tribute collage

This young man was a local racer, 18 years old that past away in his sleep 2 months ago. I am making a collage to print up and send to his family who is having a get together at a local track to celebrate his life. This is what I have so far and would like brutal honesty as this is the first time I have done a project like this. Thank you...

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It's good that you have all the action focused toward the center. You might try to make the secondary images bigger. They're too small for any recognizable detail and the portraits are tucked away in tiny corners. All that dirt doesn't really contribute to the image, so cover it up. You might want to play with opacity in post processing. If you give the secondary images a dreamy mood with a soft halo, then they might not stand out so much as paste-ins and may appear more like the memories that you want to evoke.

The portraits bother me a little. They seem out of place. Why don't you try making them bigger with lower opacity and putting them as a layer between the bikes and the sand?

I think its too much.....choose a few great photos of his sport, his personal life , family etc.its not all about the sport....keep it simple, and the message will be felt.

So sorry for the loss...so young.

Flo wrote in post #10583489
I think its too much.....choose a few great photos of his sport, his personal life , family etc.its not all about the sport....keep it simple, and the message will be felt.

So sorry for the loss...so young.

I have to agree with Gail here. Maybe two or three larger photos with different opacities, maybe? I like the lower right photo alot. Id make that one stand out more.

Very much agree with Gail on the loss of a very young person. So sad.

Thanks for the comments. He was a cool kid that seemed to always be goofing around. My PS skills are lacking and I will try to figure out how to change the opacity. Any tips? Thanks!

I changed the opacity and I think it really helps the pasted images look less cookie cutter... Better???

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I would go with a storyboard or a combination of storyboard and collage. Here's a link to some templates and photoshop actions that can help you.

http://coffeeteaphotog​raphy.blogspot.com …PSE%20Actions-Storyboards

mattymx wrote in post #10583669
I changed the opacity and I think it really helps the pasted images look less cookie cutter... Better???

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Better, yes, but I still think you need to simplify it just a hair. Three larger photos in a row instead of scattered on the main shot.

I like the original... the size of the elements conveys an openess and freedom in movement, the boldness and opaqueness of the elements gives them a strength, tangibility and immediacy - think you had it all right from the go. By all means try out any suggestions, but don't be talked into going against your instincts when selecting what to go with....

Cheers,
Tony

Yusef wrote in post #10583676
I would go with a storyboard or a combination of storyboard and collage. Here's a link to some templates and photoshop actions that can help you.

http://coffeeteaphotog​raphy.blogspot.com …PSE%20Actions-Storyboards

thanks! I will look into that.

Scottdog129 wrote in post #10583677
Better, yes, but I still think you need to simplify it just a hair. Three larger photos in a row instead of scattered on the main shot.

Which ones do you think would work best?

tonydee wrote in post #10584181
I like the original... the size of the elements conveys an openess and freedom in movement, the boldness and opaqueness of the elements gives them a strength, tangibility and immediacy - think you had it all right from the go. By all means try out any suggestions, but don't be talked into going against your instincts when selecting what to go with....

Cheers,
Tony

Thanks Tony. There is just so much of him to be expressed, that I tried to get a lot of it, but not make it too busy looking...

I go with Gail.... Too many small shots (and chaning the transparancy doesn't help). Two or three larger - logically connecting - shots might make it a lot more gripping.
One larger shot on the bike and a good shot of his face with the focus on his eyes and another bike shot. That, with the one "looking back"...

vk2gwk wrote in post #10586323
I go with Gail.... Too many small shots (and chaning the transparancy doesn't help). Two or three larger - logically connecting - shots might make it a lot more gripping.
One larger shot on the bike and a good shot of his face with the focus on his eyes and another bike shot. That, with the one "looking back"...

I'll try that too. Thanks! I did a test print at CVS and thought it was too muddy in exposure. I took it up a bit.

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You've made an awesome effort! What others are saying, however, is that instead of adding all of these smaller shots in to one big shot, to actually not do that, and just have some shots in their entirety together. Instead of cutting and pasting certain objects in to the big shot, just take those full shots with the objects in them and put all the shots together in a collage type form. All of the little images look too unnatural, out of place, and distracting.

In my very humble opinion, I think that would look better, and certainly more natural, than what you've done. It would be different if it weren't for a tribute, but since it is, I'd go the safer route. Let us know what you decide to do!

mattymx wrote in post #10586392
I'll try that too. Thanks! I did a test print at CVS and thought it was too muddy in exposure. I took it up a bit.

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Sweetie..take most of the shots out...keep FOUR.and the make them an homage.instead of a random taken at the track and PS job?

Flo wrote in post #10587016
Sweetie..take most of the shots out...keep FOUR.and the make them an homage.instead of a random taken at the track and PS job?

Thanks Gail! Is this better?

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