author, stick with your instincts, this is a great job, don't be put off by comments.

good advice, but you didn't do this in your coat rebuild......there are large differences there...

Also has have a tip for you. Cutting or masking the selection should be based on the sharpness of the image. By this I mean how sharp or how much in focus the image is. For example if you blow up an image to 200-300% and see how far the pixels merge or overlap between to objects. It may be in a high resolution image this is only 1 pixel but in a lower resolution or scan of an old photograph with large grain, it may be 3 or 4. It is this “focus” that your image selection should be based on.

xcellent wrk.....................................gl

Great theatrical makeup!

..........this is wonderful....the skin tones, and the colors in the dress are remarkable.......someone in this contest said they did this work professionally, this is way above the entry they have submitted.........keep up the good work.

Excellent work! Wow..!!

Very very good indeed! =) The hair could do some tweaking, but the resti is good! =)

Congrats for your first place and a Happy New Year, Clinge!

Congrats! for win.

Congrats on 1st!

This was my choice for 1st. Congrats

Congrats,nr1

just my style. well done author! insta fav!

Nice mood.

beautiful job

Nice mood

Paving blocks would be much smaller, but still a well made image...

Really nice work. Like the mood

now that is cool

Great mood!Pretty creative idea also!

Oh just one other thing. I wanted to mention on your chop skills. I saw your sources used and you really did those photos justice because all of the images sources were not very good quality... until you chopped them

Definitely got my vote for 1st so far..

This is definitely one of the most creative and best uses of the source I have seen so far in this contest. Congradulations for finding a subject so fitting to the source and a good blend too. You really don't need it but Good luck all the same

Nice theme and execution. Good luck!

Love such a kind of works, B&W/colour, sepia/colour and so on... So dramatic It'd look better without border, for my taste of course.

I was thinking the same thing you put in your description. The ladybug might be to big but the size seems to create a level of surrealism. Maybe that's what you were going for.

The ladybug is a bit too big, but nice idea to have such a contrast of colours. Good luck!

As with a previous entry, IMHO would be better if her feet were on the ground. There would also be splashes coming off her. On second look, she'd be smaller due to perspective. (PS: It's good you got rid of the dog. )

Nice image mate, Red parcell looks like a huge 4 pin atx connector thought LOL

Looks cool to me I guess you made the changes

I really like the concept! It's the spirit of Christmas! I love the way the pic of Santa is holding 'the magic'. The darkening makes the image more unique. I do agree with maXed about the blur, but also understand it's not supposed to convey the gifts actually 'flying'...maybe make the shadows from the gifts less circular and more oblong. I would suggest also to make the far left red gift's shadow a bit darker since it's closer to the ground...and make the other shadows varying lighter opacities. Just a thought...nice work and real cute kid. Sorry for such a long comment...

if the presents is going to fly ai think i would give them a bit motion blur to make it look realistic. either nice. tho the kid is veeeeeeeery huuge :o

congrats author.....

congrats on your placement.. so many wonderful entries

congrats. 5th is a great placement in such a hard comp

excellent job

great!

Wow,, great detail especially around the hand.. i would;ve suggested trying to add a few more wrinkles around his face as well so that there isn;t such a contrast between the two.

Master piece!

lots of work here author... i like your final finish... GL

This is just an awsome entry author. the face hair and detail you have created in the hands have taken your entry to another whole other level. In the tops for sure.

I am in awe of some of the entries in this contest, and this is one of them............such skill you have.

awesome! need i say more...

Fantastic!

This is amazing...

AMAZING

Stunning piece -- very very well done --- great expression

amazing stuff

Pretty good except for the perspective on the right hand, and maybe the chicken head, too.
(Think about the lighting & shadows. You can make this way better).

Very nice work Author. Keep it up.