"Planets and Moons"
by Jason M. Warren....$25 Prize
UIC Image Contest for February
2005
Theme: "Planets
and Moons"
A note to our contestants from Dan Mowry, our judge...
Well done to all the artists who submitted entries for the February Diard Software contest. The theme of "Planets and Moons" has been well represented with exciting pieces.
-Daniel Mowry
And the winners are....
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Best Overall goes to "Planets and Moons" by Jason M. Warren....$25 Prize |
A comment from our judge...
Befitting of the title theme of this contest "Planet and moons" is a vibrant, beautiful piece.
The dramatic colors work extremely well in the subtly drifting waves of nebulae - translating to attention in detail of the changing colors cast upon the planet and moons.
Star flares that sparkle in harmony with the color shifts add so much to this piece. Debris from the fragmented moon gives a hint of chaos amid the calm.
The depth and dimension created by strong lighting and shading make this a bold piece held together by poetic colors and waves of light.
It is with confidence that I award "Planet and Moons" the "Best Overall" title as it represents the theme and quality of Diard Software tools so well.
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Planets and Moons by Jason M. Warren  Submitted February 4, 2005 Click on image to view larger 1024 x 768 image |
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Best Use of Color
goes to “Reflections” By Karla Munger....$10 Prize |
A comment from our judge...
Subtle hues of burgundy and Earthy tans make this yet another 'dark horse' winner in the category of "Best use of color."
As much as popular convention might suggest this category requires a myriad of bright, rainbow palettes, I strongly believe color is often a statement of what works best for the sake of the piece. "Reflections"
clearly makes this point.
This piece, had it been done in dozens of bright colors would loose everything that it is. It would loose the mood. The dramatic lighting, the waves of reflection... would become lost. In short - this piece uses the choice of color and saturation of color to make the important elements stand on their own and creates ambience.
Light and shadow become more obvious because of these choices. This piece is entirely about mood, again. It has weight, it has beauty, it has tone to it.
I applaud the reserved command of color for the greater good of the piece. In a medium where one might have access to *too* much of a palette - "Reflections" stays true to the art.
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Reflections by Karla Munger  Submitted February 22, 2005 Click on image to view larger 1024 x 818 image |
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Most Original
goes to “Pluto's Demise” by AtticMan.....$10 Prize |
A comment from our judge...
If your imagination were to ever ponder what having a front-row seat to a planetary cataclysm would look like - "Pluto's Demise" gives you the view.
Almost too fiery and bright to look at - the chaotic pyre which was Pluto - this piece makes it clear what the subject is, what the subject is about, and leaves no question as to where things are headed.
...this is a lot to convey in a single image. The artist can be proud of the fact "Pluto's Demise" does it all.
While certain subjects might be "in vogue" and certain perspectives popular with artists... this almost "documentary" glimpse of the destruction of Pluto is original.
Not everything is in "perfect" level - some portions are even bright enough to wash away the detail. The colors are those of flame and light - not of green and blue like friendly, Earthly colors. However, it is exactly this unique approach which gives it that snapshot-like quality. This is a chaotic event, it's a destructive event - it's not about calming and soothing levels. This is the best portrayal possible for this moment and for this piece.
We now know what an event like this would look like, thanks to this artist.
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Pluto's Demise by AtticMan  Submitted February 22, 2005 Click on image to view larger 800 x 600 image |
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Honorable Mention goes to “Gas Giant Rising” by Rikk Flohr....$10 Prize |
A comment from our judge...
What would make an already attractive view of trees and a snow-covered field, or an already attractive view of two, rising planets, come together to create a far more intriguing piece when combined.
It's refreshing to see an artist take what might be a detailed and well-composed spacescape and allow it to function as a backdrop to serve the greater good of the final piece. However, it's this precise attention to detail and willingness to allow it to be partially obscured
that suggests confidence in the artist, and an appreciation for what makes a dramatic view.
This is what people see in their dreams when they travel to other planets.
Subtle details such as the flash of star flare between tree branches to the casting of correct light from distant planets to nearby trees all help hold this piece together.
"Gas Giant Rising" is a piece that makes many of us wish a scene like this really existed. Perhaps it does, perhaps not. But, when viewing this piece - we can believe it does.
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Gas Giant Rising by Rikk Flohr  Submitted February 21, 2005 Click on image to view larger 683 x 1024 image |
February 2005 Image Contest Entries
You can view all of the entries original images by clicking on the smaller image below.
**NOTE: The artists who created these images spent a lot of time on them. Please do NOT copy them.
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Image
Number |
Image, Name, & Description |
| 1 |
Home by Kelly Cooper  Submitted February 4, 2005 Click on image to view larger 1200x576 image |
| 2 |
Planets and Moons by Jason M. Warren Submitted February 4, 2005 Click on image to view larger 1024 x 768 image |
| 3 |
Persistence of Accretion by Photoscribe  Submitted February 8, 2005 Click on image to view larger 1024 x 768 image |
| 4 |
Cycle Tour Martin Bulmer  Submitted February 8, 2005 Click on image to view larger 1024 x 768 image |
| 5 |
Scaling Heaven by Richard Merk  Submitted February 9, 2005 Click on image to view larger 1024 x 768 image |
| 6 |
Martisica by Bobby Ray  Submitted February 13, 2005 Click on image to view larger 720 x 480 image |
| 7 |
Image for Pro Contest by Pierre Gagné  Submitted February 14, 2005 Click on image to view larger 640 x 480 image |
| 8 |
Moon Glow by Justinn  Submitted February 15, 2005 Click on image to view larger 640 x 480 image |
| 9 |
Somewhere Out There by Kevin D. Gibbs  Submitted February 21, 2005 Click on image to view larger 800 x 600 image |
| 10 |
Gas Giant Rising by Rikk Flohr Submitted February 21, 2005 Click on image to view larger 683 x 1024 image |
| 11 |
Blue Nebula David Mckenzie  Submitted February 21, 2005 Click on image to view larger 937 x 701 image |
| 12 |
Reflections by Karla Munger Submitted February 22, 2005 Click on image to view larger 1024 x 818 image |
| 13 |
Lake of Stars by Stinger  Submitted February 22, 2005 Click on image to view larger 640 x 480 image |
| 14 |
Sea of Planets by Mr. Crocodile  Submitted February 22, 2005 Click on image to view larger 640 x 480 image |
| 15 |
Planet Unveiled by Sarah E.  Submitted February 22, 2005 Click on image to view larger 1200 x 1200 image |
| 16 |
Galaxies of Planets by Ponygirl  Submitted February 22, 2005 Click on image to view larger 640 x 480 image |
| 17 |
Pluto's Demise by Atticman Submitted February 22, 2005 Click on image to view larger 800 x 600 image |
| 18 |
The End of Earth Submitted February 22, 2005 Click on image to view larger 640 x 480 image |