June 2009 - The staircase problem

The original:

The brief:

Here's a shot I took in a French chateau last year, which I've just uploaded as part of an update to thefullmontage. I photographed this during the day, of course, and it's just occurred to me that the scene would look very different at night: darkness on the ground floor, with a light coming from the top of the stairs.

Is this too difficult a task for the Friday Challenge? And what might be lurking behind that mysterious curtain?

Finished work:

Click on pics for full size.

June 2009 - Bring him to life, part 2

The original:

The brief:

We haven't done one of these for a while, and I always think it's an interesting technique to master.

One of the things I saw on my trip to Norway a few weeks ago was the Stalinist-inspired City Hall, a monstrous red brick building. The facade is decorated with statues of working men (men only, as it happens - the statues of women are in the park in front, carrying children). Here's one of the statues.

This is the first time I've seen a statue of an overweight, shirtless boatman. What must the original model have looked like? Can you bring this statue to life?

Finished work:

Click images to view full size

June 2009 - Boy meets girl

The original:

The brief:

There was an interesting discussion last week about building bridges - in particular, how to make the reflections work. It seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up - so sorry for yet another aquatic theme, but this one has some points of interest. 

Can you help this boy to reach his girlfriend, on the opposite bank? The style of bridge is up to you, of course. 

Finished work:

Click to view full.

May 2009 - Mine all mine

The original:

The brief:

I'd never seen a nautical mine up close before I passed this one, on a museum ship in Oslo. It's a strange looking device, and it looks oddly lacking in danger in this mounted location. 

How would this explosive device look to a terrified sailor, adrift in the high seas? Can you make the museum exhibit look threatening again? Or alternatively, can you come up with a more peaceful use for it? 

Finished work:

 Click to view full.