From The Galleries!

A New Feature, We have an image gallery feature on the forum, and i will pick a image to show each week! First up's Neal's great picture of Gary Lightbody from the group Snow Patrol. Nice One!

Featured Forum Member - John Webbern

I have known Johns Work for some time, what sort of pleases you is that i have seen it progress to such a great standard that i don't know if he speaks to artist riffraff like me at all now : )

He makes people like me aspire to improve and to just to try and make great images like himself.

John also doesnt stick to one sort of art, he can do them all, photo blending, artsy stuff, and even attempts the monthly challenges as well, now if you read his background he's gonna start the photo comps! John give us a chance eh?

Thank you for being part of the forum, John!

John's Background from himself,

1. Aged 65 years, retired 6 years after 42 years in the packaging industry.

2. Degree in Engineering and was mainly employed in the running and building of new factories.

3. In the 1960`s was involved in a major project relating to what is now a common sight of the easy open top on the beer and soft drink cans. During this development I spent a lot of time in the USA travelling extensively throughout the country.

4. When I retired although doing some consultancy work I needed a hobby to keep the old mind active and working so stated to do some painting but that old pencil and brush would not follow what I saw in my mind, so about 18 months ago started to do some digital art using Painter and Photoshop and that little mouse sure helped.

5. My progress in digital art, is due to the friendship, help and encouragement from our forum members.

6. Since I travelled to many different parts of the world during my working life, Far East, Middle East, Africa, Americas and extensively in Europe my only regret is that I did not own a camera nor was very interested in photography so I have no photographs to remind me of those places.

7. I intend to purchase a camera and take up photograph as my next hobby and I am sure our forum membership will help and advice me on all aspect of photography.

8. Photo Comp Section look out for my entries.

Game 22 - The Golden Child, Put a Cork in it!

Well The other way around really, The golden child bit is regarding the great film with Eddie Murphy.

Well Well, it looks like our fellow admin Neal has turned up trumps, only took 22 goes at it!!! (Only Joking!!!)

He used what i like to call out the box thinking for this winner!! Well Done Neal, a truly corking image!!!

Original Image:

Winning Image:

Next Games Clues

1. The Film Maverick!

2. Sandy Shaw


Photographers i look to number 7

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lookherephotography/

Featured Forum Member - Helen Chierego

HelenC as otherwise known in the forum, this is your blog, well for the next bit anyway!!

Having not known HelenC before this forum, i think everyone knows her now. You can now see why is she is so respected within our little community. 'What can't speak, cant lie' so seeing HelenC at the top end of the leaderboard is now of no surprise.

A quote from one of our members about HelenC.

'HelenC is a Painter and her picture is not something that can be achieved with the click of a button. Its a working by a Corel master and simply ouzes class !!!!'

A bit of background about HelenC

'Born in Melbourne, Australia. Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing and Editing) RMIT, Diploma of Social Science (Library and Information Studies).Started as a traditional artist and moved to digital in 2006. Favourite digital tools are Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter. Has worked as a Community Artist in schools, community arts centres and festivals. More recently spent 16 years in a major reference and research library. Now immersed in the friendly digital arts community in a number of online forums including Splitting Pixels.'

Thanks HelenC for being part of the forum.

Game 21 - A Room with a View

So after a delay, thanks to the the incredible lurgies i can get this blog back on track and onto the next game.

Well after 21 goes it seems the featured forum members on the blog is some sort of magic spell as Sylvia DiGeorgio won this one (I like to think i have a hand in all wins, although it doesn't help me with the points). Note to self, must change rules to help me.........Only Joking!!!!!!! As if i would do that ; )

Original Image

Winning Image

Congratulations Sylvia! A deserved win, and after seeing all the entries, it is getting harder and harder! So winning is greater achievement.

Next Games Clues:

1. TV Show - Kung Fu

2. A Dinner Party


Photographers I Look to Number 6:

http://www.photogalleryireland.com/

Deaglán de Bhá - I have seen his photos via a gallery and they are even better up close. He is a nice guy to match. Great photos of great locations!!!

Photo Comp - Month 1 - Water - The Winner Is......

Pat!

The Arches:



Congratulations Pat, A deserved image and he is straight into the lead for the 'What The Duck' T-Shirt and Book.

This Month - How Does your Graden Grow. Sign up and enter!

Featured Forum Member - DeeDee

This is what makes the forum so fun, with so many talented people from different walks of life.

DeeDee (Swampy) in the forum, not only has helped me and a million others via her tutorials, she is actually an amazing artist, who produced the two pictures (below) from the last weekly game, i cant even do one good image to keep churning them out is an even better talent.

Thank you DeeDee for being a part of the forum and making us all better photoshoppers and artists!







A bit of background on DeeDee:

'A rare breed, a native Floridian. Born in Miami and raised on a dairy.

Now residing in a small town in South Central Florida.Graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Education and a minor in Graphic Arts.

"Camp Followed" as an Army Wife for 16 years. One son, Todd.Big college football fan (especially the FSU Seminoles).Owner of Creative Promotional Products (selling advertising specialties) Been doing computer graphics since 1985.

Started doing vector versions of my customer's artwork and logos (Illustrator and Freehand) for imprint on coffee cups, key tags, decals and such. Used Photoshop then, but only to scan and color correct. Began doing watercolor, oils and chalk renderings of photographs in Photoshop and Painter three years ago as a hobby which has turned into a passion.

Her business has expanded to doing four color process pieces including the local Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory (72 pages), display ads for various local tourism agencies and brochures for local businesses.

This ad appeared in the National Geographic Traveler's Magazine.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s316/lpswampy/Private/fff_enlarged.jpg

Photobucket Gallery at http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s316/lpswampy/Images/

Can be found hanging around Retouch Pro, Innographix, NAPP and Splitting Pixels.Have created several video tutorials (QuickTime) which are available on my home page "Swampy's Neck of the Woods"http://www.deedeespage.com./

Game 20 - What Nice Weather, No It's Not!

Original Image:



Winning Image:



Well all i can say is this has been the hardest voting game yet, i would say that there were maybe 4 maybe 5 images that i personally think would win any competition in there own right.

JohnW won again to show how talented is and has 'stormed' to the front position again. Only another 30 Weeks to go for the prize!!!! Im sure the others will have something to say about that!

It shows this competition works, because you have to produce week after week!!! to even be in the hunt!

Keep it going!!!

Next Game Clues:

1. soccer - Aston _____

2. 'infamny, infamny, the've all got infamny' - Kenneth Williams

and for one time only:

3. The Vapors!

Photographers i look to, Number 5:

http://www.ambientlife.co.uk/

Tim Wallace, who i find his photos amazing as much as i do intriguing.