Maria Mazo, PPSA
October 2026 - The Sentinel
Original
Original 2
About the Image(s)
For this month’s image, I created this surrealistic scene using some of my bird images, a cheetah that I photographed at the zoo, and a house facade that I photographed in Basel.
I made selections of the animals and opened the house door to place the flamingo, using the Transform tool. I placed the sky and blended it using different , and with the Layer Mask and Brush tools, I applied it only to the windows and the interior of the house.
I flipped the image and copy some area to add more space to the left of the door. I also expanded the canvas at the bottom to give the image more room.
After applying the shadows and vignetting, I opened the image in Nik Efex to stylize the colors and added a frame.
11 comments posted
Everyone should have a cheetah outside their apartment. That alone is surrealistic. The flamingo answering the door is right out of Alice in Wonderland and would make Lewis Carroll proud. The idea of the sky being inside the apartment is quite a good surrealistic idea. However, it's a bit too subtle. The vine and the door lights have shadows against the building, but the cheetah does not. Giving him a different shadow would make him more realistic (if realism is what you want in the cheetah). With a few adjustments, your ingredients can contribute to a delightful surrealistic image. Posted: 10/06/2026 21:09:10
Hi Alan, I agree with you that the sky through the windows is a little too subtle and that the cheetah needs a bit of shadow on the house wall, as you pointed out. I'm glad you think the surrealistic feel of the image works well. Thanks for your nice comment! Posted: 10/17/2026 08:42:31
Hi Maria,
I enjoyed looking at your delightful image and took the liberty of experimenting with a few subtle adjustments. I softened the big cat slightly to help him blend into the scene, made a small adjustment to the shadow on his shoulder, and added a touch of light to his eyes. I also tried adding a soft shadow around the pelicans on the door. The natural light on building is super soft/difused and seems to be coming from above (noonish) so the hard shadow on the big cat jumped out. Of course, your original artistic vision is what matters most. I hope you don't mind my experimenting with your image! Please let me know if this was helpful or if I overstepped.I'm happy to be part of the group and look forward to seeing everyone's work. Posted: 10/09/2026 02:07:50
I enjoyed looking at your delightful image and took the liberty of experimenting with a few subtle adjustments. I softened the big cat slightly to help him blend into the scene, made a small adjustment to the shadow on his shoulder, and added a touch of light to his eyes. I also tried adding a soft shadow around the pelicans on the door. The natural light on building is super soft/difused and seems to be coming from above (noonish) so the hard shadow on the big cat jumped out. Of course, your original artistic vision is what matters most. I hope you don't mind my experimenting with your image! Please let me know if this was helpful or if I overstepped.I'm happy to be part of the group and look forward to seeing everyone's work. Posted: 10/09/2026 02:07:50
Hi Heidi, thank you for experimenting and giving me such good ideas to improve the image. And welcome to the group again!
Sometimes, when I have time, I like to leave an image for a few hours and come back to it later, because then I notice things that I completely missed before. Taking a break really helps you see the image with fresh eyes! Posted: 10/17/2026 08:52:03
Sometimes, when I have time, I like to leave an image for a few hours and come back to it later, because then I notice things that I completely missed before. Taking a break really helps you see the image with fresh eyes! Posted: 10/17/2026 08:52:03
Posted: 10/09/2026 02:08:14
Maria, You've certainly succeeded in creating a surreal image. I like your choice of subjects and the color scheme. I did find the cheetah slightly distracting as it feels more pasted in compared with the flamingo. Posted: 10/13/2026 21:57:04
Hi Brad, I agree that the cheetah needs a bit more work to blend it fully into the scene. Thank you for your comment! Posted: 10/17/2026 08:55:25
Hi Maria, surreal and delightful it is! I love this world with the warm mellow tones you created for the flamingo and her solemn watch-cat. I keep wondering the blue-green tones in the windows and doorway reflections, or is there an interior of water and sky. . I admire the way you opened the door for the flamingo to peek out, and the little picture on the door is a perfect touch. I think that Heidi's suggestions look good. Posted: 10/14/2026 07:05:46
Hi Kirsti, thank you for your nice comment! I also like the warm tones of the image, and the open door gave me the perfect setting to place the flamingo. Posted: 10/17/2026 09:02:05
What a wonderful image, Maria! I love your colors, all so beautifully integrated, The cheetah looks as if it's just turning its head after hearing the door open, and the flamingo's posture is perfect as well as it peeks around the door. The plant growing up on the house has such interesting texture and lines. You have included so many interesting details - the pelicans, the indoor sky, the carved door - this image is such a pleasure to explore.
Personally, I'd consider eliminating the light on the left edge of the image; it feels a tad distracting to me. Posted: 10/16/2026 16:24:43
Personally, I'd consider eliminating the light on the left edge of the image; it feels a tad distracting to me. Posted: 10/16/2026 16:24:43
Hi Peggy, thank you for your nice comment and suggestion. Darkening the left side a little could be a good idea to add more consistency to the image. Posted: 10/17/2026 10:06:52