Cougar in the Snow

Posted by Cynthia Crawford on Mon May 22, 2017 10:27 pm

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This is a composite-the cougar is a painting I did, originally on a rock. I put it in a snowy scene from behind my house, and used Topaz impression to alter the snow. Then I used clone stamp to blend the edges of the snow with the cougar. I also changed the lighting on the painted cougar to match the snow scene better. Did some dodging and burning here and there as well. Long ago I posted a very different version of this, but this is a fresh start and, I hope, improved.

By the way, this picture is wishful thinking! There have been phantom cougar/catamount/mountain lion sightings in Vermont, but no absolutely positive evidence of any living here....yet, (Though some will insist they have been seen.) Anyway, I created my own. !).

Does it work? Is it convincing? C&C welcome!

Cynthia (Cindy) Crawford-Moderator, Photo & Digital Art
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"If I Keep a Green Bough in My Heart, the Singing Bird Will Come" Chinese Proverb

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by Ron Day on Mon May 22, 2017 10:56 pm

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A handsome cougar and a lovely snow scene. However, I'm struggling with the shadows. The direction of light is from the top right to the bottom left, but there is no shadow on the cougar. It seems to me that the side of the cougar we can see should be in shadow based on the other shadows in the landscape, particulary the snow bank with trees behind the cougar.

Ron Day www.rondayphotography.com

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by david fletcher on Tue May 23, 2017 1:33 am

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Love what you are doing with Topaz Impression. Like the cooler snow scene set off against the warm colours of the cougar. Works for me Cindy.

Make your life spectacular!

NSN00525

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by Cynthia Crawford on Tue May 23, 2017 5:32 am

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Ron Day wrote:A handsome cougar and a lovely snow scene. However, I'm struggling with the shadows. The direction of light is from the top right to the bottom left, but there is no shadow on the cougar. It seems to me that the side of the cougar we can see should be in shadow based on the other shadows in the landscape, particulary the snow bank with trees behind the cougar.

Thanks Ron- Just so! I thought I had fixed that with the change in lighting, but forgot about where shadows should be. Will work on that, but perhaps the cougar just doesn't fit there....

Cynthia (Cindy) Crawford-Moderator, Photo & Digital Art
web site: http://www.creaturekinships.net
"If I Keep a Green Bough in My Heart, the Singing Bird Will Come" Chinese Proverb

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by Mark Picard on Tue May 23, 2017 10:36 am

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I also think the cougar should be "set in" to the snow more deeply. The cougars' weight would do this in real life. Also, I think if this were real, the feet would have traces of snow on them too (from walking around). Perhaps a footprint in the FG would help also. I think you have your work cut out for you Cynthia (with the shadows and all) , but the end result would be worth it!