Mecca - suggestions for completing image

[simonc]

Hi everyone,

I would be greatful of any advice that would enhance this image that I have worked sporadically on for the past two years. The artwork is a depiction of Mecca made entirely out of imagery sourced from call centre workplaces. It's a very large image (it will be about 8 foot wide when printed.) My main concern is that the image looks a little 'flat' and there is not enough definition between foreground, midground and background. I think the artwork should resemble the original image that inspired it a little more - with more contrasting lighter and darker areas, so the illusion of movement and density is increased. Hopefully I can upload both images here on this thread. Also I thought there should be some shadows placed in the foreground and wondered if anyone had any good tips on how I would go about creating them. I'm competant with using layers, but have never used masks and wondered if anybody had any advice on how I can gently make the image get gradually darker towards the horizon line. In addition any other advice would be greatfully received.

 

[ibclare]

Hello simonc, welcome to the forum. I am very impressed with your work. Masking will work well for creating the change from light to darker. Go here to find some tutorials (scroll down to the post by dv8_fx) on using masks.

http://www.photoshopgurus.com/forum/photoshop-newbies/37747-masking-photoshop.html

Then you can use a black to white gradient from bottom to top (or vice versa) to create the lighting change. Masks are nondestructive. Never erase or clone or paint directly on your original layer if you might ever need to change it. I recommend if you haven't already done so to keep running duplicates of the document. Get to a point, duplicate, then trash the earlier dup.

You may also want to employ some gaussian blur to cause the background to recede. If your image can be made into a merged copy or your foreground, mid and background are different layers, you can make smart objects and the blurs will remain editable and nondestructive.

You'll need to work with contrast, vibrancy of color and making the foreground more intense, since not only blurring but diminishing color intensity - even if subtle - is part of the gradient to the BG.

Others will have more suggestions as there is always more than one way to do almost anything in PS. I would suggest that you work with adjustment layers (clipped to the layer not done directly to it so that it remains editable; you can turn the effect on or off and trash it if you like). There are vibrance, hue/saturation, curve and levels adjustments that might be employed.

I suggest you work on other images that are less important and less detailed before you tackle making these kind of changes in your very special images. Thanks for sharing.

 

[dv8_fx]

IMPRESSIVE..... 2 years in the works......


For an image this great, I must find something for it.