I get a nice idea and then I get another one and it doesn't turn out nice :(

[Madsen]

AKA Photomanipulation and monotony are fun!

also forcing elements of a piece without any thought about the effect it may have on the rest

 

Small version, scaled down from full

 

Full

http://i.imgur.com/1vQWP9H.png

 

PS Bulletstorm was a let-down

 

Anyway, points I want to make

• I can't use fractals and C4Ds for s***, most of the ones I used here were intrusive/unnecessary - any pointers?
• Can't shake my abuse of trillions of effects to fill the piece, although I think the issue is rather not knowing much about C4D placement
• The line between clean and messy is one I at some random point cross and sprint further and further (night bby pls how u do it, u 2 cat+ken+25+whoever is still here)
• Regretting putting in a render as a focal, took my progress back here I think; started off well with blurring and depth was fine until I put the guy in at which point I got lost and now I have all the focals I don't want to have

How do I stop the fx spam? :<

 

EDIT: Also, recommend me good books/general reads on design and basic art elements pl0x

[Catman25]

Looks pretty fresh. I like all the effects added, especially with the ropey-fractal things surrounding the dude. c4d though does look out of place. I can see it somehow working, but you got like the most minimal use and placement out of it. And idk blurring does seem a little inconsistent. You have parts that are blurred quite heavily, especially the foreground, and some of that blur seems to be translating into the bg, especially on the right hand side if that makes any sense. Also like half his shoe is blurred. But I like the overall atmosphere and colors, screw all the technical shit because for me that's what I look for.