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2nd Place.
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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Zen Photography (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Canon EOS-10D
Lens: Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Location: deck
Date: Jul 29, 2006
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/750
Galleries: Nude
Date Uploaded: Jul 30, 2006

- a conversation -

My pet chicken "Pico" was perched on my deck railing and watched as I prepared to shoot my Zen Challenge. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:

Pico: "Master, what are you doing?"

Me: "I am creating a photograph to enter in a contest, Pico."

Pico: "What will you do if you win, Master?"

Me: "I will thank my sisters 2mccs (Marla), and aberration (Marjory), for sharing their snacks at the weekly DPC parties, and I will thank the DPC voters for their generous votes and kind comments."

Pico: "No, No, Master. The money... how will you spend the prize money?"

Me: "There is no prize money, Pico. There is a ribbon."

Pico: "A ribbon is not much to show for so much work Master, but I suppose it will look good on my trophy room wall."

Me: "No, my feathered friend, this ribbon is make believe. You can not hang it on a wall. It is a ribbon that is not a ribbon."

Pico: "I am confused, Master. Do you mean you are shooting a photo of nothingness so that you can win nothing?"

Me: "That is correct, little chicken."

Pico: "How Zen-like. Your mind is truly empty, Master. You should do well in this contest."

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 329
Avg (all users): 7.4931
Avg (commenters): 8.9048
Avg (participants): 7.5776
Avg (non-participants): 7.3960
Views since voting: 27643
Views during voting: 447
Votes: 217
Comments: 107
Favorites: 101 (view)


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AuthorThread
07/10/2012 11:55:56 AM
Haha. I like how this is set as a nude. ANd also how you descended into madness while talking to your chicken...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/15/2010 01:30:16 PM
OMG brilliant Photographers Comments lol
Nice photo as well BTW.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/29/2010 06:24:37 PM
This is one of my all time favorite photos!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/20/2009 11:08:03 PM
Best Photog comments I have ever read. So appropos of the life & times of a DPC ribbon winner.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/17/2009 08:29:32 PM
this is beautiful
amazing and beautiful

  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/17/2009 05:43:23 PM
Does it get any better? (Best photographer comments too).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/24/2008 03:32:28 PM
86 favorites?? How do you do it??
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/28/2006 03:55:16 PM
i love it, smooooooth and comfee, thank you
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/23/2006 03:47:53 PM
Great image and the conversation was funny too...
Good Job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/11/2006 12:38:18 AM
Very nice,I love shots like this. Congrats on the red.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/10/2006 06:30:42 PM
Well done! a really beautiful shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/10/2006 12:50:23 PM
OMG that conversation just made my day!! Congrats on your well deserved 2nd place!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/10/2006 09:19:03 AM
Great shot, peaceful and beautiful. Congrats on your red ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/10/2006 05:12:09 AM
Congratulations! this was a perfect 10 for me. Absolutely beautiful image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/09/2006 02:49:04 PM
Fantastic conversation - LOL!

Well done on the shot too - I think it may have looked slightly better if it was cropped tighter on the left to get rid of the piece of grass/plant that is so close to the edge of the image, though that is just being picky!

Congrats...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/09/2006 11:18:12 AM
What a lovely conversation with your chicken to go along with an even lovelier photo :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/09/2006 09:10:49 AM
Definately a winning photo, but LOVE the conversation - I suppose this shows true creativity Zen Master... :-) Congrats on the ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/09/2006 02:01:22 AM
Love the description as much as the photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/09/2006 01:13:16 AM
A true tenner (while the text-photo composition is a bonus)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/08/2006 10:56:44 PM
I like the photo.
I love the story!
congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/08/2006 06:47:57 PM
Very wise are thou and Pico and very beautiful is thy photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/08/2006 11:25:24 AM
haha, hilarious comments-

oh, and i suppose the photo is absolutely a winner too
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/08/2006 04:18:25 AM
beautiful image... congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/08/2006 02:45:09 AM
This is an amazing shot! I hope Pico is proud.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/08/2006 02:01:25 AM
You certainly have superb imagination and eye to catch it. Congratulation on capturing a wonderful moment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 06:54:28 PM
I gave it a 10- outstanding ! I would love a print....if available
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 05:27:46 PM
Congrats on your first ribbon :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 04:51:51 PM
Congrats on a beautiful image and your Ribbon
I love your Conversation with Pico
Well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 02:56:31 PM
Definitely a winner!!! Congratulations!!!
Had a great time reading your dialog with Pico.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 02:26:22 PM
Beautiful and simple, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 02:08:10 PM
Loved the shot! Congratulations! Greetings to Pico, he's really clever..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 01:07:25 PM
This is a remarkable image.

Congrats to you and to your pet chicken Pico! :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:55:20 PM
very sweet, very zen. congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:29:14 PM
Lovely photographer's comment section :-) The image itself, to my mind, is exactly what the challenge called for. Congrats on your ribbon, it's well-earned.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 11:15:58 AM
Your image is exactly what this challenge called for. Congratulations on your first ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 11:00:46 AM
Where’s the duck? ;-)

Well done, true Zen.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 09:34:54 AM
Really beautiful and one of my favourites!! Congratualtions on a fine win!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 09:01:41 AM
Beautiful! Congratulations on your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 08:32:31 AM
I give you a 10 for the conversation with the pet, and a 9 on the photo, great shot love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 07:56:42 AM
Great zen photo. I love the "conversation".
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 07:05:46 AM
I gave this an 8. Apt for this Challenge. Nice clarity and gradient too. Good little 'story' in your Comments.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 05:19:28 AM
hey congratulations on the ribbon. Perfect zen-like photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 03:19:12 AM
Congrats! Excellent shot, your comment makes it perfect!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 02:43:41 AM
congratualtions on your first ribbon Steve...may you get many, many, more...loved your Comments LOL
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 02:01:15 AM
Very nice capture that certainly creates for me a calming effect. I especially enjoy the gradiation of the lighing from light at the top to darker at the bottom. It helps add drama to the shot.

Absolutely delighted with the "conversation" as well :)

Congratulations.

Message edited by author 2006-08-07 02:02:21.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 01:03:17 AM
The essence of Zen. Beautiful. (love the conversation too)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:37:12 AM
Superb image. Huge congrats on your red. Love your "conversation" ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:33:45 AM
Nice to see one of the ribbon winners meet the challenge. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:30:10 AM
Congratulations on 2nd place with this superb image. Perfect composition. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:28:25 AM
I really liked this one. Glad it went so well and I see it's a PB for you too. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:28:03 AM
This was close to what I first considered doing. I went for the chop sticks and millet instead. Here you hvae outdone yourself and delivered a great gem to carry away the mind away gently in a ripple. Congratulations on your RED!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:15:54 AM
congrats on your first ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:14:47 AM
Haha, I love the photo comments/conversation there
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:12:05 AM
Congratulations! Very well deserved - this was one of my favorites in this challenge. You do good work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:11:59 AM
congrats on second!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:10:00 AM
Steve, congratulations on a well deserved ribbon. It's a beautiful picture and says Zen through and through.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:09:58 AM
one of my favorites in the challenge, congrats on the ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:08:27 AM
Congrats on the ribbon with an excellent shot - well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:08:20 AM
Congratulations Steve on another superb image. Every aspect is flawless right down to the title.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 12:08:10 AM
This was one of my top picks - congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/06/2006 11:46:33 PM
Perfect capture. An easy 10 kinda shot for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/06/2006 03:50:22 PM
I like all the curves in this and the two elements touching.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/06/2006 01:54:00 PM
A beautiful, tranquil photograph which I can see myself looking at again and again. A definite 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/06/2006 01:53:42 PM
COmposition is very nice and simple, as the challenge, it meets perfectly. Colors and lighting technically perfect. Added: it says something else. Good job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/05/2006 11:30:04 PM
Perfect image for the theme - my pick to win.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/05/2006 07:29:38 AM
.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/05/2006 06:40:24 AM
Great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/05/2006 12:11:53 AM
Peaceful moment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/04/2006 04:18:16 PM
I don't know much about Zen. ..but there's something about this photo that rings true to it :) Simple but has a very nice feel to it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/04/2006 04:15:36 PM
10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/04/2006 08:19:31 AM
very nice. Top 10. (9)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/04/2006 08:10:54 AM
Very "Zen" and just about perfect.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/04/2006 03:37:31 AM
Very pretty. It is tonally very quiet, and just a bit of movement in the ripple, which is why I didn't score it a tad higher.

Update: I went back in and looked again, and feel that this does deserve a higher mark.

This has a very lofty feeling to it, I can feel the water moving, while yet still. The minimal use of color and lighting keep this photo very silent in movement and distraction, creating a great sense of zen for me. At least, my idea of zen. Gave you a 10. Great job from the 'great job baggie'....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/03/2006 09:11:15 PM
The lighting on this is perfect, with the gradation from upper left to lower right. Very zen indeed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/03/2006 06:44:37 PM
As simple as I might sound, the title fits this image perfectly.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/03/2006 03:32:41 PM
Now this one really does whispher, beautiful and meets the challenge perfectly! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/03/2006 08:35:26 AM
Nice and simple. You nailed this challenge. Very nice work and I hope this does well for you. 8 - for now
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/03/2006 06:06:55 AM
good title 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/03/2006 05:06:42 AM
Simply beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2006 09:00:43 PM
best of luck with this well composed peaceful image
the delicate touch into the water of the grass and the soft ripples in the still water are just beautiful!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2006 05:04:39 PM
This is exactly what I tried to do in mine, but I couldn't get it right so did something different. Not only did you do it, but you did it well. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2006 04:12:59 PM
perfect
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2006 03:41:58 PM
reflection of desirous mind
shows only desire
no mind. 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2006 03:07:35 PM
The essence of zen... and my first 10. congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2006 07:36:41 AM
Very nice. Very Zen
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2006 01:38:17 AM
If this isnt Zen i give up
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2006 07:46:49 PM
nice composition. the tones look really nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2006 06:01:40 PM
wow! so beautiful! I can sense the silence
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2006 12:43:14 PM
Great balance to this composition and very nice tones. Very nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2006 12:36:27 PM
lovely image, simple yet interesting...excellent light and composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2006 10:17:56 AM
only a few that deserve a 10 in this challenge. 10/10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2006 09:36:19 AM
perfect in all ways
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2006 06:59:05 AM
I keep coming back to this image and, for me, I feel it would work well with just the ripples of the water. Still nicely composed and I like the colours. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2006 06:46:32 AM
I do like how you have captured the water and ripples, good work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2006 02:04:02 AM
Simple and serene. Perfection, 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 11:13:37 PM
Excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 08:34:45 PM
Very nice, I really love this and I imagine it has a decent difculty level.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 07:18:50 PM
Very nice photo. I don't really have anything that I would change. I do however feel it lacks something in the subject that tells a story. I give it a 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 06:31:02 PM
Very Nice and very fitting for the challenge. One of the best I have seen yet. Great capture and great job (9)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 02:56:56 PM
I like what you've done with this overall. I'm wondering if the ripples aren't disturbing the "silence and serenity" a little? I agree without them the image might be too quiet...hmmm. Must have been tough to decide. ;^) Best of luck in the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 02:05:47 PM
This shot will do well, I'm sure. Not the most original, but certainly well executed. I've been going back and forth on this debating wether or not the ripples detract from the sense of calm or add to it. I'm going to go with detracts. This image as a mirror effect over that gray gradient would have epitomized the challenge description of harmony, stillness, etc. 6.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 01:48:53 PM
Drinking and weeping at the same time. The best defined zen photo of the challenge. 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 01:36:47 PM
Love it. This is one of my favourites for the top ten.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 12:47:30 PM
IMHO this is a perfect zen shot. Very simple in compostion and coloring but makes you keep looking at it. Love the riples! Good luck in the challenge!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 07:55:52 AM
lovely, love the ripples, love the simplicity
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 05:53:51 AM
another 10, nothing else to say.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 04:48:05 AM
Would there be any stillness if there were no ripples to highlight it?! This is perfect example of Zen art and it highlights the "whole" with help of minor subject. I love the sheer simplicity of the composition and I "know" that it needs the mind at rest to see such a beauty. Goodluck.10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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