Aquatic mobius strip

[Jim A]

This is a work that I have in progress. Would prefer something other than the stingray at the bottom right, but I must keep to images that I have taken. Nothing better identified yet, or ideas to take photos underwater. Also, the geese flying in formation look a bit 'military', so I must try some other birds? Ideas and critique very welcome!

[xpatUSA]

Splendid work!

It does remind me more of work by M.C.Escher than it does of a Möbius strip. No disrespect intended!

Jim, how about an opposite color for the sky so as to bring out the subject more: like maybe a light reddish orange?

[billtils]

Very clever - the more I look at it the more I like it.

My initial thoughts on colour sort of matched Ted's but I couldn't come up with something that worked with the tones in the base layer. Perhaps leave the base and water layers as they are, kill the birds, and increase the clouds?

[xpatUSA]

Very clever - the more I look at it the more I like it.

My initial thoughts on colour sort of matched Ted's but I couldn't come up with something that worked with the tones in the base layer. ...

Yes, the subject has blue, teal and orange and, as teal and orange are already opposites (think horror movies), my suggestion wasn't as good as I thought it was. A Cyanish-green (!) sky might work to retain the nautical theme. Or reddish-magenta to stay surreal? As I speak, I am visualizing the good old color wheel ...

In any case I would lower the sky saturation quite a bit, the more to bring out the subject.

[Manfred M]

Strongly inspired by M. C. Escher? I wonder if doing the underwater portion in monochrome? Once you get to depths below 20 - 30 m, everything is quite dark and is effectively B&W. That might work here.

[xpatUSA]

A Cyanish-green (!) sky might work to retain the nautical theme. Or reddish-magenta to stay surreal? As I speak, I am visualizing the good old color wheel ...

In any case I would lower the sky saturation quite a bit, the more to bring out the subject.

[Jim A]

Many thanks for your comments and suggestions, Ted, Bill and Manfred. Yes, since had a look at MC Escher and this all may well spring from him. In my instance it started with an image produced by a friend R. S. < Benny productions. However it would probably be in this order - R.S. < Benny Productions < MC Escher. Here is my updated version. I have directly 'stolen' the background colour from you, Ted, but may change in due course. Your comment, Manfred, re B&W is really appreciated and from my experience, completely valid. Not sure that viewers, even many judges would necessarily think of this. Nevertheless, I was happy to render the crayfish at the bottom in B&W. Interestly, it is the first time that I have used an 'Average' Blend Mode for anything, in this case the crayfish. Also, have darkened the triangular area bottom right to suit. (hopefully!). Have added a shark, which initially was going to replace the fish, but then I left it in - so what do you think please? I could easily just have a shark - plus baby shark only?