I sometimes think that I have a lot of mental issues, and for some reason I felt like I had to get this off my chest, this is not directed toward any one, but I've had it on my mind lately and thought I should clear any misconceptions about me and my work. So hear it goes...
Ive been thinking about how much rich photoshop knowledge is out there on the intrOnets, granted I have done online tutorials in the past, but long ago in the past. Although I believe the tutorials are very effective and can inject you with Photoshop kung fu like the Matrix, I do not use them for my work in this group.
So I assure you my Haloramic family all the work you see before you in my collection is of my own, I am not saying I am better than any one else at all, as a matter of fact this group is filled with the most skilled photoshop gurus I have ever seen! But I just wanted to come clean with you guys and assure you the work and paint I apply over an already Bungie masterpiece is original out of my own demented brain, by mostly using the simple tools such as the burn and dodge tool or the vector tool or any side bar tool for that matter, along with the extensive color pallets Photoshop provides.
I also use a ton of layer styles and blending modes with duplicates. I rarely use the photoshop effects, only for a look I'm trying to achieve like the warthog in my Oil Spill or the glowing edges on some of my type work. I do however use the Blur pallet a lot, but I never use an effect to try and get that fast cheap look on the overall composition. Usually by the time I'm done with a pano I have about 15 to 20 layers with 7 to 8 different layer style applied to each layer, and about 3 to 4 hours worth of straight work put in to it, and that's just off of a 3 to 4 shot stitched pano. Actually over the past couple of panos I kinda let go of the proper way to do things and how the overall shot should look and just went crazy coloring outside of the lines.
Besides my family and life outside of the Matrix, my 2 favorite extracurricular activities is Art and Halo, and this group has provided me the fire I needed to melt the 2 together, as a matter of fact this is by far one of the best graphic clubs I have been a part of. The online critiques are phenomenal and I truly feel like I have sharpened and polished my skills by being a member of our Haloramic nation. So please do not take this post personal, its just something I had to say.
Thank you – Rickder Six.