close ups don't like me anymore
I think they didn't like that i've been trying to improve my use of textures and more complex icons lately, and when i decided to do an icon which was supposed to be my comfort zone aka close ups, things got dirty.
First i wanted an exposed feeling to it since that's the moment where Ned dies (A+ reasoning >_>), and i've always thought exposed makes icons look more dramatic. I wanted some deep shadows and bold highlights without making the icon look too exposed or edgy. Not an easy task but i thought i would handle it. But the shadows looked too dirty, so instead i started doing a soft coloring, something dunhammed-style (hence my icon). But the coloring looked just..meh. I couldn't tell what exactly i didn't like about it, but i felt something fishy in there, like if it was washed out. But increasing the shadows resulted into the same dirty feeling, and increasing the highlights wasn't an option 'cause i didn't want to blind anyone. So, in despair, i went for my last 'saviour' trick that is gradient maps. First b/w, but it looked too predictable, so i tried and added some color keeping them moderate. First few seconds i felt something close to liking it, so i even saved it. But now looking at it i think i can't help it, i've destroyed this close up though i quite like the crop.
However, i'm not always objective about my icons, i like what people don't like and i don't like what people like sometimes so maybe i'm just being bitchy and there's nothing wrong with the icon? Although i highly doubt that.
First i wanted an exposed feeling to it since that's the moment where Ned dies (A+ reasoning >_>), and i've always thought exposed makes icons look more dramatic. I wanted some deep shadows and bold highlights without making the icon look too exposed or edgy. Not an easy task but i thought i would handle it. But the shadows looked too dirty, so instead i started doing a soft coloring, something dunhammed-style (hence my icon). But the coloring looked just..meh. I couldn't tell what exactly i didn't like about it, but i felt something fishy in there, like if it was washed out. But increasing the shadows resulted into the same dirty feeling, and increasing the highlights wasn't an option 'cause i didn't want to blind anyone. So, in despair, i went for my last 'saviour' trick that is gradient maps. First b/w, but it looked too predictable, so i tried and added some color keeping them moderate. First few seconds i felt something close to liking it, so i even saved it. But now looking at it i think i can't help it, i've destroyed this close up though i quite like the crop.
However, i'm not always objective about my icons, i like what people don't like and i don't like what people like sometimes so maybe i'm just being bitchy and there's nothing wrong with the icon? Although i highly doubt that.