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Challenge: Nude III (Advanced Editing IV)
Collection: Favorites - Ribbons
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
Location: Easton, CT
Date: Aug 20, 2005
Aperture: f/9.0
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/160
Galleries: Humorous, Nude
Date Uploaded: Aug 21, 2005

This was supposed to be my entry for Illusions II, but I never got the chance to shoot it. The image may be a little disturbing to some, but it was intended be more "Wile E Coyote" than "Silence of the Lambs". The model is actually wearing the shirt "section," but a matching zipper on top creates the illusion that the shirt is below the skin.

The setup was simple, but tedious. I cut out the shirt in the shape you see here and added a bright pink zipper from an old Barbie lunch box. I hand stitched the zipper onto the shirt and used double stick tape to attach the other side of the zipper as seamlessly as possible to my wonderfully tolerant wife (I promised a PG-13 rating). I used a single monolight and umbrella on the right side to enhance the shadows.

I ran the original through Noise Ninja first for a smoother look. In Photoshop, I cloned out freckles and tan lines, softened veins and lines on the hand, and straightened a few stubborn kinks in the zipper. Then I colorized the zipper to match the skin tones and used a partially transparent clone brush in color and luminosity modes to fade the edges of the zipper. Once the zipper matches, there's not much left to do. Finishing touches with Levels and the Channel Mixer for a slight saturation boost. The setup is obvious when the zipper doesn't match.

Now I just have to wait and see if "cool" outweighs "creepy" ;-)

Post challenge: OK, so cool doesn't outweigh creepy. WHOA! Look at all those votes of 3 or less! Ouch! Since so many commentors apparently were fooled into thinking this was really a suit, I can at least take comfort in the thought that I might have kicked butt in Illusions, where this was intended.

Statistics
Place: 36 out of 118
Avg (all users): 5.8988
Avg (commenters): 7.1538
Avg (participants): 5.4725
Avg (non-participants): 5.9975
Views since voting: 11366
Views during voting: 1579
Votes: 484
Comments: 99
Favorites: 19 (view)


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AuthorThread
02/18/2011 05:39:55 AM
how in god's name did i miss this? Crazy concept
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/18/2010 12:11:17 AM
wow ok so I know this was a while ago but I just had to comment! I LOVE THIS!!! this is crazy cool and has the originality that I LOVE!!! Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/09/2009 08:50:48 AM
A late comment, but : This is neat!!

Message edited by author 2009-11-09 08:51:54.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/07/2006 09:04:09 PM
I love this, I thought this was a suit, then after reading your notes, wow, great shot, would have ben a 9 from me had I been a member then ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/15/2006 12:03:43 AM
I didn't understand how this was implemented; but I still gave it an 8. I found it interesting, intriguing and seamlessly well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/03/2005 05:16:32 AM
The good news is I figured this out before I read your post on how you did it. The bad news is that it did not place higher. I thought this shot was fantastic. I could also tell that this was not a "fat suit". THere are some stretch marks on your wife's left breast that a suit would not have. This was my favorite shot of the challenge even though it is a little creepy - but wow! I still love it. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/02/2005 02:15:37 PM
Um... no. That's HER hand. 'Course I'm very particular about arranging my props just right. ;-)
09/02/2005 10:11:16 AM
Hee-hee - you're touching your wife's boobie!
:D

(great execution BTW)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/30/2005 01:49:33 PM
Shannon, you simply have too much creativity and talent.
Oh - and a lot of spare time too!
Nice job!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/30/2005 12:06:37 PM
Never doubted it was a suit when I voted (6)...you totally got me!!! Great job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 09:16:49 PM
wow, this shot is amazing, never would have guessed how you did this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 09:51:56 AM
This was an awesome shot. Great layout and technical in my book. Should have scored higher.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 08:11:29 AM
Holy cow....Shannon...that is amazing. I was totally convinced that it was a suit of some sort. WOW!!! I was fooled. Congrats on a great photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 06:49:31 AM
Shannon you are a genious... blue ribbon for sure in illusions... I think you are correct that this was a little too creepy for some voters... amazing!

Also, if a voter doesn't see nipples and bums in the shot then I think that they think 'cop out' LOL
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 05:04:36 AM
This was set up so perfectly that even though it partially creeped me out, I was so facinated with it, I gave you a high score. A perfect illusion for this challenge. Thanks for the notes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 04:00:30 AM
excellent setup
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 12:43:14 AM
It fooled me! Great job! (even if the score didn't match expectations).

I thought it was a suit! It's quite a cool shot and a good illusion!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 12:34:20 AM
Originally posted by dahkota:

Maybe if you had left the imperfections in, the freckles and veins...


Yeah, probably, but I was worried about getting hit for imperfections that would have been easy to remove in Advanced Editing. I also forgot the nail polish. ;-)
08/29/2005 12:28:03 AM
Shannon, I have to be honest with you. I thought it was a man zipping a fat suit over a dress shirt. So, your illusion worked too well! The skin did not look like skin was my problem. Maybe if you had left the imperfections in, the freckles and veins, I would have seen it for the wonderful illusion that it was. Sorry!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 12:26:59 AM
i loved it - another that deserved a high score! I even hollared at the rest of the household to look at this one ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 12:21:07 AM
I thought this was very cool and creative. Too bad so many others lack imagination. Luv it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 12:15:41 AM
I still say this shoulda ribboned! Excellent shot Shannon! You got a 10 from me. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 12:11:22 AM
wow.

your imagination is too good! so well conceived and executed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/29/2005 12:07:37 AM
Unbelievable setup. Inspired imagination. My hat is off.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/28/2005 11:49:09 PM
very clever. I like this photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/28/2005 04:48:08 PM
Unique shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/28/2005 07:35:35 AM
beautiful !! Is that a real costume ??
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/28/2005 06:58:41 AM
Interesting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/27/2005 11:31:25 PM
I look forward to the explanation on this one. Very cool effect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/27/2005 04:45:30 PM
Clever and original. Well done! 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/27/2005 04:08:28 PM
This is one of the most stunning images of the last 12 months of challenges, If you dont post how this was done afterwards your obvious forthcoming ribbon should be taken away from you and your membership revoked. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/27/2005 11:22:02 AM
Very cool idea and excellent execution!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/27/2005 10:19:56 AM
What the heck? Seems like the hand should be female since the suit is not yet off....but this is an amazing work of art here. Unbelievable.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/27/2005 12:52:26 AM
fat/body-suit or photoshop?? Looks cool, kinda spooky, but not very nude to me, despite those breasts. The zipper kind of kills the mood ;-))

I give you a 7, because it's so different and original.

Bruno
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/26/2005 10:43:10 PM
Very strange, and very well done. Really not sure what to suggest here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/26/2005 09:41:28 PM
Oddly creepy -- yet well done. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/26/2005 11:26:29 AM
The most original of this challenge !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/26/2005 11:10:20 AM
Oh clever! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/26/2005 01:03:30 AM
He, he, this is funny! I like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/26/2005 12:26:31 AM
Now this is cool.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/25/2005 10:42:15 PM
I really like the symbol here - nice one!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/25/2005 06:09:39 PM
Well-titled. Love the shot. Works on a number of levels.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/25/2005 12:09:24 PM
lol, good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/25/2005 11:28:09 AM
This has to be the weirdest picture in the challenge. I can't decide if this is a picture of a woman placed over the shirt or if it's an actual suit made to wear in a movie. Whichever way, it is brilliant. bumping up and going into my notebook of ideas.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/25/2005 08:16:13 AM
Very original!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/25/2005 05:39:53 AM
Very interesting and origional, would love to know how this was done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/25/2005 12:56:34 AM
okay Mrs. Doubtfire
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/25/2005 12:09:28 AM
That's just a brilliant concept. Kudos!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/25/2005 12:08:40 AM
Had to bump this up , cleaver.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/24/2005 06:30:35 PM
lol - I think (s)he hit on me once. Nice take on the challenge. The lighting is good and the crop is dead on. Nice crisp focus. Good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/24/2005 03:12:43 PM
8 for title alone :-) It's nicely shot anyway, and certainly an original take on the topic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/24/2005 08:22:55 AM
Great concept and illusion
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/24/2005 03:38:00 AM
Nice color, not as fitting to the challenge as I thought it should be.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 10:22:03 PM
Interesting, this reminds me of one of those pregnancy things, the things they strap on kids to show them what its like to be pregnant. Good lighting,
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 10:17:43 PM
The visual effect of this image brings me back to the sixties where my mind was always blown away. This inverse composition does that. Bumping up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 10:09:29 PM
Doesn't fit the challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 06:03:16 PM
Weird. I love the creativity here~! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 05:59:21 PM
This is quite the interesting shot. I'd be very interested in knowing how this was accomplished. Composition-wise, i find the shot's lighting a little dull but well mastered. The picture feels more like a Tutorial (on how to do the zipper thing) rather then some sort of art. Overall, quite nice. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 04:21:17 PM
how mind-boggling! cool trick and great photo! 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 02:52:52 PM
This is TOTALLY AWESOME! WOW... This definitely will ribbon - and it's only the 3rd image I've seen. Bumping up to 10. Not to be indelicate, but the breasts look so real - even have stretch marks/veins. Very impressive illusion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 01:32:59 PM
Creeps me out!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 01:23:39 PM
Huh??
Interesting. I look foreward to seeing how this was done.
Makes me look for a long time tring to work it out.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 07:34:47 AM
You may be getting shot down, but I like the thought.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 06:07:19 AM
this body thingy is quite unappealing to me. credit for the idea.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 05:29:36 AM
different very Dr Who 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2005 01:36:55 AM
how did you do this, woderful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 11:45:10 PM
How you do this one
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 11:38:04 PM
Very creative. I hope this does well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 11:36:14 PM
Love the title. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 10:51:11 PM
this is weird, great imagination
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 10:33:15 PM
I appreciate the thinking outside of the box that you used for this photograph. It is a great illusion and would have done fantastic in that challenge. I do however feel slightly cheated as a photographer when I see this shot in this challenge as it took a lot of courage for me and my model to enter a more traditional style of nude shot. Nice shot overall with awesome lighting. I just personally don't think it fit's the challenge in this instance.
TC
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 10:05:03 PM
I get a silence of the lambs vibe here. It also confuses me heavily as to how it would be possible. That being said, I just don't really like it. I would like to see a "how I did this" when the voting is over.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 09:34:31 PM
That's disturbing. HAHA
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 08:45:23 PM
cool.. the discovery here is great: 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 06:27:42 PM
Very crisp and weird shot-7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 04:42:23 PM
woah, crazy effect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 04:30:08 PM
Wow! Very well executed! Love this take on the challenge! Maybe just a tiny tad more light as some of the shadows are a little distracting, but overall, a really good shot. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 03:08:38 PM
very uhmm..... unique I gotta know how you did it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 12:18:59 PM
Very clever idea. The hand is perfectly lit and focused. Good use of light. This gets a solid 8 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 11:01:04 AM
Impressive.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 09:33:34 AM
Excellent image but I feel you missed the spirit of the challenge topic. The lighting works well, composition good, tones very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 07:50:12 AM
Lovely! Can you explain it after the voting?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 06:23:41 AM
What the...huh? Trippy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 05:08:52 AM
Great effect, would love to see a "how to" on this
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 05:05:51 AM
Now how did you do that. This has gotta be graphicfunk. Very clever 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 03:18:39 AM
I love it. Soo very... Intriguing. I have literally been sitting here for the last 5 minutes just pondering over this photo.

Once the challenge is over you simply must tell us how you did this. I have a few thoughts on how it was done. But please enlighten us.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 02:36:00 AM
An interesting, but disturbing illusion type shot, but would work better if there were nipples shown. Clever though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 02:29:44 AM
I know you are going to have to put up a "how I did this" forum. good luck - 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 02:05:13 AM
OMG, hahahahaha
would have been great in the illusions challenge too :-)
I think I know how you did this, but it took me a little while
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 01:57:10 AM
this cracked me up. Hubby assures me it is a body suit, but its a great one. Nice spin on the challenge!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 01:31:56 AM
This is such a wild photo! Skin tones look real! I can't wait to see how you pulled this one off! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 01:16:41 AM
what a cool photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 01:09:46 AM
Bizarre, and remarkably well done! Must have either taken some very careful gluing and makeup, or lots of Photoshopping...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 01:09:42 AM
First word that came out of my mouth: Remarkable!! and then cocked my head sideways thinking "Buffalo Bill" with style? ("SIlence of the Lambs") Great work and very creative I must say.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 12:41:49 AM
woah where did you get this outfit?
lol 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 12:24:18 AM
Ineresting, but left me wanting to see more. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 12:23:21 AM
lol @ the photo... not really a nude imo but its a very witty and original idea.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 12:12:07 AM
excellent photo and idea
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/22/2005 12:07:02 AM
weird.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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