This image received "honorable mention" at the 2023 fall jury!

PROJECT:  FANTASY FAUXSCAPE

The Fauxscape required at least four elements, layer masking, adjustment layers and masking, a clipping mask, a narrative, and a shadow feature. I had taken pictures on a trip to China in 2009 with a "point and shoot" camera, and I wanted to attempt to build a story from some of them.  I chose the Terracotta Warrior as the "antagonist" and the diminutive archer as the "protagonist". Relationship conflicts, power struggles, tensions, dysfunction, and pain are communicated between the two main characters.  It also hearkens to the "David and Goliath" bible story, which is a metaphor for many of life's struggles.  I wanted to incorporate as many metaphors for struggles as I could:  walls, phases, good vs bad, wisdom, bravery, grace, and more.  I enjoyed the Asian theme in this image, which was interesting to draw from my original images from China.  

I wanted a desolate background image to showcase the architecture. The dried mud provided an interesting texture, and the clouds added a dreamy quality to the final image.

This is the key image I used for the surreal room, as well. I like the simple shape and "worn" look. I replaced a fancy filigree key with this one, which I found more direct in message and relatable. Filigree is a bit stuffy and fancy for the look I was after.

I replaced the plain, cloudy sky with this Milky Way, which added a dimension of drama to the story and the visual aspect of the collage.

It took awhile to find just the right character to counterbalance the monolithic Terracotta Warrior. She's small, she's fierce, she has a bow and arrows, and she is standing her ground.  The fact that she is facing down her nemesis was a stroke of luck, and really added to the story. Her back is to the viewer,  and despite her diminutive stature, she emits an aura of extreme fearlessness, which is what I was after for her character. In this case the character is female, but could represent anyone. 

The owl, a symbol of wisdom, plays a quiet but important role in the overall story. I wanted a white owl with piercing eyes so that she may have a strong presence, even though small and surrounded by cherry blossoms.  The owl is a metaphor for knowledge, but it is up to us to open our eyes and ears, and listen to her. 

The dove is released by the Warrior, carrying a key of hope to his nemesis. Sometimes that which seems like the answer shouldn't be taken at face value, so she is suspicious.

These dark birds, also released by the Warrior, are the visual antithesis of the dove.  He keeps his nemesis off balance mentally and emotionally with his love and calm, as well as darkness and confusion. We seek comfort from he who brings us the most pain. 

I used cherry blossoms to add some plant life and color to the dried mud imagery. The blossoms also provided a perch for the owl.

It wasn't easy to find just the right curving stream. This worked out well, giving a nice vantage point to the image at the horizon, and giving the archer warrior her point of confrontation with the Terracotta Warrior. It provides some relief to the cracked mud/desert background.

The other branch of cherry blossoms. 

This is my own image (point and shoot) shot in 2009 in Xian, China. I was very excited to build my story around this towering warrior figure.  He represents those who attempt to control us, denigrate us, and shatter our spirits and souls. 

In July of 2009 in China there was a full solar eclipse. Even though these don't visually represent that, they symbolize the astronomical event that I was lucky enough to witness while there. 

The leaves added a touch of color and fullness to the cherry blossoms.

This is another image I took in China.  It is part of the remaining architecture in the "Forbidden City" in Beijing. It provides symbolic "walls" within the power struggle between the two characters. I was also very pleased with the transparent, almost "floating" quality to the structure in the final image. 

This is the third of my photos I used.  It's a stone bridge from the Forbidden City, and it adds a nice connection between the two sides of the image.  It's a small but important architectural feature. 

These three images represent my work in progress workflow to arrive at the final image.