The following are the original images used to assemble my photomontage:

http://archwall.xyz/scotland-house-nature-straw-hd-background/

https://bluesyemre.com/2015/12/30/lemmy-kilmister-motorhead-singer-and-heavy-metal-legend-dead-at-70/e25f9c29bdfb4931b6fc44d8d5ca7b36/

http://alchetron.com/Crossroads-(1986-film)-16980-W

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LADIES-GIRLS-WOMEN-SHORT-SCOTTISH-TARTAN-DAY-CHECK-KILT-RED-MINI-SKIRT-VALENTINE-/301376476865

https://www.tumblr.com/search/celtic-wolf

The following images are my own:

 

M2 Photomontage- Claymore Blues Clan

 

Ok, here we go! Using a web image as the background, I found a Scottish style home with a suitable landscape. Then I found additional web images of Lemmy (R.I.P), Ralph Macchio and Joe Seneca from the movie "Crossroads" (March 14, 1986) and a random kilt wearing "Valley Girl" as my co-band mates. Using her image, I tried to superimpose my girlfriend's face on to the "valley girl" image only to see if I could do it (not very successful, in my opinion). But the image is rather small that I'm hoping you wouldn't notice, but that little secret is no more!

For the images of the guy sitting on the bench in the background (me), that was from a time not so long ago where I use to be heavily involved in a Living History Program and dressed as an Oneida Warrior during the 18th Century (American Revolution timeframe). The butter churn (which is a small scale model I made that is actually about 5" tall) and finally a copy of my first attempt in making a firkin sized cask (roughly 8 gallons) that was still in the process of adding the lower chime, quarter and bilge rings. I thought of using a cask of some type since what is blues, Gaelic tradition, and white oak casks used to age a single malt scotch? Again, when I was involved with history reenactments and when I also picked up an interest in "coopering", prompted by a good friend of mine named Bob Allers.

Then I consulted with a close friend of mine named Dan Umstead as to potential song titles of my fictitious band, as that is where my writer's block was initially at. Using "claymore" in the band title was also his idea and it had two meanings. #1- the symbol of a Celtic sword and #2- ordinance that we used in the Marine Corps for defensive positions. Blues is self explainatory and Clan because its relevance to Celtic and Iroquois matrilineal ancestral tradition for family lineage.

To be honest, my first attempt was to explore Photoshop and then I discovered that I forgot the image size requirements for download web images. That forced me to delete some of those files and go back to the drawing board to find 600x600 72dpi images. Then I had to go back to the tutorial in Lynda.com to review how to "save for web", but in the end I think I did fairly well in a this work? With exception to further work on making the images fit by using shadowing or gradient layer effects...

M2 photomontage sketch

Simple sketch for first M2 Photomontage. I have a definite blues theme using both images downloaded from the web and one or more of my own. I've also got an idea of trying to "hide" an image or two. As well as to use images that some may recognize, given their movie or music knowledge.

This is my second attempt in using PS. I must give credit for the two images to a long time friend, Dan Umstead for what appears to be the gray scale background. It is the gate mechanism from Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome, New York. This mechanism was intended to raise and lower the draw bridge to the main entrance of the fort during the French and Indian War, as well as the American Revolution.

The second image is me in 18th century period regalia as an Oneida Warrior (scalp lock and all). This picture was taken by another friend of mine named Elena Walsh. She is a photographer that I met several years ago at Valley Forge, Pa. She frequented the park for her photography interests and she felt that an Oneida Warrior was notable enough to keep coming back nearly every time that our Living History group put on an event at Valley Forge for events sponsored by the National Park Service.

I tried various tools in PS that honestly takes a lot of time to master. So, out of frustration, I simply layered the two pics over the other and reduced the opacity to 75%, leaving the background as it was originally captured. I'll have to more time learning the tools and key board shortcuts to reduce the overall time it took me to get this far...

First attempt with using PS!

This is an inside joke, as I use to be heavily involved in a Living History Program primarily focused on 18th century history (American Revolution). This is a picture of a "6 pound" canon on a field carriage that was layered on a picture of my house serving as the background. The actual canon was fired with black powder (without projectile), but given the amount of smoke and flame on lookers of the event wouldn't notice a difference!

The gentleman in the foreground a great friend of mine ("Brother Pat") and the black powder demonstration took place at Friendship Hill Historic Site for an event sponsored by the National Park Service.

I still need to hone my PS skills, but this is a decent start! "Hu-zzzaaaaaaah!"

Success in setting up Nate799 Blog!!!