Gave it another try:

I tried putting the bugs and the field higher up in the hierarchy because I think they are important to the story, but I might’ve made it confusing and now I’ve looked at it for too long to be able to tell if it’s successful or not. Feedback appreciated :)

I noticed when I was done with this and checked out the video one more time that I have only use three values, instead of four. I guess I made the challenge even more difficult in some ways. The first version was the hardest. It really goes against intuition to do white cast shadows, and that I guess is what is great with these kind of exercises.

This is definitely a habit I need get into my workflow. Too often I develop one solution and do with it rather than slowing down a little and exploring options.

Watercolors (using up a tube of gray I don’t use much so no blacks here). I do think the mood and messaging changes. To me, the first one (based on original image) has a lot of tension and sense of something bad about to happen. The other two I think that sense is downplayed or even disappears when the figure in the doorway is portrayed in white, I can read a sense of anticipation, or even hope in the figure in the foreground

I had a great time tackling this puzzle. Definitely need to do this more!

Tried to keep them with in 3 values, it was difficult not trying to add too much and keep them simple. Squinted my eyes a lot to make some of the details blur and focus on the big shapes. I probably spent more time on these then I should have especially trying to chip away at the white areas with my eraser.

Truth be told: that was a little confusing occasionally) Will need to try it a few more times!) The hardest part, probably - was not going after details, kept forgetting about it, and dragging other problems with it) But I really enjoyed the exercise! Thanks! As far as questions&thoughts go: 1. Changed shadows to mid-tones (thumbnail on the right) (I think) it kept the dramatic aspect of the photo but added a surreal feel, kept me thinking about that death cartoon [tale of 3 brothers] from Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows) the person is, clearly, going out of this world in one way or another) And the closer guy is watching 2. Jumping to the high key with inverted shadows and highlights (thumbnail on the left) (I think) upsets the balance and even though the meaning might be similar to a first experiment, now they go out with a bang👀😂 It is clearly the end, for both dudes, I think they both are about to be wiped out and the closest to us is more of a bystander now, rather then watcher/follower Anyway, hope everyone is having a nice day and see you all tomorrow!) p.s. finally tried Affinity Designer on an iPad, I loved: working with references and artboards + all possible effects and adjustments from Photo World but brushes and the act of digital painting seemed to be nicer in Procreate. Anyway, I think thumbnailing and working with the first stages of ideas - is way easier

I did the exercise with pencils because I'm not yet very familiar with digital. I tried to be uniform so as not to distract the eye from the tonal values.

First I've messed up with mediums I never use (I'm an oil painter and I do my sketches with charcoal and graphite pencil, rarely do monocolour watercolours, never digital). So I've quit the black paper thing unfinished. Then, I've chosen the less complicated composition and understood the assignment. Every thumbnail had a different mood and hierarchy of elements. I should work more on thumbnails and learn what to leave behind.

I was really enjoyed to make this assignment, I will be making more of these for sure. It can change the way that pictures looks, very interesting!

3 versions. Tried to keep this as quick and loose as possible. That in itself is helpful for learning.

I created four versions, three different values for the sky and three different foregrounds. Having chosen a less complicated scene it helped me see subtle ways the the elements took the eye through the scene, with the rolled up sleeve in the foreground, pointing to the men on the right and then the tilt of their hats towards the house, along with the two small square structures between the men leading to the house.

Tried doing this first in charcoal, and decided to do it again digitally with Procreate and it was a lot easier to read. It was a fun assignment that definitely had me struggling to not slip into muscle memory as far as value goes, so I was kept engaged the whole time.

I had good fun with this assignment. The image I find most compelling is the one with black figures on a white background. It’s also the least realistic. I tried to teach myself to do this with Procreate but the learning curve was too steep for the amount of time I had. So I resorted to old fashioned pencil and paint.

Sterling, I like your recommendation of seeing a version of treating the figures into the ground plane, with the same value. I also enjoy the mystery of seeing a hint of the characters', but not their full form. Now I can see this can be stretched a lot father, but I'll leave these as they are. For now.

Struggle with the separation/contrast; gravitate to the mid tones…2nd simplified version; think I need to put a time limit on myself😁

Days of Heaven. As a kid, I had an Issue of National Geographic which featured the work of N.C. Wyeth illustrations for Treasure Island (a title that only the best illustrators are called to do ;), as well as his son Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World. It haunted me, literally gave me unsettling dreams. Days of Heaven has so much of that visually as well. Incredible film. Talk about images that speak... Anyways, here's my playing with that still.

Played a bit with 3 values.