05-18-2013, 08:28 AM
Similar to the other feedback already given I think simplifying shapes and detail in the non focal areas is the way to go. Play with the shapes to help drive the composition. Did a paintover below.
Your values were a bit flat so I really pushed the idea of getting elements to overlap and separating things I wanted to pop out with atmospheric perspective. Also used overlapping elements to show depth. Adjusted the position of the rider to hit a secondary focal point rather than be smack in the middle of the image, and cropped the whole thing slightly. Adjusted his pose a bit, as I think yours was too stiff and unbalanced and I made his silhouette pop out more.
Sometimes it's better to take things completely off canvas than to have absolutely everything showing. So I extended the spear and tail off and brought them back in elsewhere, making sure they helped the comp. I used the off canvas magic spear as a secondary light source. I really tried to accentuate light hitting focal points and being really clear where the light source is and where the focus is. The lizard face is really cool but I added a tad bit more saturation in the focal area to draw focus. I also thought about the 3d form of the entire creature and implied the bulk of it again using atmospheric perspective to push certain parts back.
Did a bit of colour tweaking to add a bit more variation and vibrancy to the colours, and also pushed cooler colours into the background and warmer ones where the focal points were and closer up.
I did actually lose the dynamic element of your image, but I think you can apply all the above techniques to your image to get it to read better in any event.
Hope that helps
Your values were a bit flat so I really pushed the idea of getting elements to overlap and separating things I wanted to pop out with atmospheric perspective. Also used overlapping elements to show depth. Adjusted the position of the rider to hit a secondary focal point rather than be smack in the middle of the image, and cropped the whole thing slightly. Adjusted his pose a bit, as I think yours was too stiff and unbalanced and I made his silhouette pop out more.
Sometimes it's better to take things completely off canvas than to have absolutely everything showing. So I extended the spear and tail off and brought them back in elsewhere, making sure they helped the comp. I used the off canvas magic spear as a secondary light source. I really tried to accentuate light hitting focal points and being really clear where the light source is and where the focus is. The lizard face is really cool but I added a tad bit more saturation in the focal area to draw focus. I also thought about the 3d form of the entire creature and implied the bulk of it again using atmospheric perspective to push certain parts back.
Did a bit of colour tweaking to add a bit more variation and vibrancy to the colours, and also pushed cooler colours into the background and warmer ones where the focal points were and closer up.
I did actually lose the dynamic element of your image, but I think you can apply all the above techniques to your image to get it to read better in any event.
Hope that helps