's work and pay tens of millions of dollars for his paintings -- I really don't care much for his work, but I certainly don't attack those that choose to like them.

[beth0b]

I think it looks cool! And that's it.

If it was trying to be passed off as something it wasn't, I guess there could be a problem. But the image is just being shared for what it is.

I remember seeing a picture of a cheetah with the same filter applied and it looked awesome!

[cblakey1]

I think they are both nice, but when I saw the title of the thread I expected to see something spooky. I think it would look cool B&W, darkened, aged and some storm clouds added.

[Robert Hatalla]

I like the first photo better but that is just me. Fine photo there. I don't think anyone was "attacking you" or being "hostile" either but was only stating some constructive criticism which is why some people ask others to view and respond to their photos they make.

Now I like your second photo too but to me it is a photo with a specific filter applied to it. I like that specific filter too