Friends Only banner: help on which picture to choose...

[dk323]

I've decided to change my friends only banner, specifically changing the image. Apparently I can't part yet with my journal header (I'm still rather in awe at the manip to make him look like Bran that I just can't let the header go *blush*). :p But I thought it'd be nice to at least make a new FO banner.

I need help in deciding which of these two images you prefer. Getting some other opinions will help me a lot in deciding. :-) I was going to do a proper LJ poll, but it wasn't working for me and since I need to show the images, it's easier to just set it up this way...

The first image is a painting of a black wolf and raven. I purposefully looked for an image of a black wolf and raven together as in "The Wolf and the Phoenix", there are two characters who symbolize these two animals in a way. There'll even be a scene where a raven interacts with a black wolf. So if anything else, it visualizes a part of my story. I'm taking it as a piece of surprise fanart for my story even though I randomly found it online. It works. :p

 
The site for the artist who did the black wolf & raven painting (as well as other great paintings): http://mullardwildlife.com/wildlife_paintings/


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This is a real photo of a baby ring-tailed lemur clinging to its mother's back as baby lemurs do. This picture is so tempting to use because of the cuteness factor. Hard to resist!

Ring-tailed lemurs are the most social of the lemurs (there are about 50 species of lemurs who live in Madagascar, Africa in the wild at least. Ring-tailed lemurs are the most popular lemurs held in captivity in zoos around the world). They are related to monkeys and apes, so that's where the slight resemblance comes from. You can't see here...but they're called ring-tailed lemurs because of their black & white ringed long tails...

I recently watched this online (PBS Nature special) called, "A Lemur's Tale":
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/a-lemurs-tale/video-full-episode/5501/

** You can watch the full episode for free...no registration or anything...sometimes there's an ad or two, but I don't think for this particular one there were any. And yes, I did watch a good handful of Nature specials online recently. It was pretty awesome. :)

"A Lemur's Tale" is about 50 minutes long and a bit of a tearjerker, but worth watching for the cute baby lemurs and just learning more about lemurs in general... It tells the story of five baby lemurs growing up in the wild in Madagascar -- the sad part is not all of the five babies survive. Hence the tearjerker... (I feel like I'm not selling it :p...better read a fluffy, happy fic after watching this special.) 




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Okay, so...which one do you like?

The black wolf & raven painting
OR
The baby ring-tailed lemur for the cuteness...

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Thank you in helping me to decide. I really appreciate it since I'm currently torn between the two images. :(

Comments

[reni-m.livejournal.com]

I guess it depends on what type of message you want to send to potential friends!
The wolf and raven are obviously protectors and send a guarded vibe.
While the lemur, while still guarded, is much more approachable.
(I personally like the wolf and raven one because of how nice that painting is composed! But the lemur is so darn cute. I know, I know. I'm not helpful at all)
In a worst case scenario I say flip a coin and let fate decide the outcome!

Glad you still like the manip!

[dk323.livejournal.com]

You do have a good point about the message. I should have been keeping that in mind. Whoops. *blush* I don't even know if people pay attention to the FO banner...I just like having another banner to look at. :p

I agree with you on your assessments. I'm going to choose the lemur one since I do like that it's more approachable. And the consensus I'm getting is for the lemur. :p I can't resist the cuteness. :) I'll end up doing something with the black wolf and raven one since I love that it relates to my fic.

That painting is really nice, isn't it? I'm glad I found it. :)

♥ ♥ I love looking at the manip especially because it brings a book character to life. And since I highly doubt I'll ever get to see anyone actually play him, this is the next best thing. :)

[tama_abi]

As reni_m said, it's not the same message... I think the lemur gives more the feeling that "it's friends only but if you want I'll add you - Let's all be friends" when the first pic is more about them guarding your journal, and its content being available for people you trust somehow...

Both are wonderful, but I think I'd pick up the wolf&raven one in the end.

[dk323.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your input. I have a soft spot for the wolf & raven painting since it sort of visualizes a part of the story I've been working on for the past summer. I don't know if I'll work on any other fic but Wolf and the Phoenix until that fic is done. *resigned sigh*

I like the more friendly nature of the baby lemur photo, so I'll be choosing that one. The painting though will serve as an inspirational/motivational muse. :) So win/win both ways.

[dk323.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The lemur photo is the clear winner, so I'll be using that one. :)

[oxymoronics.livejournal.com]

As much as I love the black wolf & raven, I'd say go for the cute lemur :D

x

[dk323.livejournal.com]

Thank you for helping in the decision-making. :) I'll be choosing the lemur one as it's the popular choice. And it's nice to have a cute animal banner/header once in a while. *nods*

[rotrude.livejournal.com]

I love the lemur, so so much.

[dk323.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your help! I agree -- I love the baby lemur too. So cute and adorable. How can I not use it? ;)

[otterfudge.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're going with the lemur, it definitely sends a friendlier vibe. But wow is the wolf and raven ever a beautiful painting. I went to the site and all of them are just absolutely gogeous--golden eagles! Red Foxes! It's so cool that you managed to find unintentional art for your fic, lol. It certainly is inspirational stuff.

I had so much fun watching the beginning of 'Game of Thrones' the other day! I'm very tempted to continue, but I promise to hold off until we can find time for a marathon. I hope your first day of class went well today! :)

[dk323.livejournal.com]

Yes, the lemur is definitely friendlier. This way works out better since I can use the black wolf & raven painting as a muse for my fic, so neither picture lost in the end. :)

Such amazing paintings, I agree. I like the one of the red fox curled up in the snow by the tree. So lovely. :)

Unfortunately now, the black wolf and raven scene may not make it into the story. It's tentative at the moment. I feel like I'm working with puzzle pieces now -- trying to figure out how to best sequence things. I'm really hoping I can get the wolf & raven scene in.

I had fun too with watching (well, rewatch for me, but still you know...second impressions are important *nods*). I'd love to continue watching Game of Thrones with you -- a marathon would be epic. I don't want to keep you from watching the rest of the episodes with the scheduling issues. :( But I showed you the best bits probably of episode 2: Bran's direwolf killing the assassin and Joffrey getting mauled. Okay, er...both scenes are a bit violent. Welcome to the show! :p I don't think you'll like the end of episode 2...well, it's half-yay!, half-nooooooo! The cliffhanger strikes again, but it's pretty much like that for each episode. You get used to it. I'm not helping in keeping you from watching the show on your own, right? I'll just go sit in a corner and...yeah...

My first day was all right. I'm hoping the book I ordered online comes in tomorrow as I have a reading from that text.