I'm closing in on a final concept for this image(s) and then I think I'll drop it for a while, put it in the safe deposit closet, pull it back out again in a month or two and see if I still like it. But what do you think?

Comments and critique welcomed. Suggestions cheerfully explored, but leave the editing to me. Thanks!

Cindy,
Both are worthy of further exploration. Is this one tree, or two?

Nice tribute to Hunter Thompson. He would appreciate these images.

CF

Are these carvings or what?

Thanks for the response guys. This is one picture, of one tree, of one small knothole (1/2" diam.) in the tree. For these I took the attached pic, Cropped it one way, mirrored it and cropped it again. Then went back to the original image cropped it the other way, mirrored it and cropped it again. I saw the angry face first of course but then noticed there was a potential for an equally different face on the other side of the knot.

And here is a link (http://gallery.photographyreview.com/showphoto.php?photo=67715&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=235731) to a larger image so you can see the details.

Love it... and it is very effective editing. I only wish there could be more of the rest of the tree, above and below the "faces". Now that would look scary!

Cool manipulations here. I think I like the 2nd posted on the most. He's got more personality.

Thanks for taking the time to respond Rocket Scientist and HLCYG! I appreciate your input. :thumbsup:

That's genius. It's really not my style, but it's definitely unique and it's a really cool idea. The title "fear and loathing" is so perfect.

Cindy, these are great, but i like the original from which it came. It leaves alot more to the imagination. I think you have framed it just well, and it is your composition of this subject that leaves it open to many intriguing possibilities in our thoughts. It's perfect as you caught it. I do think your edits are clever and effective, but the original remains the strongest image, I feel. An idea would be to display the various edits around the original. As for post processing, I would suggest a slight boost with a curves adjustment. A slight S-curve will do it well.
Great .

Hey thanks! I did no editing to the original image as I posted it only to illustrate how I got there. Guess it's good that I did. :) Here is a properly adjusted image that looks more like the real thing. Thanks Gary!

CJ,

Outstanding, and I agree with Gary the original leaves the imagination run wild.

Roger

I don't know if this was intentional, but I just noticed that both images are off center a little bit.... Compare the outer left and right edges.

That's so awesome, I can't believe I missed seeing these till now. I love the title
and the pics are inspiring, creative and bold. The natural elements and colors
are used so effectively to create these images. Bravo!

The previous post was not written by gregmccary, my husband. I accidentally posted
under his name. Please forgive my blunder. Cindy, the comments are mine...KyRain
(Nora)

I do agree with my wife's statement though. The colors of the old wood are great. The more you look at it the more you see. I like to see one step out into a more artistic and experimenal type photography. Sometimes it pays off as we see here. Nice work and I love the last edit.

Thanks Roger, Greg and Nora! I appreciate the kind words.:)

Hickeroar - Yes, each of the faces was cropped a bit off and away from center intentionally.

Cindy..........:thumbsup: :thumbsup: ........way to go. It was well deserved.