Nice work. Just put a 1 pixel blur on the sharp edges, and include a link for the hand.

This is an interesting interpretation on the contest theme. I like where you are going with this.

In MHO i think you could fix the shadows where the hand makes contact with the letter and where the letter is entering that slot. Maybe the tone/density of the shadow around those points might help. Just seems a little flat at the afore mentioned places. Pretty cool though.

Also, nice lighting even if is coming from everywhere. lol

All edges, but especially the face. The lighting looks consistent to me.

First of all, the default setting on my lasso or pen tool is always set to a one pixel blur so I don't have sharp edges to mess with later. But all I'd do is select the outside of the face, expand 1 pixel, and then Select/modify/feather 1 pixel and clear.

A one pixel "feather"? Got ya. was confused by the term "blur".

Something wrong with my Photoshop. Think I have to re-install.

Well done. The only thing I would get rid of is the highlight on the bottom lip. It would be in shadow with the arm coming out of the mouth.

Now this is weird. The colors get messed up in anything I open in Photoshop. I tried to edit my entry's Photoshop file and the colors and lighting are weird. Even if I save the file in PS, and try to view it in another programs, the colors are weird. It's like PS changes them once it gets opened. I tried a hard reset with Ctrl+Alt+Shift to reset Photoshop and it didn't work.

I made a printscreen with PS on the left and the same exact image opened in MSPaint. See how different they are? It should look like the one on the right which is much more vivid. Both of these were copy/pasted from the hi-res version of my entry.


https://i.imgur.com/VWF4kco.jpg

these are my color settings which really shouldnt matter https://i.imgur.com/RfJTF55.jpg

I have no idea what was wrong with my PS but it seems back to normal. Tried resetting PS and rebooting my computer and nothing worked. Woke up this morning and all is fine. Weird.

Anyways, I think I did everything you all suggested. Took out that lip highlight, reworked the shadows on the thumb and letter, and smoothed out the hard edges. Here is the old ver. for reference. Thanks for the help everyone!!

https://i.imgur.com/5CUA0zf.jpg

Good grief, this is top notch. Love the message, and the photoshop work is sublime. Thank you for describing the process, it is good for newbies to learn.

Well done. Great win!

Congratulations on the win. Superb work.

Congrats, well done

Congrats BW

Congrats on your win, you are some artist!

This was another version. It was so hard to choose which one. This one with the woman is mostly done but doesn't have the finishing touches.

I worked on this Photoshop for a couple days before I realized Hitler was on the stamps. OMG!! I liked the way the letter looked so that's why I had to use a separate stamp source for the final version to cover him up. I just wanted to show this other version, so please don't be offended that he is still on this stamp as I had not yet noticed.

https://i.imgur.com/m7WDFQZ.jpg

I like the mail box one the best out of your two versions.

Nice how there is a haunting story here and it all fits. Beautiful

Congratulations on 2nd and 3rd Sylvie. Nicely done.

Ahhh, see I TOLD YOU SO....you are a photoshop genius. Congratulations I thought they were grrrrrrrrrrrrreat.

Congrats. good work Z.

Very creative is the background supposed to be out of focus? Yes, I think so for they are in her thoughts....got it! Love it.

good imagination. makes the eyes wander.

Oh the story the story the story it tugs at my heart and I love the sepia tone.

It is a story of a young life and of longing.

Oh corny corny corny but it made me laugh,.

I would have saved her long before he did. that's what surfer's do.