Old factory - clean plate and composite

Looks like it is both a lot of work and a lot of fun.

I see a few issues you'll need to work on, but then again you gave yourself a difficult starting point with the handheld shot in the first place.

I particulary liked the "O" in "No Smoking", but I am not fond of the lighter smoke. It lacks something, but I can't seem to put my finger on how to make it better.  Your paint can has some problem staying in the floor.

Keep at it though. That kind of work will certainly pay off in the long run. Either financially or in the form of self satisfaction.

I had never heard of Syntheyes. Looks interesting. They say something about fixing rolling shutter. With my new camera, that might be quite useful. The price is rather prohibitive since all my money has been going to the new camera, lenses, etc.

I am not too good with blending modes, but I know what I like. Peeling paint should look like that. Nice.

I still can't quite put my finger on my issue with the smoke. Perhaps it is the level of opacity, or the lack of a certain  organic feel. But then again, I don't have much experience with particle systems other than a little time spent with a copy of Particle Illusion I won a number of years back.

Edit: I want to say that none of this was meant as anything other than a little constructive criticism for the purpose of discussion among friends. I am not in any way attempting to belittle the work done. I certainly can't do it, and I can't seem to offer any advice to make it better, so please take this in the manner in which it is intended. I have just been accused by a third party via PM of criticizing posted examples more harshly than I should, but I really don't mean to be unfair in any way. I swear! I am about to post a series of pictures and videos from my new camera for the purpose of getting critical reviews and comments in order to improve my technique. Therefore, I am the last person who should be criticizing anyone else's work other than in an attempt to be helpful.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Text tracking on the wall was great.  All tracking was vg in fact.

I thought the smoke effects were a little to "dense" overall but particularly towards the edges.

I thought the flame was too sharp ( a key?) and too saturated.

Not sure about the tin can realism! Environ reflections needed maybe.

Fun exercise to do no doubt...and a very time consuming thing to polish and enhance. 

Well done.

I have a real project in my suite that is pushing my skills and knowledge a little (a lot) at the moment as well.  The learning and planning challenge is great fun to have.

Much better on the paint can. In fact, this time I noticed the reflections in the top of the can. Nice. It's the little things that matter, apparently. Even if you don't notice certain things, you notice when they are missing.

Dang, that looks like my prison cell in Marrakech! I kept looking for my graffiti on the wall, but did not see it.

Nice work,

Hunt

Craig,

I thought the smoke effects were a little to "dense" overall but particularly towards the edges.

Actually, that was how I remembered the "smoke," but maybe by day 30, I was confused? Maybe a "little prison time" will alter one's perception?

Happy New Year - what is it in NZ, 2014 now?

Hunt

Interesting that you mention the "little things." I was a stickler for minute details, and told the clients that even tiny elements would play on a viewer's mind - they might not know WHAT was wrong, but definitely know that SOMETHING was wrong. That was why I would view the 4 x 5 Polaroids® with a 12x loupe, then pass it on to my gaffer, my rigger, and then any assistants, plus the stylist, before the AD even saw it. Little details DO matter.

Hunt