Looking for solitude in the madding crowd

Because I haven't done one of these in a while, and because I wanted to use the light, and because, quite frankly, I didn't succeed in getting much else today... Having learned the ways of the mask, this was done with layers rather than using PSE's photomerge function... I played with opacity to give definition to the young woman on the left...

[diane day]

very busy shot..

[Michelle Blackford]

Cool shot...love it when you do these! Your tags always crack me up...and yes, the grim reaper in the hood is quite creepy!

[Abigail Forrest]

Awesome shot! I love the layers. And the tags are pretty funny, too :3

[beachradish]

Grim reaper. Totally. Your subject looks quite pleased in the chaos though - awesome take on the theme!

[TC]

I like it...cool effect! Would we say illusion or perhaps delusional?! :) Either could be solitude in one's own mind...or is it the lost mind?! :)

[☠northy]

@tctime all of the above... because, y'know, arguably, solitude is elusive ;p (and i've definitely lost my marbles if not my mind)

[Jeff Walker]

very cool... well done!

[Cassandra Hoffmann]

Ooooh this is super!!

[Sharon Lee]

Fabulously done!

[Katie]

Fascinating! Is this just two images then?

[Angela]

This is really great!

[☠northy]

@archaeofrog yup! :)

[Michael Elliott]

Fabulous! Great job.

[Katie]

@northy Very cool! At first I thought you had zoomed during the exposure.

[Jake]

Fav, This is awesome

[David Tigani]

Very creative. So much to absorb in this shot. Fav

[Sue]

Oh wow! this is stunning..great work..inspires me to try it. FAV!

[Maggiemae]

Great idea and presentation - she looks quite happy - solitude gives the impression of quite thought!

[Maggiemae]

I mean quiet thought- got the "e" in the wrong place!

[Adam]

In my best Darth Vadar voice...Impressive.

[amy spada]

Very nice. You are getting better and better at this type of shot.

[KWind]

What a cool effect on a great scene!!

[Kerri]

Great b&w

[guttersniperebecca]

Great shot love how you've done this!!!

[Junko Y]

INTRIGUING! This final image gives such a feel of movement, yet also seems like a frozen moment in time. I really like the focus on the woman in the foreground while leaving most others rather shadowy (but with shadows!). The overall effect makes me thing this is an advertisement for a science fiction film at an Art Filmfestival.

[Martin Hesketh]

Nicely done; when I first saw it I thought you took the shot through glass and got some interesting reflections etc

[aurorajane]

delightful

[Frida]

Woooo, that is cool and yeah, that does look like the grim reaper ..... I know where to go for tips on PS when I finally get one (just reminding the universe :))

[Christine Butler]

I LOVE THIS! A FAV has all the elements i love light from one direction and movement and photojournalism

[Katia]

awesome!!! :) i mean REALLY awesome!

[Humphrey Hippo]

Yes the guy looks like the grim reaper - but it just adds to the coolness!

[Stacey]

I love all your ghosts (except for maybe the reaper) I would like to try something like this sometime, but I am usually never in a place with that many people. Ottawa, so close, yet so far. The guy in behind walking with the big shadow on the ground is especially cool.

[Kass]

I so love this! Yikes, that is the Grim Reaper. :-/ I didn't see you in my feed, you somehow fell off my follow list (ongoing problem with me, really irritating)! Love, love this.

[❀ Lynn]

Alone in the crowd...very apropo....and awesome shot/processing! fav

[Paula]

Love this, it's how I feel some days when I'm trying to make my way through the streets of Vancouver. Add in pouring down rain and hundreds of golf size umbrellas though:)

[Leah]

Very cool. It's kind of like the day in the life of a street. Well done.

[emily tull]

really like this lady

[Linda]

I could look at this for ages, so much to see and try and put into context. Fab work.

[Joanna Payne]

Brilliant busy ghosty street edit.

[Dave Schofield]

saw it on flickr, absolutely nailed it, super shot.

[Amy]

very nice shot Northy. Looks like it was hard to process

[Lisa]

Fantastic shot! : )

[Frida]

Ooops, did not fav this before :), corrected¬

[Alison Tomlin]

Very clever edit. This is why I avoid the city centre on a Saturday! Makes me feel like this.

[jerry plume]

Amazing! Faaaaaaav!

[Kathy Burzynski]

FAV - your photography is always so creative

[Steve Angell]

Great shot. Really well done!

[Nicole]

thta is so awesome!!

[Jan Hall]

Fantastic, just getting used to masking layers myself fav

[Tim]

Beautifully done. Really creative and individual. Great shot.

[Amanda R.]

I really love how you did this! There's something so haunting about it. Fantastic - I really love the light at the top.

[Miley]

Oh wow

[Gail]

Oh man, that IS the grim reaper! haha... fantastic play with layers here!

[Lisa Pouncy]

Clever processing. I would have no idea where to start with something like this. I like the end product too :o) xx

[Peter de Graaff]

Fav. Great multiplicity

[Amaya Williams]

Very cool--such a sense of motion and yet the focus of teh shot is very clear. Your photo is a definite inspiration to give layers a try.

[Janelle]

Love this. How did you learn the ways of the mask in PS? I need a step by step PS for dummies thingy.... Trying trying to get my head around PS, but it just hurts my brain when I try something outside of adjusting levels or hue or saturation, or something similarly lame.

[☠northy]

@stuckinoz YouTube videos... And lots of trial and and lots of error and epic fails ;p. really only just learning, and I don't use it that often so have to relearn each time...

[Kimberly Balychev]

How cool!! I just love the way you processed this! So amazing! Looks like something out of a magazine! Well done darling!

[Kristin]

Gets my vote. Fav!

[Johanna]

My vote's on this one! :) Congrats on Top5, you captured something unique.

[Therese]

This is very beautiful!!!! Love it!!! FAV!!!!

[Sassik]

I really like the outcome! The light is mysterious and the layering looks great! FAV!

[Muse]

Wow, really cool!

[John Falconer]

Exactly. Well done.

[PasadenaRose]

Damn you're cool. Shots like this show me how far I have to go, and it's FAR! LOL
So much coolness to be had, if you know how to get it. This one's a FAV.

[Krista Marson]

great layering.