Deadly Secrets | LMAC Collage FreeStyle No. 98

I wanted to share with you my Freestyle Collage No. 98. My theme is "deadly secrets" and one young woman's determination to uncover them at whatever cost. My freestyle collage was completed in accordance with the LMAC Community guidelines.

The LMAC Community run by Hive account@shaka holds a weekly collage contest for its members. In the Community, you'll discover a variety of themed entries submitted for consideration. If selected for the final round, contest hopefuls anxiously await results indicating their placement that determines the prize awarded. It's a fun contest that any Hive member can participate. If you'd like to join in, just visit the LMAC Community account here and follow the rules of the contest for details on the latest round.

The LMAC Community also offers an opportunity for members to create and post in the Community "freestyle" collage themes. In the freestyle option, more freedom is allowed to design your creations without having to incorporate the weekly contest photo. However, contest rules still apply.

Please visit the Community page here for any questions on how to successfully publish in the LMAC Community.

The admonishment was swift. And it wasn't what Andreya expected. Still, she lingered a bit longer calling out desperately, hoping the prediction she received got tangled in her distorted mind.

Her web of lies unfolded like an arachnid retracing its steps, dismantling its delicate string of deceit.

No one taunted or forced her to enter and disturb the house where spirits dwelt. It was her greed that propelled her in the quest for the formula of youth. Warnings posted atop the banister were ignored as she pried open the master's tomb. His gatekeeper emerged. The treasure of wisdom she sought did not bring her any closer to understanding the past or outliving the future.

The knowledge brought tears of blood streaming down her cheeks.

But the Keeper of Secrets didn't flinch. Devoid of feelings, he summoned his forces of evil and cast her from the castle. How foolish of her to venture there alone.

Once outside, instead of running as far away as she could, Andreya turned and stood her ground. She had a few trick of her own, but they were no match for the supreme wizard. Her bruised body testament to her ordeal. Realizing her mismatch and underestimating the forces within the castle, she begged for forgiveness.

The Keeper of Secrets delivered the final verdict with bloodshot eyes wide and determined to punish for her trespass.

Her resolve still clung to hope as the angel of mercy prayed for her redemption. But no human was allowed to discover the secrets of the castle.

Her discovery inside she's take with her as the Keeper of Secrets swept her up and sucked her inside the castle.

In preparing my theme, I envisioned a dramatic scene in a dark swamp where tree limbs' shadows are seen on the ground. The setting is outside a castle where a young girl begs for redemption. I especially love how the LMAC shadow image complemented the branches to reflect on the shoreline.

^{Source: LMAC Round 214 Contest Image}

^{Source: LMAC Round 208 Contest Image}

Below are the additional images I included to complete my dark castle theme.

Item	Contributor	Source
Angel	Pixabay	Link
Bad hair day	Pixabay	Link
Tree branches	Pixabay	Link
Body of blue water	Name	Link
Ceiling Fan	Hive account@mballesteros	Link
Yellow Flowers	Hive account@rappler	Link
Pure Fractal titled "Egg Throwing" created in Apophysis 7X	Hive account@justclickindiva	Link

When compiling my freestyle collage design, I upload my images to Canva. It's my design program I use to blend my images. Below are the procedures I use that incorporate the tools at my disposal in my Annual Pro Membership Subscription.

Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
To a blank canvas, I added the female in tears image.	Added a Canva abstract background that matched the purple color in the female image.	Added the man with a bad hair day. Removed background, then flipped the image to face the female as if in a conversation.	Added tree limbs; two LMAC images. One as a castle for the man's head protruding. The other, as the shadow for the tree limbs. Completed project.

Below is my completed collage:

Thanks for your visit. I appreciate it. I hope you like my freestyle collage theme.

CONTEST RULES

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

It is imperative that you read the post LMAC School - Public Domain Picture sources (Free Materials for creating collages) by

Hive account@quantumg, which discusses public domain issues. The post offers valuable information on images for commercial use. Links are included to sources that offer public domain images and other images that are free for commercial uses. Using public domain pictures and free pictures for commercial use are requirements for all collages that are submitted as entries in the LMAC contest and the LMAC Image Library (LIL).

What is Let's Make a Collage?	It is a weekly photography and collage contest.
Who created the contest?	Hive account@shaka is the contest owner.
What type of contest is it?	This Contest utilizes a single photo provided by the contest owner as the basis for you to create your own photo collage by adding to the photo provided.
What are the rules?	1. Use as your starting point for your collage the photography provided by the contest owner. It is located on the contest owner's post for free use without any copyright protection.
	2. Entries are required to be posted to the LMAC community and must contain a link to the contest post.
	3. Entries need to set the LMAC account (Hive account@lmac) as 20% beneficiary to be eligible for the dynamic component of the prize pool.;
	4. Extra support with the LMAC trail to all collages where LIL assets have been included AND the respective LIL-contributors set as 2% beneficiaries;
	5. By submitting your contribution you agree that your artwork remains public domain and that it can be copied, modified and distributed, even for commercial purposes, without requiring further permission.
	6. Any graphical element that is added to the photography either needs to be your own original work (e.g. own artwork or photography) OR needs to derive from sites whitelisted by LMAC.
	7. IMPORTANT: Indicate the source of all materials used in your accompanying post. Otherwise your entry can NOT be put up for the final vote.
	8. All sort of editing, modification and/or manipulation is allowed as long as no copyright is affected.
What do you win?	Prizes listed on the contest owner's post.

Good luck everyone with whatever your endeavors.

SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/

English is my native language.
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.