playing...

[srt]

I was obviously going for something surreal, but i think i went too far and now it just looks bad, lol.
I am not so good with photoshop yet so pls let me know :
-what parts look bad, not well done or perhaps where could the pp be improved
-is the overall effect ok? On the right track?

Any input would be positive for my pp skills to improve, thanks



Camera: Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 18 mm
Exposure: +0.40
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off

[windrider86]

I really really like the whole idea! Great job on your creativity.
I think the part that bugs me is the sky in the mirror, has a dark line and well, just doesnt look quite right.
ahhh, its the straps from the wings that are showing in the mirrored image. You cant see the wings at all so the straps look out of place!

[wulf]

I love the concept and think you have made a good start on it.

As far as the underlying picture goes, I wonder it it might be better to have the child standing slightly more upright rather than leaning back. Otherwise, I think this is a good composition, especially the expression and direction of gaze seen in the mirror.

I think you might have gone a bit far in making the "real world" grainy. I like the effect of the muted colours but think the message would be greater if it looked otherwise more natural.

Regarding the wings, I would be tempted to attempt to clone out the straps in the "mirror world" AND to paint in some alternative wings (perhaps lifted from a natural source, like a butterfly. Again, that is to further the contrast of reality and dream.

I can see the line Windrider is referring to - that looks like the result of a slightly too obvious vignette effect, which could do with being toned down. I also see (looking closer) that the imposition of the child on the background isn't quite perfect (although pretty good).

For added bonus points, it might work to add a slight glow of colour coming out of the mirror and affecting the real world. Tiny extra details like that are the polish that can really lift fantasy work like this to a higher class.

I would say it is definitely worth going back to your source images and trying again.

Wulf

[srt]

Thanks so much for your input windrider86!
- I did have a lot of trouble with the sky but wasn't sure how noticable it was...
- As for the straps I didn't notice because I knew what they were, lol, there's the value of a different perspective! I actually wasn't happy with what she was wearing but being a headstrong 2 yr old I was lucky to get her still at all!!

Thankyou for taking the time to reply too wulf!
- I was wondering whether the texture and colour of the real world was overdone and I am going to try to tone it down a bit to see if that works better
-Am going to work on skyline and think the wing idea is great!
-The bonus points idea is amazing!! Am trying to get my head around it to try it out

I have reshot with my daughter...(although her clothes were not really improved upon!) and am going to start again to see if I can improve on the last one...Thanks for ur help guys

[B..]

I ... vote against trying to get rid of the straps in the reflected image. That would make it too obviously manipulated ...

... unless you also changed the reflected image to be a 'dream image'. Do something just subtly unreal with the focus or the color or ...

... oooh! would you submit this to the "what would you do with this" forum? I'd love to see what folks could do with this!

B..