I know I often have a go at the Fleabrained Finn, but he's alright really. I was playing about with another pic when I suddenly recognised an effect I was using.....yep, style a'la Niko.... anyways, threw a coupla pics together and came up with this; so to him I dedicate it...... hope u don't mind me replicating yr style, man, but it doesn't work too badly.....an' it's still not a patch on yours anyhow.. (",)

Hmmm.... the pic helps, dunnit? Oh, the castle (inspired by his recent pic) is part of Dunstanborough Castle on the NE UK coast. Sky was dawn, same area. Footbridge is in a woodland park about 30 miles away from there. Had a girl there too, but she didn't look quite right. (",)

Neat, Jordy. This sort of thing could inspire me to try the technique also; course here there are no castles. Maybe McDonalds and used car lots? Maybe some good juxtaposition stuff?

That is really nice!.....what is this technique....I'm dying to figure it out...I love what Nico does to his images.

Well done Jordy, this works really well.

Nice Job, very meloncholy and mysterious

Heyhey, whats the trick, wheres the poison, hidden needle? Seriously, nice one Jordy. I really dig that castle, dark mysterious, strange, lonely and bit unnatural, that dark inneryard is fantastic. That bridge surely directs gaze to center of the pic, kind of sucks you into the pic. And, you put pic together really well, no seams can be seem. But what does not work, is background(I can see repeating pattern from rubber stamp in left). These buildings needs to be massive, create that feeling of BIG building. If this would be mine, I would add more sky(more space to top) and lower horizon a bit too. Maybe add space between to bridge and castle too, to give even more space gaze to wander. If you can find intresting sky with big contrast, get rid of that background mountain and use only sky. But, really good work, you can handle the seams and do "whole" work. I'm really diggin' this. .n

...just a quick one, but you get the idea? Perspective is more correct like this and building seems to be bigger. Gives some drama to pic. .n

...damn that castle is nice. .n

Damn your version of my version of your thing is nice! (",) btw, get a flipping good lens (borrow it from NASA) and you'll be able to see that castle from your coastline ;) (",)

Jordy, your ancestors put that castle on that coastline because of Niko's ancestors! Um, sort of like a Holiday Inn. ;-) Nice job on both of them. Slightly different statements. Still want a tutorial! "Charcoal" filter using "canvas" texture? I'm always mostly intrigued by the textures, and the impression of an old etching. [Niko, I still haven't finished that Bryce model. Too many photo-ops here.]

grins to Misha

Waddya reckon, Niko? I get a coupla more pictures in to keep them wondering, or we just keep it to ourselves forever?!? lol or, if you're a really secretive type of person, I'm not above bribery.......cash (ugh. NOT Euros, please), cheque, bank transfer, I'm easy......hmm, actually that sounds quite good..... (",)

There are no such thing as too small bribery. ...but, if you guys want to know something, just ask. Misha, I dont use filters, well sometimes, but images are not based to filters. Secret is layers, multiple layers with different settings. And lots of handpaint job. .n

Misha, ex this. This is based to photo of flower (from my Moms garden). Did not touch actual photo, well removed background, but nothing more. Top of the photo, I added several "dirt" layers with different layer settings. And by dirt I mean dirt. Photo from mud, from dirty wall, from cement wall, confused texture or something chaotic like that. Then, I fooled around with eraser, clone-tool and airbrush, till I got suitable mess. Top of that, I airbrushed that green color and burned it a bit, to get that white, burned line. .n

I like it, dirty but luminous! Now is everyone going to go out & start taking photos of mud? It's a good idea, the textures you can make with your own photos can be really good.

Thanks for explaining. Sort of like painting with VERY LARGE complex brushes! It sure works. You must have evolved the technique with lots of practice. Let be know when you and Jordy agree on the bribe. >dirty but luminous I knew a Lady like that once. Sigh!

You're welcome, you got the point Misha. ...yes, quite lot of practise, it took about 3 years to get where I'm now. I'm beginning to like that dirty style, and hope those images can be regognized as made by me. Originality is really hard to achieve nowdays. .n