The Beginning At Last

SLDS Challenge (03/22/24)

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by

Kevin
in

Below is my entry for Susan Braithwaite’s SLDS Challenge for week ending 03/22/24.

This week’s prompt was:

Hacking into a secure network

First, I tried a server room setting, and got some ok results:

Then, I decided to riff off last week’s prompt and make a it a similar character to the one escaping the facility.

I even tried a female variation:

But, she just kinda came out looking like she was answering a daily prompt with no real urgency.

Finally, I decided to change it to an office setting, added a little sweat to try and convey urgency and ended up with this for my entry:

I think he came out alright. He looks like he’s not just sitting back chilling, and the little bit of sweat on the brow adds a bit to the effect.

Overall, not as tough as previous prompts of late, but as Susan said, making someone look interesting at a computer is not the easiest task.

Unless…

Like you didn’t see that coming. 😋

Comments

33 responses to “SLDS Challenge (03/22/24)”

  1. Destiny Avatar
    Destiny

    lol the best one to end, Kevin

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Well, I think so too. 😉😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. janetdthomas77 Avatar
    janetdthomas77

    The girl on the second-to-last one looks AMAZING. Great job, Kevin xx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thanks, Janet. Unfortunately, she looks a bit too relaxed for this particular prompt lol

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Silk Cords Avatar
    Silk Cords

    Server room is always the ideal hack point if you can gain access though. You bypass most of the network and it’s security that way. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      I know. But I don’t like the way they look.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Silk Cords Avatar
        Silk Cords

        Still had to mess with you. 😛

        The sweat and expression in the desk one do add a greater sense of dramatic tension. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        I think this one irritated me slightly because I had an idea in my head and couldn’t quite get it to translate to the screen. And honestly, the last couple days my mind has been more on the upcoming job thing than anything else.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Silk Cords Avatar
        Silk Cords

        That’s the trouble with AI, lol. Do you even have an option to upload a base picture to work with as a template?

        And hey, the job should come first. Just don’t let it become all consuming. Balance Daniel-san.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        With some programs I do, but not the one I was using last night. And honestly, sometimes those come out even worse, unless you have the time to screw with them, which I didn’t at the moment lol
        The past two days, my phone has been buzzing non-stop with family, friends and the new employer. Not that that’s a bad thing, but it’s been time consuming.

        Balance. Yes, that’s something I am still working on. My tendencies tend to lean toward all in or not at all. Middle ground is a struggle for me. 😄

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Silk Cords Avatar
        Silk Cords

        It’s a struggle for most everyone. We’re taught all or nothing thinking, especially nowadays.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Yeah, I know it’s the default mindset in this day and age, and I fall into it very easily, to my ultimate detriment 😄

        Even today I can feel it starting. My phone is still going off regularly, I’ve got laundry and 50 other things to do, and I am getting agitated over it. Which usually leads to me half-assing all of it, or ditching completely lol

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Kymber Hawke Avatar
    Kymber Hawke

    I love this! I was sort of expecting something like the last picture, but dang, if I didn’t laugh out loud for real when I saw it! 😀 😀 😂 Thanks for brightening up my day.

    Oh! And, I also meant to say that I thought your other pictures were great! I enjoyed seeing the transitions from one to the next.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thanks, Kymber! 😊
      I played the last one for laughs, but truthfully, I don’t care for most of the others, but it was the best I could come up with. lol

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Silk Cords Avatar
        Silk Cords

        All or nothing, like I said, LOL. It can help when one really needs to focus on a specific task but normally… no bueno.

        It’s pushed on society though because it overrides critical thinking. Look at the extreme all or nothing thinking in politics and social issues.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Yes, it’s not always a healthy mindset for sure. Small doses and all that. lol

        Of course, the counterpoint isn’t always better either. Too much crap on the brain is just as dangerous. 😜

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Silk Cords Avatar
        Silk Cords

        ROFL, you’re making my point about false dualities. Balance, middle ground, flexibility. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        It’s just the way my cracked dome operates lol

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Silk Cords Avatar
        Silk Cords

        Change, you must… Hmmm… Unlearn what you have learned, yes. 😁

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        I’ll be getting fitted for my new hand soon, don’t you worry 😄

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Silk Cords Avatar
        Silk Cords

        Funny story; there is (was) a guild in Star Wars: The Old Republic that had a name based on everybody in the movies losing a hand, and it was a premise of characters in the guild also. LOL

        Liked by 1 person

      8. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Well, that is a concept, to say the least lol
        That’s a lot of fake hands btw.

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Silk Cords Avatar
        Silk Cords

        That it was. My all time fave guild name was one I saw in City of Heroes back in the day though: “Screaming Little Schoolgirls” LOL.

        Liked by 1 person

      10. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        It’s catchy, I’ll give them that 😄

        Liked by 1 person

      11. Silk Cords Avatar
        Silk Cords

        Not sure if WP is going to put this where it belongs in the comment chain, but please don’t tell me you missed the humorous origin of the “Screaming Little School Girls” name, Kevin…

        Hitting or Running Around like a screaming little school girl… :D

        Liked by 1 person

      12. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Did not see it, no. I’ll have to look for it.

        Liked by 1 person

      13. Silk Cords Avatar
        Silk Cords

        Not a TV show, just expressions from the old days. 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      14. Kymber Hawke Avatar
        Kymber Hawke

        Awww see, I thought they were all so good! 😀 You have a critical eye when it comes to your own work, I bet. 🙂 🌷

        Liked by 1 person

      15. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thank you. 🙏
        I am, but I think with these it was more I had a specific idea in my head and couldn’t quite pin it down, so I’m a bit irate over it lol
        Also, with the job thing, my mind was not 100% focused on these as I normally am.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Susan T. Braithwaite Avatar
    Susan T. Braithwaite

    Thanks for taking part, as always. These are awesome, Kevin! I love the style of the first one. You’ll have to let me know what it’s called. The addition of the sweat really amped up the scene and gave it that needed tension… the last one is perfect!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thanks, Susan! Glad you like them.
      The first one is called “dumb luck” lol
      If I recall, I asked the AI to render it in pencil.

      Like

      Reply
  6. Photos by Jez Avatar
    Photos by Jez

    Love the comic book effect of these, Kevin 👏 The gorilla gets my vote 😃

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thanks, Jez! Ironically, I would probably vote for him too 🤣

      Like

      Reply

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