Who wins the Eggo/JGross Faceoff?

[Laurey]

The Theme:

Size: 600x300
Specs: Fire and lighting with a gritty look
Titled: 'Nature's beauty in the midst of chaos'
Add-in: Should download in a reasonable time (for the folks on dial-up)
Use of no more than 1 stock photo (your own photo's or use of filters perfectly acceptable).

The Judging Requirements:
1. Complexity of the piece. - use of many techniques or programs
2. Use of colors - (do the colors work well together)
3. Artistic Originality - (not just some tutorials thrown together)
4. Did it capture the Theme -(does it convey the theme to the user)
5. Overall look and feel - does it look good
6. Try to be objective and not opinionated


The links:
JGross: http://www.alpha-squadron.net/sigs/F/fire-2.jpg
Eggo: http://www.boomspeed.com/eggo/stupid_cntest.jpg

Who shall it be judges?

[RSaucier]

B-b-b-but ... it's ART! How can you not be opinionated? :)

My take:
Both pieces are visually appealing (keeping in mind that I'm so near-sighted that I only recently discovered that my wife...nevermind).

Anyway, visually appealing BUT the key words that stuck in my mind were "nature" and "chaos".

To me, nature and chaos have no straight lines/hard edges. Eggo's piece has jagged lightning, the curves of a human face, the loops of handwriting and the "fractalness" of trees (those *are* trees, right?).

JGross' piece also includes some chaotic features -- the lightning, what could be shards of glass and an irregular surface. To me, though, what stands out are the grids and lines. Even the shards in their implied chaos contribute to the feeling of straight and regulated to some extent.

I didn't follow the judging criteria ... but, well ... <shrug> ... I'm going to go stand over there now <pointing to corner of room> and I'm going to wear this pointy hat that's got computer jargon on it.

(DUN CE does mean Dial-Up Networking for [Windows] CE, right?)

Robert

[komik]

I have to give it to Jgross....First and foremost he followed the rules. Only one stock photo. Where Eggo looks as if it has 3-4 in it. Face, writing, trees, and possible the fire...but not sure just a guess.

Both appear to have used several different techniques of blending. But Jgross used some other techniques such as bevels and drop shawdows. Which don't always mean good. He also used the grids and scanlines, which are easily created but used well. So in that category I had to give 2 points to Jgross for complexity and 1 point to Eggo for the blending.

Eggo used some very good coloring techniques and fit the picture very well. Were as Jgross colors appear to be a bit more harsh. So I give Eggo 2 points and Jgross 1 point on the coloring.

Both were very original and I like both of the pieces done so had to give them both 2 point for Originality.

Appears both used the fire and lightning well in the piece but felt it could of been emphasied a bit more. Don't think either captured the title well. But titles are often non-meaningful except when that artist name the piece. So gave them 1 point appiece.

As for the look and feel of the picture. I think Jgross has a very futurist look as we have seen in much of his work. But Eggo's really sets a mood with it. Both were very well done. So gave 1 point to Jgross and 2 points to Eggo.

So final tally is
7 out of 10 for Jgross
8 out of 10 for Eggo...but had to take 2 point for not following the rules.....

So I gave it to Jgross.

Tried to be as objective as possible and stick to the judging rules.

Congratulations to both of you a job very well done.

Even if Eggo named his "stupid_cntest" ...:)

[Laurey]

the question is.. how many of those photo's were stock? there we no limit to personal photo's or filter usage..

Otherwise.. I agree with most of your points :)

[BerksWebGuy]

First looking at JGross...that it was great...conveyed the theme and certainly originality.


Then looked at Eggo...think it conveys the them more and is more original. Looks more 'artistic' to me. Colors, shapes, fades...all look great. JGross seems a little more computer generated (which it really is).

[Bad Hair Day]

Originally posted by Laurey
Who shall it be judges?
JGross has used the same format of shapes and grid as his sig file which detracted from the 'originality' concept for me, having seen the design basics previously. However, I felt the heat of the fire and eventually found the lightning.

Eggo's offering is, in my opinion, a more complex piece of work. It is artistically more pleasing to my eye, but does not instantly convey the original concept, but it is there, so...............

It's a 'short-head' verdict to Eggo.

BHD

[JGross]

JGross has used the same format of shapes and grid as his sig file which detracted from the 'originality' concept for me, having seen the design basics previously. However, I felt the heat of the fire and eventually found the lightning.

i agree, this is why i dont like to have a time limit for doing stuff on photoshop i have a hard time making something original in a 2 day span, usually when i make something i like its something that just came to me one day when i was goofing around.

[EGGO]

No if you read when I posted my image, I used only 1 stock photo, and that was trees on the left, showing how nature can end in chaos but still holds this beauty you guys want me to convey.

I used an old personal picture of a friend, the text was easily done, and the burning trees were used using airbrush, blur, and pixelation. Then for the lightning, you can either use an airbrush, or use an Xenofex filter (which doesn't always come out the way you want it).

[TERRELL]

"Thumbs up to both you guys"

JGross piece,I am loving the layout.The chaos is their but I don't exactly see the beauty of nature
mixed in.I see the curvy squid in the middle and is does look good.I don't exactly see a use for the grids in this one.Its a lovely piece no doubt but I think it lacked in the theme a this battle.

EGGO piece really looks good to me.It looks like he stuck with the theme and kept all things intact.The face has sorta like that old artist flavor to it.He has the beautiful face in ther but with the gritty looked as stated with fire & electricity blended in smoothly but still keeping the message intact.Though I can't read the text.I think it stills represent the bueaty in it.Cuz of the way it looked and written like calligraphy.And then the trees on the side didn't really stick with me but for some reason but it does states a small little meaning of its own.But overall,I think the beauty and style of the face with the blending brought the theme to the forefront and thats why my vote is going to EGGO.

Both you guys done wonderful jobs.You aretrue artist


BTW-I knew I could count on you Laurey for setting up the poll for this.I was out late last night until the morning thinking about this.Since Friday was the deadline I was thinking all night hoping someone would set up a poll for the battle.And you did.Thanks ;)

[Laurey]

n/p, anytime ;)

[komik]

I guessed wrong....my apologies.....But like baseball once you make a call you can't change it.....have to stick to your guns....

Great job...