promise me you will never ask the "perrenial" question again... what something is starts out originally from the artist, and then the viewer makes his or her own decision based on what the author has both said and put forth. It's photo if YOU want it to be, "2d" is YOU want it to be... now that that's out of the way, my comments and whatnot. First, I like what you did with the "window" in the picture. All in all, this demonstrates some skills Bev. Still, to my eyes, it seems a little flat for some reason, though I don't know why. I can't offer any suggestions, as I don't know what I find "wrong" with the picture, but something isn't clicking with my brain. then again, I'm just one guy with far too much time on his hands. Make sure you show up in the chat at 4pm (3pm rosity time)!

opinion (and hi to the photography forum): my last quick & dirty scanner-works are heavily photoshopped but i take them as photomanip and think they fit into the photography range. but as slynky said: u are the judge. i for myself can easily decide wether the photo (object[s]) or the manipulation (design) has most weight. and often one would never realize what/how much photos went into a piece. { want to be helpful but never try to answer the perrenial question, lol } ur work: i agree to slynky on the 'flat' term, maybe it's tha fence in the foreground that takes depth away - cos it looks very flat itself... in complete (except that) it looks moody and telling.

LOL re: "perrenial question" I'm pretty sure it's photomontage Bev, you said so yourself "only 4 photos" :-)> Now, I think the elements of the image are very nice (you know I like the old corrugated iron!) The elements are also put together nicely, but I feel also that ther is something "flat" about the image, I'm not sure if it is the metal gate on the top layer (which psychologically "squashes" the other things down for me, and sort of distracts me from the the other elements of the pic) The steps leading back are nice too, but I can't help wondering what they would look like with a more depth of field towards the upper steps, maybe that would add depth also? I hope my ideas make some kind of sense... I think with a little more fiddling this could have great depth and character, for a first attempt it's damn good if you ask me! :-)>

Thanks for the comments, I can see what you mean by the flatness, I think I can see some ways to work on the individual layers now to add some more depth. I wondered about the gate but missed your point about the steps Punkclown, I'll give it a go anyway! Thanks for suggestions & encouragement ; ) The perennial question I agree with all you say, I was thinking more about which gallery rather than is it art, for me this kind of thing seems to fit equally into both.

I like it! I also think it's fine for the photo gallery. Plus if you didn't tell me I would think it's one photo. Also it does not look flat to me. Bsteph

...beautiful work, especially for first try. What I think Slenko means, is that softness. Eye needs something sharp to focus at. Beautiful work. .n ps. that red paint is magical.

Thankyou both, I'm glad you like it ; ) I forgot to adjust the gamma before I posted it so it's probably quite dark on most screens. I'm still experimenting & trying some new ideas with it....

Me like it too..... re that flatness, personal opinion here, so don't take it to heart; I'd copy those railings onto 2 more copies, burn one side of the railing in one copy, dodge the other, just to give a bit of depth then lower the opacity on each over the existing copy - only you will see where to stop..... I really like this pic though. Nice selection of pictures, and for me that's usually one of the hardest parts. Once those pictures are chosen, the rest seems easy. Or maybe that's just the way my mind works.....lol (",)

This is just great piece of work bev! And I can't give any advice cause I'm dealing with my own montage issues at the moment. :~)

Interesting, Jordy, I found choosing the pictures the easy part! I'm experimenting with the gate & now have several versions, I'll make up my mind eventually ; ) Thanks Michelle.

Spot on Alpha! that was the idea I was trying, but it doesn't really work visually.