Profile number 2
The Shaman, a new comer to the site, (5 months) and yet has the start of an impressive porfiolio. Only one win at the moment but I think there will be more to come, active around the forums and good for a laugh.
So sit back relax and enjoy the second Chopper Profile…
1. What is your nickname and how did you get it.
TheShaman is something my friends gave me as a nickname..
Mostly because I am part Cherokee, very spiritual, and was always the one who would console people and settle differences between friends.
2. What is your real name and age.?
My real name is Sean born on St. Patricks Day 1973
3. Where are you from and what’s so great about being there.?
I am from Chicago. Nothings really that great about being 'here' other than it is a great place to work (if you're in graphics). The people here are great, we have a very diverse city, and we seem, for the most part, to all get along. We also are very passionate about our sports in this city.
4. What do you do to keep the bills paid?
I am a graphic designer by trade, and have been in the industry since 1996. I am married a father of 2 that takes up the rest of my time when I'm not at work (choppin for PSC)
5. What else should we know?
I am married a father of 2 that takes up the rest of my time when I'm not at work (choppin for PSC) I play acoustic guitar mostly rhythms.. I do play in a Praise Band at Church every Sunday. So I guess I'm partial to Contemporary Christian and Jam Bands.
For Choppin I use my MAC at work.. It’s a G5 OS X with 1GB of RAM... As for programs I use Photoshop CS & Illustrator CS (when I need text for logos and such) I find doing the text in Illusrator is easier for me, then I bring it into PS to manipulate further. As for Images outside of PSC, Google is my friend but I also use some of my own sources as I am a semi-professional photographer
http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery.mhtml?id=4169 is my gallery. I've also found a few sites that carry Images that you can download without worry of copyright.
You mentioned photography, any style you prefer?
I love doing nature & sunset scenes my link to my gallery shows my style pretty good.
1. What gets your creative juices flowing, how you create that masterpiece?
Well, I'm really good under pressure, and not having an Advantage account, only fuels that pressure (to submit an entry early enough in the morning to have a chance at competing. Most times, I just look at the source provided, and think.... "What can I do to make this funny?" "What does this look like that is not obvious" "What has already been done by the other members" "If all else fails, try new things and do an 'all source image'"
2. What do you use as inspiration?
The image usually lends itself to my inspiration. But I usually let my humor guide me.
3. Do you have a system?
No not really... Just try to make the image A) look good, B) be pleasing to everyone. C) Pleasing to myself.
4. Does a chop have to be done a certain way following steps or are you a messy chopper and just go with the flow.
I always isolate the part of the image that I will be using first, then construct it from there, this way I can always go back and have the part or parts ready to go if need be.
5. Filters, brushes and techniques.
I tend to steer clear of filters and brushes when ever possible. But I do use some of the filters yes. Most of my technique is trial and error. I know what I want (its in my head) I just play with the image till it looks like what i've imagined. If I cannot do something that I want accomplished, I google for the answer.
6. What style of chop do you like most?
I enjoy alot of different styles, I always am a sucker for funny images, also if someone has done an "all source"
This is a good question.... My biggest problem with alot of work is not paying attention to detail, be it shadowing or the obvious cut and paste... there are techniques such as defringe and inner shadow that will take a simple cut and paste and blend it into the picture more realistically. As for shadowing, everyone has their own way of doing this. My advice, look around in the world you live in, everything even on a cloudy day casts a shadow. Look at them, study them, they are facinating!! My biggest site advice would be, Take critisim for what its worth, most times people are just trying to help you out... also, NEVER EVER SAY... 'I just slappped this together in 5min" or things to that effect, alot of people bleed PSC and if you say things like that, you won't get very far. If you did a good job people will vote for it regardless of how long it took you to do it. my 2¢
What is your favorite type of source picture and why?
a. machine (Car, boat, electronic parts)
b. people
c. nature
d. obscure views
e. all of the above
f. other
I don't really have a favorite source picture, but if I had to pick from the above, I'd say D & E because D lends itself to many different things, and E if the source is interesting, it makes for alot of good submissions.
1. What makes a good chop for you?
Attention to detail, all source and/or funny.
2. When you chop is it, Fast and solid, or slow and steady
Both
3. Do you prefer to vote on?
a. all source image
b. import and blend
c. effect i.e. rain/snow/flood/fire/blood
d. as long as it’s a good chop it gets my vote
e. all of the above
f. I don’t vote
E all of the above.
also sending me money will always get you favor.
1. What's your best chop.
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/87581/display.html
is my most votes (and got me 3rd place in said contest) I really liked this one a lot, it was different from the rest, and I really did a lot of little things with the rain, making her look wet, and shadows to make it seem 'real' as for inspiration, she looked blind, I just gave her the cane.
My runner up
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/84477/display.html
this one just came out better than I had expected, I did alot of color correction to get it to the point where you cant really tell if it was part of the original painting. Patriots were my inspiration here, the first thing I thought of was Washington and the revolution.
This entry I'd have to say is now my best to date
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/92260/votes.html
2. Now your worst chop.
Wost chop ever
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/83619/display.html
I did this one on the last day of this contest (it was basically to get my 10 submissions in to get my voting going) but I learned something from it, never enter the contest the last day, you may get looks, but you wont get many votes
as for one that I thought I'd do good on
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/88656/display.html
I did alot of work on this one but A) it was on Jedi day so everyone who hadn't been here forever had come back so there were alot of entries. B) my source was small and obscure, I've learned that too. Never make the source smaller than needs to be, if people can't see your source in the entry its not gonna win.
3. Who do you consider to be one of the better choppers out there.
ReyRey is by far my favorite chopper out there. His attention to detail, imagination, and skill far exceeds anyone else IMHO. There are alot of other good choppers, but to pick one, thats my guy... (this endorsement was paid for by friends of the friends of ReyRey)
4. What you hate to see in a chop and why you hate it so much.
I don't really have an answer to that, but I know when I see it. Just try to do your best.
5. The best chop of all time.
I really havent been here long enough to know best chop of all time....
but this
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/86552/display.html just rocked my socks.
THANK YOU PSC! for giving me an outlet to express myself, and have a community of people who also do the same! CHOP ON! and Remember "Do not be concerned about others not appreciating you...
Be concerned about your not appreciating others." ~Confucius
Well thanks for your time Sean . Hope to see you in the winners circle very soon.
Blue_Lurker
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CHOP.
