Crabapple Ice

[Dennis Bishop]

• Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Windows)

Early in April of 2003, freezing rain transformed the landscape in parts of southeastern Michigan. Except that a large oak tree buckled under the weight and put a large hole in the garage roof, it was quite wonderful. After a lot of time on this image, I was still struggling to find something to put on the top. It just needed something there. I came close to tying a ribbon around my wrist, leaving long cut ends and compositing that into the image but decided to go for this new-product-introduction look, instead.

Nikon D-1, ISO 200, f/38, 1/20 sec, 105mm macro lens

post-processing highlights

• subject masked and rotated CCW (45 degrees, plus or minus)
• a Shadowhouse Creations texture was the starting point for the background
• light rays added with Red Giant's Knoll Light Factory and Digital Film Tools' Rays plug-ins
• contrast and outlining
  • Fractalius -- two b/w presets based on the old Sketch preset, one masked, both with Multiply blend mode
  • Alien Skin Snap Art -- Stylize Line Art (b/w), two masked layers, one with Divide blend mode, the other with Multiply
• ice and icicles on the word, ice -- Alien Skin Eye Candy

 

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Dennis, this is over the top creative:S3:

 

[denise ippolito]

Dennis, I think I am in love with those icicles! Awesome creativity as always. Love the bokeh background!

 

[Dennis Bishop]

. . . Love the bokeh background!

When you posted your Victorian Paperwhite blog on Christmas eve with the Bokeh-4 background, I commented that I was coincidentally working on one with Bokeh-3. This is it (finally).

 

[Steve Adkins]

Very well done, Dennis! The blend of elements is very smooth and the overall message hits home. I think the limited color range adds just the right amount of emphasis. And I really like the crabapple!! :S3:

 

[denise ippolito]

When you posted your Victorian Paperwhite blog on Christmas eve with the Bokeh-4 background, I commented that I was coincidentally working on one with Bokeh-3. This is it (finally).

Well, you out did yourself!!

 

[Judy Howle]

Wow, that must have taken hours to do! I love it... the ice including text and icicles look great and the red elements go so well with it. As Denise said, you've outdone yourself on this one.

 

[Dave Woeller]

I'm speechless. The others have said it all. So very creative.

 

[Maureen Allen]

Very creative and wonderfully executed, Dennis :S3:

 

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Dennis, amazing creativity for this one. Stunning work!