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Visualize World Peas
Visualize World Peas
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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Visual Puns (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: Dec 18, 2005
Aperture: f/9.0
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/160
Galleries: Humorous, Studio
Date Uploaded: Dec 18, 2005

 There was some pressure on me (ahem) to enter this challenge and score well, so I put a little more effort into it than usual. I had a similar idea that I've been saving for months, but this seemed like a promising variation. I expect a few others to go with a "pea" pun... Crabappl3 shocked me by mentioning "world peas" in chat after I'd already bought the materials! :-(

The "peas" are 1/2" balls of Playdoh that I mixed to get the green color and then molded into rough pea shapes. I sealed them with two coats of clear nail polish and painted them with blue and white nail polish (using a fuzzy pipe cleaner to dab on the cloud details). I used long pins pushed into styrofoam to hold the peas for drying. FWIW, I started this using real peas, but I couldn't get enough detail on them with the thick nail polish, so I had to supersize it.

I placed the peas on an oversized serving fork and dipped them in boiling water to get the steam (which is why I chose nail polish). I had a monolight in the back to illuminate the steam (in front of black fabric) and another monolight with a shoot-through umbrella in front to light the peas.

Processing: Combined two exposures processed from the same RAW capture to lighten the peas without blowing out the highlights. Saturation, colorizing, dodging and burning. Desaturated the fork and cloned out imperfections, blurred the steam to minimize grain, and cloned the top left edges of the peas a little to reduce glare.

I'm pretty happy that the shot turned out like I envisioned... eventually. What a pain in the neck though! It was a tough setup, so I certainly hope others appreciate the image.

Statistics
Place: 7 out of 144
Avg (all users): 6.6564
Avg (commenters): 8.0000
Avg (participants): 6.3902
Avg (non-participants): 6.8069
Views since voting: 7988
Views during voting: 503
Votes: 227
Comments: 26
Favorites: 5 (view)

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AuthorThread
 01/12/2006 07:47:40 PM
I was sure this was a ribbon winner. But congratulations on your finish! (Just catching up on my comments).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2005 05:42:22 PM
Very smart. Wonderful image. Congratulations on the top ten finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2005 08:56:40 PM
It's always amazing to read how you create your photos. Congratulations on a nice finish and not letting us down. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2005 12:20:30 PM
Thought this pic was great. Gave it a 9 and expected it to ribbon. I sure wondered about the size/detail on the peas but your explanation answers that question. The steam was a neat touch too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2005 11:32:22 AM
Awesome thought and pic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2005 09:47:13 AM
Amazing. . .as always.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2005 08:35:53 AM
What a nifty concept! Congratulations on your top ten finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2005 08:35:34 AM
This was my solo 10 vote :) WTg Shannon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2005 02:01:11 AM
great finish, shannon. you came through in the clinch :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2005 01:01:33 AM
One of my favs for this challence, Shannon. Beautiful detail and contrast. The steam and lit water drop on the bottom are supurb touches!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/25/2005 10:58:56 PM
wow, i don't know how you pulled off those little 'world' peas but i like this shot alot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/25/2005 10:14:30 PM
This is clever. How in the heck did you get that one to stay on the tip of the fork?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/23/2005 09:05:33 AM
title +1, made me laugh +1, meets challenge +1, technical +1. 9 - good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/23/2005 12:25:24 AM
This is the best by far 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/22/2005 07:19:08 PM
Interesting! Well done shot. I particularly like the colors against the black.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/21/2005 11:31:00 PM
This is #1. For sure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/21/2005 10:34:29 AM
Nice concept. Looks like quite some work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/20/2005 01:03:38 PM
These look like world blueberries.... hmmmm.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/20/2005 04:26:51 AM
Just wonderful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/20/2005 03:20:45 AM
Super image, and I like everything about this image, well done...............Hope it does well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/20/2005 02:54:55 AM
Great photo, nice attention to detail.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/19/2005 10:59:29 PM
It's easier to visualize whirled peas... ;>)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/19/2005 12:37:10 PM
nice entry for fork challnge too. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/19/2005 12:31:30 PM
Perfect shot! I'm sure you're scoring pretty nice with this one. GREAT job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/19/2005 09:54:38 AM
Very Nice!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/19/2005 02:15:52 AM
Very clever.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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