I don't know if the cropping and rotation make more sense if you consider that I was given the source pic and asked to produce something that looked like it could be a rap artist CD cover for an AU story written by a friend. My first attempt was this but the character was supposed to be a "serious" musician and I had to angle the pic to crop out the humorous part.

You know, actually knowing about the context helps a lot...and given what you just said, I think the icon reached its goal.
I do like the other attempt better, but it's less "hip hop"-ish, so I think you chose the right one. :-)

Landscapes are hard for me because I can never tell when they're "finished." I can go on playing forever.

Eh, I know what you mean. :-) I often make multiple versions of the same icon (or cap), so I totally know about being indecisive. ;-)

Now that I'm aware my text can be smaller and still legible, that opens new doors to me.

YAY!! :D:D:D

That was the lighting in the original pic and I tried to mute its effect because it is weird. Short of painting over it, I'm not really certain how to get rid of it.

Oh, well, sometimes the caps are just the way they are...the icon is gorgeous anyway and I'm probably the only one who noticed it...*iz weirdly picky*

I'll admit, it would be nice to have one that didn't leave you feeling it was wrong

Eh, just remember that I sort of forced myself to be the Devil's advocate (as we say), I was deliberately hyper critical, even when the icon was mostly fine. :-) That was the whole point, right?

OK. You have done this beautiful, beautiful thing for me. I cannot begin to tell you how helpful this was or how much I appreciate your taking the time to look at each icon in detail and critique it. Very, very, very helpful and I'd offer to have your baby or something if only my own fear of fetuses didn't stop me. If I can ever do a favor - or thirty - for you, please do not hesitate to ask and it is yours.

You know, this whole thing was actually quite helpful to me too. It forced me to justify and motivate my choices...when I make icons I don't do it "consciously"... I don't stop to think about WHY something works and something doesn't...I just do it because it looks pretty. ;-)
But now I sort of started to pay attention to this stuff and it's quite interesting. :-)

And btw, feel free to ask questions or...you know, anything I can do to help, I'd me more than happy to do it... and not just because your generous gift. :x:x:x

*loves*

I do like the other attempt better
Man, you must really not like that icon because the other attempt is lame. *grins* The final icon actually had text on it; I offered up the textless version because I was trying to avoid my text issues. ;-)

I'm probably the only one who noticed it...*iz weirdly picky*
No, I don't you were alone. I'd been specifically asked in the past to icon this character (he's not my fave, so...). Yet the icon was utterly ignored when I published it. That's why I stuck him in -- to see if the critique turned up something I hadn't noticed. I guess that the weird white thing was too distracting? *shrug*

Eh, just remember that I sort of forced myself to be the Devil's advocate (as we say), I was deliberately hyper critical, even when the icon was mostly fine. :-) That was the whole point, right?
PRECISELY! I am in a rut and I need to break out of it. Part of doing that is getting down to the nitty gritty. I'm also looking to develop my eye and my way of seeing. This is not natural for me so I have to work at it. If what's wrong, even if it's just sort of wrong rather than OMG!wrong, isn't commented on, I'm unlikely to see it on my own. :|

And btw, feel free to ask questions or...you know, anything I can do to help, I'd me more than happy to do it
I might eventually ask for help on getting skin to glow as well as you do in b/w *points to icon* but I haven't exhausted all my options in trying. I'll hit a dead-end before I ask. :)

Oh! Are the caps you post at Queer Eyes the same caps you use in making your icons? I've been thinking about snagging a few and playing around to compare my b/w with yours. Starting with the exact same cap eliminates a lot of variables. (I'm not talking about making the same icons, obviously. This is for private practice/learning.) I'm always hypercritical of what I do but if I place it next to yours, I know when I'm getting it right.

*loves right back*

Oh! Are the caps you post at Queer Eyes the same caps you use in making your icons? I've been thinking about snagging a few and playing around to compare my b/w with yours. Starting with the exact same cap eliminates a lot of variables. (I'm not talking about making the same icons, obviously. This is for private practice/learning.) I'm always hypercritical of what I do but if I place it next to yours, I know when I'm getting it right.

Yep, they are. I actually cap them specifically to make the icons, then, since I already have them, I post them on my site in case someone wants to use them for their graphics, or just to stare at teh pretty. :-)