Photo Rehab Cover Makeover #13: Golden Valley Silver Flowers

Wow . . .  Cover Makeover #13. 

The challenge is a makeover of this: 

Given where the author is from, I wondered if this is a relevant video: 

Perhaps it’s not the same conflict, but it seems as if it’s from that area. I could be wrong. Regardless, the book is said to tell personal stories and experiences relating to refugees (a topical subject), war, survival, hope, and love.

The existing cover did  not speak to me (covers seldom do; they have no moving mouth parts) so I concentrated on the title and the subject of the book. 

I assume at least some of the stories relate to human suffering, and that’s something difficult to convey in photos without documenting actual suffering. In 2001, I visited Italy. I turned my memories to images I captured at Pompei. The images were captured on film, so I scanned a few negatives while I mulled what I might want to use.

This was a slam-dunk; one of the frescos from a wall in Pompei; to me, it evokes struggle and compassion even as I admit it could have been the equivalent of today’s soap opera stars about to get it on. One of the figures might even be an angel; evil things that are not to be trusted. 

I knew I wanted to blend this into the final cover, so I generated a couple of variations in case I needed them.

I had thought about grabbing the faces of shock and agony from this photos . . . 

. . . but I thought them too stark, and I could not envision how to introduce hope and love from those, so I nixed them.

OK . . . war . . . again, not easy unless one has photos of bombed-out buildings. Again, I looked to Pompei.

Nope . . . Rome, perhaps?

Again, no. These look like what they are; ruins. They do not speak of man’s inhumanity to man, only of the ravages of time. 

So, no ruins, and I still need a golden valley . . . enter Hawaii, 2003. Specifically, Haleakala’s caldera. The place looks alien and striking . . . here are a few photos of it:

How do I get a golden valley out of that, you ask? onOne’s Perfect Effects and Topaz Restyle plugin.

Now, I’m obviously cheating . . . I would guess “golden valley” refers more to a pastoral setting, possibly with wheat fields under an August sun. However, in lieu of ruins, I used the gold tint and the stark landscape.

Silver flowers . . . I thought I might use some of the shots from THIS POST . . . take a flower like this:

. . . and make it “silver” . . . 

The thing is, I rather use a Silversword.  Click on the link to learn about this rare plant . . . and that’s the rub; it is a plant and not a flower.

Here are a few photos of it . . . 

They do flower . . . once, and then they die. I’ve never caught one in full flower as they only last a few weeks.

Regardless, this is what I wanted . . . specifically, this plant:

I don’t need the background, so . . . 

OK, ready to put it all together using my usual blend mix and match . . .

The original cover is a bit more abstract, so I could also go with this . . . 

Someone said they like polls . . . 

If you have an opinion beyond clicking on one of the choices, feel free to leave a comment below. 

I hope this exercise in a bit of escapism has entertained you. If not, don’t tell anyone about this post. Unless there is someone you don’t like, in which case point them here so they too can suffer.

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Note: if you are not reading this blog post at DisperserTracks.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website.  Could be they also torture small mammals.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Please, if you are considering bestowing me recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so.  I will decline blogger-to-blogger awards.   I appreciate the intent behind it, but I prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way.  That would mean something to me.

If you wish to know more, please read below.

About awards: Blogger Awards
About “likes”:   Of “Likes”, Subscriptions, and Stuff

Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.

. . .  my FP ward  . . . chieken shit.