Bravo, Bob! That's one of my favorite poses from Alice and Makar.Celebrating the anniversary of Makar's birthday today, 17 February, a manipulation showing Alice crucified on the beach at Jurmala in Latvia.
Both the original subject and background photographs were taken by Makar in 2007.
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Thanks, Shiva. I colourised the sepia picture from Makar's DeviantArt gallery (which I'm pleased to say is still there!)
Nasty month to be born in, February.Celebrating the anniversary of Makar's birthday today, 17 February, a manipulation showing Alice crucified on the beach at Jurmala in Latvia.
Both the original subject and background photographs were taken by Makar in 2007.
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You know, Bob, I think Makar would have been delighted if he could have known that he would be remembered and his memory honoured in this way. You have done him proud. The sheer effort that you go to to produce an image the quality of which is up to the standard required to stand in memory of Makar.Celebrating the anniversary of Makar's birthday today, 17 February, a manipulation showing Alice crucified on the beach at Jurmala in Latvia.
Both the original subject and background photographs were taken by Makar in 2007.
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Wonderful work Bob, and happy birthday Makar! Your inspiration lives on! RIP.Celebrating the anniversary of Makar's birthday today, 17 February, a manipulation showing Alice crucified on the beach at Jurmala in Latvia.
Both the original subject and background photographs were taken by Makar in 2007.
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An amazing picture, both for the pose and the tormented sky. A very successful manipulation with colorization job. The skin tones and background are all perfectly matched and echoing. Bravo Bob !Celebrating the anniversary of Makar's birthday today, 17 February, a manipulation showing Alice crucified on the beach at Jurmala in Latvia.
Both the original subject and background photographs were taken by Makar in 2007.
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Thanks very much for your comments, Kam. Makar's seascape is an atmospheric image with strong colours and high contrast. It was an unusual choice of background for a subject which started out in monochrome. But I was pleased with the resulting manipulation, since it combines the complementary, dramatic elements of foreground and background, both photographed by Makar.
Today is the anniversary of Makar's birthday, 17 February.
In this year's tribute, the crux figure has been composed of authentic features from three photographs of Alice, taken by Makar in the 'Crux Forest'.
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I am speechless as to the quality of this image... so vivid, so real. Thank you!Celebrating the anniversary of Makar's birthday today, 17 February, a manipulation showing Alice crucified on the beach at Jurmala in Latvia.
Both the original subject and background photographs were taken by Makar in 2007.
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Thank you Blue, I'm glad you find my interpretation so appealing. Makar's photography continues to inspire us.
Thanks for your kind compliments and observations, Wragg. Many outdoor crux photos are affected by the green colour of the reflected light, especially figures photographed beneath a leafy forest canopy. Fortunately Photoshop provides a number of possible solutions. In this case, I worked through the layers, selecting different parts of the figure to make varying adjustments of colour balance and saturation.Gentle reader, it is possible to take Bob's images for granted. That would be an error.
Speaking as one who has dabbled foolishly in the art of photomanipulation, the degree of perfection achieved by Bob in this and in all his images is astounding. Of particular note here is the fact that the source image for Alice, as Bob tells us, is the 'Alice (and Koska) in the Crux Forest' set.
If you are familiar with that set, you will be aware that the Crux Forest is very, very green. Forests are inclined towards verdancy. A snow scene, on the other hand, is very, very white.
Believe me when I tell you that lifting a figure out of a green forest and dropping her into a snow scene requires a good deal more than a simple cut and paste. Bob has adjusted the coulour of the figure of Alice, but also used filter layers to achieve an image that looks for all the world as though Makar took Alice out into the Russian winter, crucified her, and then grabbed this shot quickly before the poor girl froze to death.
Me, I've never yet managed to stop Alice from looking green.
So here we have a master at work. Respect, Bob!
I can't really say more than Wragg has already said. This is a magnificent image, for all the reasons Wragg has mentioned. Bob is meticulous in his attention to detail and the quest for a type of perfection that makes the viewer believe that the image seen is the original photograph, or perhaps an artistic composition that makes us want to believe that this was what the photographer had in mind. Whatever the case, Alice is believably crucified in the Russian winterscape, and we can imagine Makar smiling from the beyond and thinking "if only that had been possible" (although I'm sure he was just as happy to be photographing during the spring or summer when it was warmer, not to mention how Alice might feel about the whole affair
). It is a tribute to Bob in many ways that we look and see a lovely image, and we don't see the artifacts of all the layers and filters used. It's very easy in Photoshop to do a nice hack job and show the viewer every little mistake that you make as an artist, so that we all can say "now, there's a fellow who probably didn't quite get it, but look at all the layers!" I am willing to bet that with this image, as with all Bob's images, there are multiple layers and subtle adjustments, and as with all his images, they will have been chosen because they were necessary (even if those of us with less keen eyes might not catch the effect). This is a work of love, and we are privileged to view another masterwork from the Professor of Manipulations.
As a certain muppet said, "It's not easy being green."
Thanks very much, Jolly. I decided to do something slightly different with a winter theme. Having made all the colour adjustments on the figure, only four filters were required to balance out the blending between the subject and background. The composite figure and the cross together account for twenty visible layers, but I'm glad this is not too obvious in the final result!
I know this is off topic, but I have never felt Latvia (or any place on the Baltic Sea) would be known for beaches where people get naked and dive in. I know people do that in Chicago on Lake Michigan, and even in Lake Superior and off the coast of Maine. But water takes a long time to warm up after the winter. Too bad you can't be crucified in a wet suit.
Amazing Bob! The approaching winter storm adds to her fear and terror as she may freeze to death before her crucifixion finishes her. I wonderful tribute for Makar’s birthday featuring dear Alice.Today is the anniversary of Makar's birthday, 17 February.
In this year's tribute, the crux figure has been composed of authentic features from three photographs of Alice, taken by Makar in the 'Crux Forest'.
(Image hosted on external site)
Full size picture
View attachment 1131958
Sorry I didn't catch this earlier. Stunning work.Today is the anniversary of Makar's birthday, 17 February.
In this year's tribute, the crux figure has been composed of authentic features from three photographs of Alice, taken by Makar in the 'Crux Forest'.
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Full size picture
View attachment 1131958
What a lovely big teasel. Uses?There has been some speculation about how Makar found and engaged his models for crux sessions. The matter was made no clearer when Makar insisted that he simply approached attractive, young women on the streets of Moscow and offered them cash from a suitcase filled with US dollars...
In the equally fanciful version of events illustrated here, a visit to Cruxton Abbey secures an opportunity for Makar to peruse a copy of MPL's 'Studio Girls', with a view to selecting a model for his next project. He is accompanied by a muse who is providing inspiration, and all indications are that he has already decided on the next model to request from the Fotokritik agency.
Remembering Makar on the anniversary of his birthday today, 17 February. Inspiration never dies.
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Thanks OS - the teasel is the same one she used to pick a lock and escape from a dungeon in Khabadami.
