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The Summoning
The Summoning
robinssong


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Magic & Mystery (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Sony DSC-H5
Location: Home, Melbourne, FL
Date: Aug 20, 2006
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 125
Shutter: 1/25s
Galleries: Emotive, Still Life
Date Uploaded: Aug 20, 2006

 Cropped, levels, small curves, brightness/contrast,channel mixer, save for web.

Thanks everyone! 5th!! I can't believe it! :) Like a dream come true!

The setup:

Purchased a small, Styrofoam skull at the craft store. It was only $1.99!
In the kitchen I put a light table on it's side. Taped a sheet used for scrap-booking. This created a spooky background. Put the skull on top of a weird candle holder I had in my junk room. Lit cone incense to provide the streams of smoke that sort of wrapped around the skull. I lightly fanned the smoke to move it a bit, I had the overhead light, light from the light table, light from a window at the left and a 40w lamp that I moved around while I was snapping photos.

First time using a tripod with a 2 second timer to get the sharpest possible photo.

Still so new at this and don't quite understand all the technical details.


Statistics
Place: 5 out of 127
Avg (all users): 7.2477
Avg (commenters): 8.6000
Avg (participants): 7.3091
Avg (non-participants): 7.2264
Views since voting: 5506
Views during voting: 565
Votes: 214
Comments: 51
Favorites: 25 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/07/2011 11:02:57 PM
Fantastic! Very creative.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/05/2008 08:50:33 PM
Just found this. Cool photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/03/2007 01:55:49 AM
Comment...super cool, from GraphicFunk says it all for me, very very interesting shot...way to go!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/18/2007 11:07:21 PM
Very creative. You've got a great eye and don't worry about the technical details, you'll get more and more of them as your creativity drives you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/20/2006 01:53:29 AM
Wicked shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/30/2006 08:55:08 AM
Wicked shot. Pun intended.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/16/2006 08:48:13 PM
This is such an awesome photo and well put together! Congrats on 5th place!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/30/2006 10:44:40 PM
I swear I commented on this during the challenge. I am glad I came back to it to add it to my favorites though. this is an awesome shot and you deserve much congrats for it, you should have gotten the blue ribbon. Keep it up!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/01/2006 02:27:49 PM
Didn't get a chance to vote, but I think this should have taken a top 3 place. Maybe too 'dark' for some, but not for me. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/29/2006 10:10:39 AM
Excellent shot, Congrats on the 5th place!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 04:00:39 PM
OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH RIGHT! you made it to the top ten!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 11:56:34 AM
stunning shot and creativity!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 11:21:38 AM
awesome shot..wow, this one is very cool...surprised it didn't ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 09:05:33 AM
This should have been the blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 07:26:13 AM
Thought for sure I would see my favorite awsome shot in one of those ribbon spots. Well at least you made the top 5 with a very decent score. Happy shooting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 06:44:50 AM
Great idea and very well executed. Gave this one a 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 03:32:36 AM
Wow, what a high scoring challenge, sucks getting a 7.248 and no ribbon but if you keep this up you will get one eventually and probably soon, keep it up...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 02:05:11 AM
This should have won the blue ribbon. The voting was bogus. Plain and simple.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 01:51:14 AM
Good to see this one do so well. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 01:25:53 AM
this is just amazing and wonderful. the textures and smoke and spooky feeling and lighting you get are so incredible. the whole thing is really unbelieveable. outstanding job! definitely a favorite! should have been numero uno for this challenge, but whatever. peace.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 12:41:47 AM
Spooky and forbidden! Congratulations on your 5th place.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/27/2006 11:29:10 PM
ONe of the most eerie of all the pics in this challenge. Your perspecitve works great with the BG(especially the moon)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 09:25:27 PM
very good - I like the angle you'e taken this from, makes the skull seem very ominous and dominating, even scary
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 08:58:48 PM
Realy like this one, great take on the challange. First 9 from me in the challenge. Hope to see this one in top 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 08:34:55 PM
Nicely and dramatically done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 03:38:13 PM
Terrific! Especially choosing to shoot from below, with the moon over "his" shoulder.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 02:01:26 PM
Great shot. One of my favorites
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 12:39:50 PM
Fun stuff! Your point of view really helps add interest to this image! The tones are nice and rich, and I like the smoke for effect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 12:12:29 AM
A truly spooky and supernatural capture. You did an excellent job with bringing all the elements together to create an ominous and creepy mood. The ghostly smoke rising from the grimacing skull, the barren silhouettes of the trees in the background and the rising full moon all come together to present an image that is spine-chilling especially should one encounter this scene in a wooded area. I also have to say that this would be a perfect picture capturing the spirit (pardon the pun) of Halloween. Great job 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2006 03:47:10 PM
Great for this challenge...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2006 03:01:24 PM
Great background for your subject. But I think it's the smoke that really seperates this image from being merely good, to being exceptional.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2006 08:41:18 PM
This is awesome!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2006 04:47:43 PM
Wow... are you sure this isn't CG? haha Very very nice. Anxious to here how it was done. Stunning sharpness and the smoke is key.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2006 09:13:06 AM
Excellent shot! Very atmospheric and great processing too. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2006 02:15:38 AM
wow well done!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 10:43:44 PM
Started out at 6, upping it to 7. Creepy, and the spirit soaring out of the skull really drives home the magical feel. I look forward to reading how you did it. The moon also adds a nice touch. 7.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 06:34:26 PM
My favorite part is the moon in the background. Adds just the extra touch needed with the angle you used. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 12:40:06 PM
Very nice effect. I like the puff of smoke coming from the eye socket.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 09:27:34 AM
Wonderful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 01:05:13 AM
Super cool!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 06:19:33 PM
i love it ! 10 all the way! i think the smoke is cool
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 12:20:43 PM
Nice feel. The trees in the background do scream "print" to me. Just a tad too centered, but I love the capture of the smoke. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 07:52:03 AM
Wow...love this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 06:18:02 AM
Eerie and quite spooky.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 04:45:26 AM
I fully expect this to ribbon...nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 08:59:36 PM
oh damn! This is awesome! Best I've seen so far.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 04:45:02 PM
ooh, definitely a contender. very good lighting. i am particularly impressed with how well the choice of background complements the subject. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 04:12:43 PM
This is a stand out image in this challenge and a ribbon winner f'sure...10 (disclaimer- I have been known to be waaaay wrong with my predictions)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 02:19:37 AM
Well, this is the best that I've seen so far. Good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 12:50:31 AM
the composition could be a tad more interesting, but I love your subject, and your effort.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 12:13:22 AM
That is awesome !! Might be my first 10 ! Great job !
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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