I posted one of these in the gallery last weekend. I made 6 different images all together with 3 different backgrounds (...I need to make or purchase some more textured papers to scan ...I even have some homemade paper that has some drier lint in it as texture I might try).

My normal medium is black & white, on gloss or semi-gloss paper, sometimes toned... wet prints as well as digitally processed & inkjet printed... the usual stuff. I was inspired to try something like these composite pictures by an article I read. I like the concept but I do not think that what I'm creating captures what I see in my mind... the backgrounds are too intense, but when I bring down the backgrounds, the images quickly become B&W photographs again.

So I am looking for some constructive criticism and suggestions. I have had some input from the non-photographic side of my family (they like them). But a fresh set of eyes would help. The printed versions of these have been sitting on the work table all week across from my desk (I work at home). I see them every time I look up. I suppose the fact that I'm still working on them means I'm still interested in trying to make it work.

Thanks, in advance, to all who care to comment. BTW, I appreciate the comments I have recieved so far from JD and Ray. I'm looking to see if I can improve them... if not, then they go in the big box of "things tried..."

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m149/wclavey/wmc_img-218abrushstrokesm.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m149/wclavey/wmc_img_052brushsm.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m149/wclavey/WMC-img_219jpgbrushstrokesm.jpg

g'day Westley

great postings

you are to be respected for showing enough artistic maturity to ask for honest critique of your work

so, i like these images, they have interest and depth, are they works in progress?

i'd suggest trying different colours and blending modes, especially in the last one

i have not before seen work on this site that extends the possibilities of digital imaging, most work here seems to be concerned with digitally recreating what is already being done with analogue processes

well done

Ray

You could try a little colour theory on the backgrounds. Instead of using adjacent colours on the palette (there's a lot of yellow on yellow/orange happening right now) try using complimentary colours (blues) or triad/tetra colour combos.
Also, dodge the horse on the far right. After looking at the top of the trees my eye ends up squarely looking into the only face staring back at me but he/she's a little dark. My two cents.
~m

I've moved this to the critique forum.

Thanks for the ideas.

This is definitely a work in process, if not specifically these images. I am burned out looking at the others for a while. I'm going to leave them sitting out but I started on another one.

This is another B&W negative, on Arista Ultra 100 MF. I chose a lower key blending option, lightened the intensity on the background brush strokes and I altered the hue a bit so that the colors in the brush strokes added some tiny color highlights into the grass... I'm not sure they are as visible in the digital image as they are in the printed version... it seems to depend on the monitor. But there are some blue & green highlights in the grass.

This one is probably it for a few days - - I have a pretty busy slate at work this week so I may not get back to more work on this until next weekend. Thanks, again, for the suggestions.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m149/wclavey/wmc_img_116brushsm.jpg

BTW, the lens for this image is an old 1913 B&L Rapid Rectilinear mounted on a body cap and used with extension tubes on my Bronica S2A.