I like the main source pic, but I think this is just a bit too simple (and the heart seems a bit unnecessary)

I get what you were going for here, a old looking big complex locking mechanism. I think you did a good job, must be some really important secrets in that book!

I agree with CMYK, i dont see why the text is there at all. Take that off and fix the reflection and youll have a great image. I think you should pay tribute to the paint dancers (or whatever its called) which clearly looks like the inspiration for this piece. This should really have a proper SBS too - I dont think you can get away with your brief description.

Nicely done but would have better if the original pic was in focus

Pretty simple chop but very effective, and good idea to put the vignette in, it does add more mood. Well done

I really like the effect, I cant believe this is your first attempt. Great job!

interesting idea, it just doesnt look quite finished to me. Using the spherise filter on the bulb and experimenting with the blend modes might have yielded a more realistic result.

Definitely my fav - really well done!

I understand why you did it, and this is one of the better entries. Did you try leaving the colour in her clothes but just desaturating her skin a bit, that might get the emphasis across but still be a bit more realistic. GL

still needs a lot of work, why does the green stop at her neck and the rest of her is blurry?

I have no idea why that's a yo mamma joke?!?! Are we missing something in translation?

I feel like I've seen that Marvin pic somewhere before :p, maybe in the forums... hmmm...

That does look better - good job with the burning . I would just darken the ceiling a bit too.

This is a truly gross image - nice

I think youre being too picky there CMYK. That hair, goatee and crowsfeet are hardly things you'd see on a newborn! But the forehead, nose and cheeks are young... To be pedantic you are probably correct but I think its within the 'spirit' of the contest - and I like it!

well chopped, I agree about the forehead though - that was the first thing that caught my eye (it looks like there are some stray lines/hairs on the right if it too). Matching eyes might help too? Can we also have a high res and SBS?

I think it should be ok, and I really like this image. Some of the light and shadow conflict a bit though. Having uniform drop shadows on all of them doesnt fit and create enough depth, and the middle box has a highlight on the edge even though it behind the other boxes. Fix up these little details and it'll be great!

I think what he means is with such a strong light coming from the top, the undersides of the steps etc would be very dark

Still not sore about this one - I keep thinking Potty (pot-tea) time!

It may just be me but this entry is way too dark, I can hardly make out the objects even in high res

Edit: I have just looked at this on my work computer rather than at home, It is still dark but not as much as I previously thought so I withdraw my harshness . Great work btw, very surreal.

Not sure if this is on theme?!? I think a lot of people are a bit confused by the requirements of this one!

why would the author need a source for this image?? It is clearly just the image from the themepost.

me thinks Rainbow Trout . They do have a rainbow looking scales in the right light, but not nearly as pronounced as this colouring! Nice job

IMO this would make a great flower, I'd put it against an out of focus plant background or something. This is really nice, just a little too plain for me

This is a beautiful image and a great take on the theme post. A couple of minor observations, you might want to adjust the shadow for the angel on the left (going in the wrong direction), and there are a couple of dark marks on the image (in the sky). All things considered though, this is really nice. GL

Surreal, I'm looking for the hidden picture too Nice original work - well done

What an interesting and surreal take on the source image. Very creative.

Maybe take the filters off the hand. B&W would be ok to match the box if you want to go that way, and some sort of background or light source would be nice too

What an interesting and surreal take on the source image. Very creative.

Some of the blending/effects could use a little work, but I love the image and the choice of faces are excellent. Good work.

freaky, nice colour

is this an image based on personal expereince?? :P Cool image.

I think the effect would be enhanced if the hand matched the colouring of the wood more (and that must be a very small bird ). Overall a nice effort though

the bottom of the binoculars needs fixing, and some shadows would add to the effect. GL

Just awesome! I love the touch of the fish in formation in the background too. This'll be VERY though to beat.

That unmistaqkable style - beautiful work once again!

I agree, make the body image a little larger so it's clear what we are looking at. I'd remove the colour from the underwear too, that draws attention away from the important part of the image imo. Nice idea though

Nice addition of the sun - that looks great. But to continue the constructive criticism, draw a straight line from the sun to the object (ie the climber) to see where the shadow will fall. Simple method but can add a whole lot of realism, and try to have the opacity of all the shadows looking dimilar too.

technically you are right waz, should be dendrophobia but a few sources have these terms confused I think!

I was just thinking the same thing mogrim, wouldn't the reflection be inverted?

I had just started something very similar - now I'll have to go and find another topic Great job though. GL

This is an amazing capture, I am so glad you got to use this shot in a contest - a worthy winner against some great competition!

Now that is funny! My only critisicm would be to have a look at the warping of the text on the back cover, but I love it.

Really nice, i do agree about the positioning of the fingers though, and maybe some more shadowing to the back (left) of the hand

Simple but effective - nice image!

I agree, the edges need some work. I do like the idea but something just bothers me that there is no grip on the violin, why is it staying floating?

author, log on to youtube and do a search for Gavin Hoey , he has a tutorial on exactly this type of work and it will help you greatly. GL

I love the idea - this has some great potential. You just need to be a little more careful with your masking (look around and under the clumber, and on the right half of the trees). Fix that up and take another look at the shadows and youve got a great piece of work. I'll hold my vote for now. GL

A couple of things, firstly the masking of the hand could be neater, with the contrast in the source image, it probably would have been easier and cleaner just to use the magic wand tool. If you tried to make the hand look more like the clouds in the background that would have been more effective too - I'm sure there's a tutorial for that somewhere

This is another example of seeing a few tutorials and trying to cram everything in one image. Try concentrating on one theme and spending a little more time to get a realistic look. Keep at it!