Bob Wills
October 2025 - Black Magic
Original
Original 2
Original 3
About the Image(s)
I took the Original Image at WW Seymour Conservatory in Tacoma WA. When I looked at the image, I tried a B&W before consigning it to the "Meh" pile. Then it starting talking to me. I took it into PS and starting D&B until I saw if I flipped it and combined the two halves into a whole, and then removed some distractions, I had a Buddha in the making. Feel free to add suggestions and play with any of the images. I'm still all about growth in my art.
4 comments posted
Hi Bob,
I think you have successfully create from some thing simple to a 'black magic' image. One thing that make me curious is 'D&B'. What does it stand for? Posted: 10/10/2025 01:37:26
I think you have successfully create from some thing simple to a 'black magic' image. One thing that make me curious is 'D&B'. What does it stand for? Posted: 10/10/2025 01:37:26
Thanks, Frans. D&B stands for Dodge and Burn. I usuall use one layer for each. Many ways in Photoshop to accomplish that same thing. Posted: 10/11/2025 20:49:45
The fact that the original composition caught your eye is impressive; I don't think I would have even looked twice at it. Your experimentation certainly paid off though. The conversion to B/W and the black background makes a great Halloween image. Very spooky. It's interesting to study it and note that the upper part is very minimal and wispy, while the lower part is heavier and they complement each other. My only suggestion would be to add a medium gray outline to distinguish it from our DD website background. I opened it in PS for fun and experimented with making the "eyes" glow to ramp up the eeriness. Your processing all worked very well! Posted: 10/11/2025 21:45:01
Thanks, Jan. I hate to admit it, but I just took the image because I was getting bored sitting and waiting for my wife to finish her shooting. Your glow does improve the eyes and adds more balance. I'll have to get used to using outlines, borders and frames. I don't like them on initial submissions to the group. It doesn't mean that I don't like borders and frames, just that I want to make it easy for the group to add an adjusted image with their comments. Posted: 10/14/2025 14:31:35