Looking at the images of Buffy & Spike Val had chosen, I noticed that they both had that head tilt thing going on, so I decided to arrange/size them so that they'd form a sort of heart shape, mirroring each other, which in turn gave me the idea to build this collage around the concept of reflection. Both the literal kind, (I think part of Buffy's problem with Spike this season was that she saw how much he's a dark reflection of herself -- how much they have in common -- and it scares the bejeezes out of her), and the "thinking about stuff" kind, wherein each has been spending a lot of time brooding about the other.

So first step was to get the colors in the two main images as similar as a I possibly could. I made a background using the stock images from Val's collection, overlaying them with various blends, then I started copy-pasting and using transform->flip horizontal to mirror things all over the place.

I created the little circle-within-a-square thing with the "Spike's Revelatory Dream" shot, and then defined it as a pattern, filled an entire layer with it, then distorted with the pinch filter and put it in the background. You can just barely see it around the edges if you look for it... And then I put two copies on top of everything, one in each corner, adjusting the coloring appropriately. By then, the text to use and where to place it had occurred to me, so I added it in. Finally I used Val's script brush to write all over everything.

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Val writes:

This is gorgeous, Vrya! and so LIGHT for you :) I love the smaller images on the boxes, and how your worked the reflection theme throughout the whole collage, not only with the b/s pics. The script brush looks incredible, gave it such a texture, rich and romatic on that blue color. I love the text backwards on the left too, and the repeating of the images of them in the center... I can see the pink candle image going down the side, adds some neat lighting.. one of my fav stock pics! I also like the red couple.. that burst of white is great to use near the edge like you did. I can't gush about this one enough, I just love it!!

Neige writes:

This rocks my world! Wow, I like your concept! And the multiple colors...looks great! :) I really can't see the challenge picture (beside the obvious ones of course) and I like how there is so much details in the background. I stared at it for several minutes :) Your concept about reflections is very good, I guess you meant to do a sort of point about Buffy and Spike, two sides of the same coin. Very interesting. Definitely one of my fav of yours!

Meg writes:

this is such a neat piece. i like the way you retained the grungy quality of the pictures and worked it into the mood of the whole image. the colors, the textures, and the mirror type theme are great.

Lerdo writes:

BS_Reflections is a beautiful and complex piece. I love the colors, and I love that there are so many things to look at in the image. And I really enjoy the explanations you include with all your submissions. Great job!

Lessa writes:

Your Dark Reflections is totally awsome. I am among many other things a big Spuffy fan. Oh and it is blue. My favorite color. Your execution of the design shows great attention to detail and knowlege of the characters. Very well done!!