first artwork test

[mebitek]

Hi guys,
in preparation of my full album I'm trying to create some dark ambient artwork based on my Island, Sardinia, in the style of some Atrium Carceri artwork:

12940262_266789443655471_1784214220_n.jpg

what do you think? any suggestion?

[Maharg]

Just a wee bit too dark I think. Perhaps bring out some of the highlights on the bricks to create a visual contrast and a point of interest to draw the viewer into the image. Having said that, it could be too dark because of the small low res image.

[GaryG]

Just a wee bit too dark I think.

I'd say that too though looking at some of the Atrium Carceri cover art (The Untold in particular) I can see where you're coming from.

It is a neat image though, not sure why but really reminds me of something I can't place, a dream or atmosphere or something.... (not another cover or anything like that)

[mebitek]

thanks for your opinions guys! I'm not a photoshopper and this was my first experiment. thanks again

[cosmic-f]

+1 for too dark. Although the main point of interest is too blurry for my taste and makes it difficult to look at it.
if you did this on purpose I would blur it even more to get this kind of dreamy look (surface blur). also all 3 depth layers (front bushes, ruine and sky have the same brightness which makes it hard to see an order.
one trick to sharpen the edges in photoshop would be to make a copy of the layer -> high pass filter -> set to hard light layer mode and play with the transparency.
other than that I like the mood! I also like the really dark spots on the bottom left which make some good space for the title.

[Ambire Seiche]

I agree, it needs something to make it "pop", though I'd try doing something with the plant in the lower left too, perhaps add some blur. I opened it in GIMP and added golden ratio guidelines and can see where the artwork lines up with them (also how it makes use of the general sections, both objects and the more empty space of skies/grass)

http://i.imgur.com/FfO7NWd.png

in comparison, pardon the crudely drawn arrows and hope I'm not giving away anyone's secrets here, this one really stood out in google image search...but you can see how and where it pulls the eyes in here too, along with the framing of the center along the bottom line. This is what makes it a truly great cover.

http://i.imgur.com/8x0GvkA.png

(I tend to treat them as just rough guidelines myself but can tell whoever made this cover was very intentional and precise with it.)

[Ambire Seiche]

thanks for your opinions guys! I'm not a photoshopper and this was my first experiment. thanks again

Just to add, I wouldn't consider myself a photoshopper either. I took a couple photography courses in high school(decades ago, digital barely existed and we still used dark rooms) along with a few informal classes on composition and such some years later. Getting the basics of that stuff down helps immensely I think, any other skills you pick up just naturally adds to that foundation.

[mebitek]

I agree, it needs something to make it "pop", though I'd try doing something with the plant in the lower left too, perhaps add some blur. I opened it in GIMP and added golden ratio guidelines and can see where the artwork lines up with them (also how it makes use of the general sections, both objects and the more empty space of skies/grass)

http://i.imgur.com/FfO7NWd.png

in comparison, pardon the crudely drawn arrows and hope I'm not giving away anyone's secrets here, this one really stood out in google image search...but you can see how and where it pulls the eyes in here too, along with the framing of the center along the bottom line. This is what makes it a truly great cover.

http://i.imgur.com/8x0GvkA.png

(I tend to treat them as just rough guidelines myself but can tell whoever made this cover was very intentional and precise with it.)

sorry but I do not understand

[Ambire Seiche]

sorry but I do not understand

With photos and drawing there are basic "rules" of composition, and ways to draw the viewers eye into the image

http://www.apogeephoto.com/may2014/h...tography.shtml the phi grid mentioned here is what I was demonstrating above. This may make it look complicated but it's not really, I'd say you kind of have it down by eye already in the cover artwork you posted.

As with all things in photography, experimentation and creativity are key factors. Never let a design principle dictate how you photograph a scene. Simply use it as a tool to guide you in achieving a strong composition, a way to complement your own creativity.

There's also the more simple rule of thirds, which is the same concept - https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...%20of%20thirds

[mebitek]

thx so much!! now I get it!

[betadecay]

Yes, too dark. Even for dark music. But the rocks look like remnants of a wall of an abandoned castle or monastery, very cool!

A bit of this

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/dali/salvador/imagebank/images/EXHI006875_600.jpg

or of caspar David Friedrich.

With a bit of processing, this might become a really good image.

[mebitek]

it is place of my village in Sardinia

[Ahornberg]

inspiring picture ... for a dark drone