Oakalla Covered Bridge

Original photo taken in southwest Indiana. Mostly painted with the round bristle brush and some parts with the impressionist brush, in Painter X.

I think everyone has had their say about the reality of digital painting or lack of it, so let's just comment on the image itself and its overall effect.

Posted by Ruth Rittichier on Sun, 12/09/07 12:20
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Comments by Stelin on Sun, 12/09/07 12:24

The hatching of the background reminds of a painting I once saw that had been done on hardboard -- An interesting effect.
I don't think that the large expanse of dry mud road in the foreground is best expressed this way, but I do like the tree and foliage in the top left corner.


Comments by Christie on Sun, 12/09/07 12:53

Very nice Ruth! Perfectly set in the picture , nice exposure too! By the way, Love the effect! Great job!


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Sun, 12/09/07 13:11

The contrast between the vivid red of the covered bridge and the surrounding green foliage works to make the bridge stand out strongly in the image while also helping to lead the eyes of the viewer from the left to the right in the image. I like the textural feel that your applied effects have brought to the picture (and if one makes use of a black background the textural component of the image is enhanced, or at least in my eyes).


Comments by AG Laycock on Sun, 12/09/07 13:19

Regardless of the manipulation I think the original is predictable, dull and unimaginative. Couldn't you at the very least pick something that's not a cliche? You need something to give it interest and make it stand out from the sea of mediocrity that images such as this are drowning in.


Comments by Serge Smirnov on Sun, 12/09/07 14:00

Hm, that previous comment seems to be in stark contrast to the general tone of this site. Nice job Ruth - with this photo you appear to have evoked a gamut of emotions not usually seen on a comments page :)

To me, this image is valuable in documenting the sides of the bridge, which look substantially less well maintained than the bridge entrance seen by itself in previous photos.


Comments by Linda Frey on Sun, 12/09/07 15:23

I think it's a nicely traditional composition of a covered bridge. Appealing bright colours too.

I'm not as fond of the canvas-look painting texture, though. Not too bad on the road, where it's broken up.


Comments by Bahman Farzad on Sun, 12/09/07 15:35

One of those "had to do it things!!!"
Black BG Please!


-


Comments by Rick Longworth on Sun, 12/09/07 16:12

I guess I come closes to Andy's point of view on this one.
Bahman, what did you have to do? Is it a real oil painting?


8-)


Comments by Bahman Farzad on Sun, 12/09/07 16:43

Rick:
1) Buzz Pro (simplifier 1 effect) & 2) PS7 (Smart Blur)


Comments by AG Laycock on Sun, 12/09/07 16:58

Serge, she wanted an opinion on the 'image' and I gave my honest opinion. I could've coated with with sugar but why bother because the outcome would be the same.

I've thought of a good analogy to the type of treatment that we have been arguing about -'fake oil painting'. I'll just give it and then give up for good. Someone had brought up the analogy of faking a Ferrari by using a kit body and cheap, low powered engine and that was pretty close but I think this fits my feelings better:

I see it being the same using vinyl to make fake leather. Vinyl can be machine-formed, coloured and embossed to fake the leather look and it's quite prevalent in furniture and cars. There's no arguing that it serves the purpose of being a covering material and most importantly it is inexpensive and from a distance it can look like leather. However it isn't real leather. There is a reason that people are willing to pay more for leather and it's because the leather itself has a quality that is hard to beat and it's understandable why vinyl has been made to look like it. I see the fake brush stroke effect to be the same thing. It can look real and provides something to put on the wall, but without the special skills necessary to make a real painting. But in the end it's not a real painting, but something made to look like one.

Bauman helped support my feeling by adjusting the settings on the vinyl machine and pumping out an alternative version. Now let's see it done with the Picasso brush option :)


Comments by Maria Salvador on Sun, 12/09/07 19:09

I'm having a 'problem' with the bottom third (the road mostly). The bridge and the trees look great. :-)Only my opinion, anyway.


Comments by Steve Owen on Sun, 12/09/07 20:07

I think it is beautiful--I agree with Maria regarding the road--I guess it is the canvas texture effect in the road that I am not too crazy about.


Comments by Michael Hibbitts on Mon, 12/10/07 06:58

Can you get a plug-in filter that creates a winter/snow effect as well?!

;-)


Comments by Ruth Rittichier on Mon, 12/10/07 07:10

Michael, this is not a plug-in effect. It was completely painted with individual brush strokes. Bahman's was done with the plug-in. If you haven't tried the software, don't knock it.


Comments by Josiah Friberg on Mon, 12/10/07 09:48

I like it. Great photo and nice effect. The texture of the upper 2/3rds does look different from the 1/3 leading up to the bridge. However, the road almost looks like it has been rained on and traveled on by foot, giving it a different feeling.


Comments by Tommy McGee on Mon, 12/10/07 17:51

I think it is a wonderful presentation of a very good photograph. I don't understand all this crap about cliche, predictability, and whether or not it is imaginative. I see alot of creativity in your work as a whole and I am not sure that ANY photographer is pure in any of those categories all the time. We are all a product of the sum of our experiences. Your attempt in this photo whether deemed successful or a failure would be recognized by any REAL artist as an excercise that will lead to greater originality in future endeavors. Perhaps if you had used a Holga and manipulated colors, etc., in that fashion it would have been more acceptable to Mr. Laycock. Sorry, I usually try to avoid controversy.


Comments by Julie M. Dant on Tue, 12/11/07 13:54

I love it Ruth, and one day, when I have the time, I will try to do some paintings like these you have been posting, so see what effect I can come up with. Lovely.


Comments by Alan Davenport on Wed, 12/12/07 02:02

I like clichés. It's a nice image, and a well done treatment. I do question the bright red -- is the bridge really that bright? Never mind, it's great.


Comments by DebbiK on Fri, 12/14/07 12:09

i think you reached the desired effect on this one-i think it is a very pleasing image no matter how you dervied at it


Comments by Michael Hibbitts on Sun, 12/16/07 20:48

Yep, the optimum word is "pleasing" - could you come back to this in a year and still be as pleased? Perhaps, it is nice...


Comments by Dan Stefan on Wed, 01/23/08 04:57

Hello Ruth
-How are you ?
This is an excellent pictorial style of photograph.
All the best