Try to work on the hair masking...more detail, softer edges.

I'll work in it after I'm done voting. I was thinking the same thing myself when I uploaded it but didn't think it was too noticeable.

EDIT: fixed the hair.

I have a gut feeling this isn't going to do well. I probably shoud have selected a different skin model source for an external. It's ok if anyone doesn't like this for any reason. Won't hurt my feelings. Take a hint from CMYK. Anything is better than nothing.....

The background is very weak in my opinion and i would choose another border colour due to the fact taht this one is too close to the background hue

Pretty good idea but the tattoo doesn't look realistic...You can eithe lower the opacity or you can duplicate it, lower the opacity of first layer and then play with the blending modes on the duplicated layer...

Ponti and Giggles: thanks for the tips. I wanted to keep the original background to eliminate the using of minimal souce. I honestly don't know where to go with the background but I though a black background wouldn't fit either. I guess I need a suggestion. I felt the tattoo was lacking definition and realism as well and I appreciate that tip. I should have an edit by tomorrow if you want to check back. Thanks again!! Comments GREATLY appreciated

Ehh... ran out of time.

nice

Thank you

care full with the distortion of the meerkat (stabilze his proportion back to the original pic and add a shadow below him an you will get higher votes..) other's will be along to help... (over all a very nice Idea.. good luck)

EDIT: Distort and darken the shadow right below him in to a dark little OVAL just below him (it will make him look like he's planted on the ground.. (make sure you gauss blur (lots LOTS of Tutorials on shadow work, will really help you improve the image..) Equalize the proportions on the meerkat so he doesn't look so squished.. use you original photo of him to put him back the way he was (I personally love to distort images as well, but in a contest it's better to keep him in his original form ESPECIALLY on photoshop contests) Like I said before.. just look at shadow casts from other objects in you picture and follow them as your guide (ie... the rock in the backgrounds shadows are going the opposite of the one you added) It's a really interesting chop.. good luck

http://photoshopcontest.com/tutorials/28/shadows-part-i.html

Look at the Match tip in this tutorial.. (Step NUMBER 11) you will see the oval shadow I was talking about

(Don't spend TOO MUCH time fixing this piece.. it can ruin it if you go too far... once again .. good luck)

AND REMEMBER this is just IMHO... you decide and control the image ALWAYS!!!!

Thanks GolemAura I hope this is what you ment

Hey again thank you I don't know if I got it right on shadow I redone it plus redone meerkat I saw what you ment thanks

I noticed that the left baseboard is higher than the right. It kind of thows it off.

Nice! Would have been better if letters were a different color from the background for more emphasis...

awesome.. Cari.. get out your cane!!
and I'll put on my silver..
oh your a mean ole daddy
but I like you..

love me some Joni.. woo HOO
(great Idea)

Good job, nice effect!

great job on the text

And put up a parking lot! nice text

Good blend.

awesome use of your own image.. good luck

Nice idea!

this image is definately a cool one good work

freaky! i like it

Looks very weird . What is it? Plant or bird or... ? Well nice picture!

very nice