How far from the source image is too far?

I worked pretty much all morning on an virtually painted image, (hey, it's what I am into right now, and trying to practice on....) and frankly, there is nothing recognizable in it from the original... Nothing. But I did use the original.

I took a black and white source image, and overlaid the contest source image onto it for color and later used a duplicate layer of the source on top of the painted image for texture as well.

By the time I got done adding in the brush strokes, smudging things around, and adding more and more layers on top of it, the source is unrecognizable.

I guess I am just curious on this type of manipulation of the original. I loved the colors and tones in the original, but the subject itself was uninspiring to me, so overlaying it onto a more inspiring image was perfect.

What do you feel about it, in re: to voting? Do you feel that something like that is too far from the original to submit by me? Do you vote for chops with little or no recognizable source in them? Is there an unwritten rule anywhere on that says unofficially you should be able to figure out which source was used?

I never did one so far from the original, but I truly LOVE the result, just not sure if it is not considered too far off.

I'd love to show you the images in question, but don't want to be accused of vote whoring or anything like that, so you'll have to use your imagination to get what I mean....

Thanks for thoughts on this subject!

zerro original, 27 votes,
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/138604/dont-fence-me-in.html

You'll find out when the voting starts.

glad you're here reyrey,
simular but much better done,
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/137539/votes.html

Interesting... Thanks!

I was just worried that it was sort of a "no-no" to have that happen. I didn't want to just scrap the work and keep the image for myself, I want to share it, KWIM? I've got several hours into this one.

I guess it will be revealed in time....

Zero original
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/99343/votes.html
2 years ago today. (thanks splodge)

That is a sick entry Rey! Awesome!

By the way... Did I tell you that your av is creeping me out a little? Something about that intense stare... *shudder*

I guess I wasn't really thinking too clearly, because I did a very similar treatment not too long ago with some seaweed in this entry:

http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/136408/study-of-human-form.html

And didn't have a second thought about it.

Looks like I am going to upload the creation from today and see how it goes when the time comes.

100% original, 10 votes, 494 comments and counting... classic!
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/48557/display.html

that was a classic

I often wonder if someone has posted to the wrong contest when I see an image that seems to have nothing to do with the source. But my mystery would be dispelled if the author/artist would only say how she/he got from the source to the final image.

Note how ReyRey and Splodge both explained their processes when they posted images with no source content. That is the way to do it!

I guess it depends on what you're in it for...
if you are in it for the votes... do what those that get the votes do
if you're in it for a level of expression, or pushing yourself with something, or trying new techniques out... then it shouldn't matter what you enter...
just my opinion mind you!

http://photoshopcontest.com/photoshop-contest/2183/toads.html?o=votes
both entries by debvanh

think all her entries were just as - uh - creative use of children, not creative use of source. what source?

although I like this very much and obviously so many people did too( tons of votes) I'm just wondering am I missing something? I thought this site was about photoshop (not Ilustrator)
or does'nt it matter as long as program is stated?