Face of War

[Jake]

Personally, I don't think your anti-war message comes across in the image for the following reasons:

1. The background is a bit confusing. I'm not sure whether it's supposed to be a bomb explosion or faded/distorted trees.

2. Is that a plastic duck wearing a gas mask? This combination of elements is strange. The gas mask is a clear symbol of some sort of conflict or damage, but I don't have any clear association for the duck. It undermines the seriousness (I guess you want it to be serious?) of the message. It's surface is also very shiny, again undermining the idea of conflict/disorder/whatever.

3. Why is the gas mask lopsided? I know it's a nitpicky point, but I find it distracting.

4. Your text mentions living on the same world, but there's no reference to people or communities in the image. Who's living on the same world--people and nature(animals etc.), people from different nations/cultures, what exactly?

[Toeng.com]

Jake :)

you really should check the page I mentioned in the first reply. If you cannot find it, here's the link
http://www.toeng.com/archives/get.php?id=1033720601

I fixed some of the major *bugs* in the thumbnail here. Anyway, answering your questions:

1. The background is a bit confusing. I'm not sure whether it's supposed to be a bomb explosion or faded/distorted trees.

It is a picture from 9/11 WTC as a matter of fact. Maybe if you see the larger version, it'll become clear.


2. Is that a plastic duck wearing a gas mask? This combination of elements is strange. The gas mask is a clear symbol of some sort of conflict or damage, but I don't have any clear association for the duck. It undermines the seriousness (I guess you want it to be serious?) of the message. It's surface is also very shiny, again undermining the idea of conflict/disorder/whatever.

The duck is the symbol of innocent IMO. I imagine a duck toy as plaything that every child has in a point of his life. Putting the mask on a duck is my way to tell people that there will be price to pay for a war. At least, there will be no more children playing around in the bath tub with his/her duck toy. I could easily use a children picture using the gas mask instead, but I want the message to be subtle (and more universal b/c using a child will impose a certain culture associated with certain countries etc.) hence the duck toy was used as a substitute.

Maybe it's just me, but when I see a duck toy wearing a gas mask, I will assume that something really terrible has taken the laughter out of us. Seeing something that should've been fun wearing something like gas mask is my way to show that there will be no more fun ... in another word ... there will only be sorrow.


3. Why is the gas mask lopsided? I know it's a nitpicky point, but I find it distracting.

I have to distort the gas mask a little bit to fit the duck. I don't really see the different myself, but hey, maybe you have a keener eye than I do :)


4. Your text mentions living on the same world, but there's no reference to people or communities in the image. Who's living on the same world--people and nature(animals etc.), people from different nations/cultures, what exactly?

Honestly, I am generalizing here. I am thinking that every children in every culture (or in every being as a matter of fact) has a plaything. Be it a duck toy, a doll, a thread ball (for a puppy or kitten), they all have something that they enjoy playing. In a way, I expect people to see that even this very play time will be affected by War and the image does not, in any way, relate to only a specific community. Children playing is a universal message isn't it? every child play, with War, no children will play.

Gosh, this is a long answer, I hope I answer each and every question you have Jake :) :scream:

[wildsheepchase]

I kind of have to agree with Jake on this one. I'm just not getting a "loss of innocence" vibe from this pic. I guess I associate the rubber ducky image as being comical and campy. To make matters worse, it actually seems more comical with it wearing a gas mask....sorry :hmm:
It doesn't help that at the size its posted on this forum, the background is completely incomprehensible...if you hadn't mentioned it was wtc, I would have assumed it was just some abstracted brush strokes. I checked out the link you posted and the larger image is better. I saw much more detail in the background...which helped a little bit with the message you're trying to get across in the pic.
As far as other technical crits, the gasmask is awkward and I think there needs to be more disruption where the duck is supposed to be floating/sitting. It looks too pasted on right now.
Hope this helps a bit.:shrug:

[Toeng.com]

Well, I cannot expect nothing less :) I know the skill in this forum is superb :) ... I gladly accept crits here. Thank you for your opinions, I will keep those in mind.

PS: in 2 other forums, it was mostly *oooh ... ahhhh* :) ...

[wildsheepchase]

PS: in 2 other forums, it was mostly *oooh ... ahhhh* ...

Glad you made it to cgtalk, so you could get some constructive crits, then;)

[Toeng.com]

in a way .. yeah ... the talent is really really high here :) ...

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.