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graphicfunk


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Magic & Mystery (Advanced Editing IV)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Location: home
Date: Aug 20, 2006
Aperture: f18
ISO: 100
Shutter: 30 sec strobes
Galleries: Emotive, Persuasive
Date Uploaded: Aug 20, 2006

 This was done with a 30 sec exposure. It took more preparation then I anticipated and even brought a tinge of anxiety because I started it at 9:00 pm, the night of challenge. two flashes were employed one behind the screen with red filter and one at right angle. This is the main light and it needed to be strong because you always want to close the lens down when painting with fire. Anyway, this light hit the opposite wall and despite the blue filter it lit up to much in the test shot. A black cloth was placed on the wall to reduce its impact and this solved the problem.

I started with a jar of water by my left foot, where the pentagram begins. I drew the star, the upright position is for white magic, upside down is black magic. The upright points to God and the inverted points to Satan. I ended right on the left foot, where I started and then drew the circle to the right all the way around and torch into the jar to douse the flame. I then picked up my flash firing gizmo, sat down and fired the units. No outside help whatsoever. I simply used the timer and while it counted down I lit the torch, turned off the main lights and assumed position.

Now, you can use a black cardboard to stop and start the fire and in basic editing this would be a must.

My wife comment was, "if a mishap, how would you explain it to the insurance company." lol

Statistics
Place: 4 out of 127
Avg (all users): 7.2897
Avg (commenters): 8.5500
Avg (participants): 7.1964
Avg (non-participants): 7.3228
Views since voting: 10522
Views during voting: 560
Votes: 214
Comments: 55
Favorites: 21 (view)

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AuthorThread
 05/02/2007 07:51:11 PM
This is truly amazing...what a fantastic idea! This should have ribboned. Thanks for the explanation as well, very well thought out and executed, great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2006 09:30:03 PM
You leave great footprints. Thanks & Brightest Blessings...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/06/2006 10:42:40 AM
Insurance: What happened here?

GraphicFunk: Photographic Ritual
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/31/2006 01:16:39 PM
Congratulations Dan, very nice to see a new image on your profile page. It would be so nice to see you do these shots, amazing stuff!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/30/2006 01:01:05 PM
there is a powerful sense of depth and solemnity in this image. congratulations on your excellent placement and high score in this difficult challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/29/2006 07:08:15 PM
Congratulations! Amazing what you did with the fire, I'll have to try this 'at home' sometime soon...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/29/2006 10:09:40 AM
Great shot, Congrats on the 4th place!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 08:42:20 PM
What a great job you did on this pic Dan, nice to see you back in the saddle! Congrats on 4th, well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 05:22:59 PM
So nice to see you on the front page again. You absence was noticable and far too long. Congratulations on a very worthy placement!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 04:26:32 PM
Impressive picture. I didn't even knew is possible to do this kind of work in a single exposure.

Thank you so much for explaning it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 03:20:36 PM
Nice finish and thanks for the explanation.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 09:55:11 AM
Wow, Dan! You never disappoint me. Congratulations on your high finish and thanks so much for the photographer's comments. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 08:46:49 AM
Very impressive picture and even more amazing that you did this alone. Really well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 08:22:04 AM
Way to go Dan, Great shot as always!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 04:19:42 AM
Congrats on the 4th place!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 03:39:43 AM
Super plan and execution, inspirational work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 03:31:33 AM
Aw man, sucks getting a 7.29 and no ribbon. Well anyway, congrats on an awesome shot dude and at least you got an honorable mention.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 03:27:25 AM
Congratulations. Beautifully exposed. Thanks for the detailed explanation.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 02:17:14 AM
What an image. Well back to the drawing board with me LOL.

I look at the image, the red pulses and glows as my eye moves through the story. Just an amazingly crisp image. I still aspire to the technicals. Congrats on the top 5!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 02:11:31 AM
this is friggin cool, Dan!
the fire appears marvelous - definately has your "magic touch" in this photo written all over it. And as always, your idea and execution (what I lacked badly) is impressive.

p/s: congrats on the high placement!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 01:46:58 AM
I thought I saw a Daniel int here :-) Congrats on another fine project well executed!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 01:37:12 AM
Amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 01:31:31 AM
Sorry for bumping you into 4th!

You definitely deserve a ribbon for this shot. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 12:43:40 AM
Ack- you just missed it! Amazing what you do with long exposures, and this was no exception. Brilliant planning and execution. Congrats on one of your best scores ever!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 12:26:58 AM
Wow, this is awesome!!! Amazingly composed and executed. What a master you are at this type of photo. congratulations on 4th place. In a case like this, I really wish there were 4 ribbons! This one deserves one!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 12:25:18 AM
Amazing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 12:20:12 AM
Great one Dan! It's a badge of honor to have such a high score not ribbon... ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 12:16:49 AM
I so wanted this one to take a ribbon. Outstanding work, congratulations on 4th place!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 12:15:27 AM
Congrats on 4th place -- excellent shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 12:15:24 AM
Congrats on 4th place -- excellent shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/27/2006 11:33:38 PM
GF i believe? You are quite adept at fire shots, espcially the starting and stopping of them.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 09:32:33 PM
very very cool - I have some idea how you did this but to be able to pull it off so well is amazing. Top 10 for sure!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 03:12:00 PM
Powerful image, graphicfunk? well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 12:42:42 PM
The mystic of fire ...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 08:58:35 AM
I can’t wait to see how you did it ,just guess that there is something with your left hand cause I can’t find it (a kind of disappeared ) ,and i can't identify the beginning point of the star,so waiting to learn something from you .
Bad that my membership registration will be done next week via Sweden ,your photo deserves a BIG 10 .
--Wish you the best for this challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2006 08:35:46 PM
This is a truly amazing piece of work. Awe inspiring. Bumping up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2006 02:55:21 PM
Another outstanding image, Daniel! I don't know if you are a fan of H.P. Lovecraft, but my first thoughts are of his Cthulhu Mythos stories.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2006 12:11:03 PM
Techical its very very good. I dont know how you did this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2006 08:09:10 AM
Very nicely done. Nice light and I love the red tones. Great idea for the challenge too. Bumping to 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2006 08:03:31 AM
wow!!! indeed, this is magic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2006 09:01:24 PM
oh my...i'd be scared to do 'this' setup...gl 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2006 01:48:24 PM
Very well done! Love it!! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2006 09:11:57 AM
Excellent! 10 + Favs
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/24/2006 05:17:12 AM
how was this done?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 10:15:09 PM
This is an amazing image. You did a great job "painting" the star around the man's head and making him seem to float in the air. 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 06:56:23 PM
Hey Dan! This is a solid shot. I love how you took the conventional pentagram and turned it 3D... having the circle lay on the floor and the star stand up really makes the shot. To bad the strings didn't work out, the curviness of the pentagram is a bit distacting.
Your pose is great. the only think i could suggest is using a incandescent filter on your flash so that you match the color of the flame. Whenever playing with fire and flash, you must do that, or else you fail to fool the viewer in thinking that the fire is illuminating you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 04:56:30 PM
Very creative, nice colours, love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 08:14:38 AM
my goodness, this is incredible! mind wonders and is frankly boggling at how you achieved this stunning gorgeous mad photograph. technically is without flaws; and there is so much to appreciate from this. the fire is obviously striking, but so is the red background glow, and the serene monk-like posture of your guy. this gets a 10, easily.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 06:11:57 PM
Awesome photo! I love this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 04:16:23 PM
8: great positioning within the pentagram - the flames are created very nicely
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 12:23:30 PM
Nice. I like it. Well composed and the trick is pulled off well. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 06:20:00 AM
Very cleverly done.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 04:05:38 PM
This is superb , I'm dying to see if this was done the way I think. Excellent work. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 03:36:34 AM
this looks like it took a lot of work...well executed
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 12:21:04 AM
Whoah, I like this a lot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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