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Dance of the Serpentine Belt
1st PlaceDance of the Serpentine Belt
scalvert


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Changed (Expert Editing*)
Collection: Favorites - Ribbons
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Location: Easton, CT
Date: Apr 2, 2007
Aperture: f/4.5
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/100
Date Uploaded: Apr 2, 2007

Hehe... I really enjoy fun conceptual challenges!

The setup was so easy that I could almost do this in Basic. The belt is hot glued to a wire coat hanger on the other side and bent into an S-curve. The turban is just a long strip of white fabric, and I found the wicker jar by blind luck on my lunch break today. I had monolights on either side and a reflector right in front of the jar.

Processing: Convert from RAW with two different exposures (to capture more highlight detail), Levels, Curves, HSL, Photo filter for warmer tone, partially desaturate the blues and yellows, assorted dodge and burn, spot saturation, Noise Ninja and USM. I reshaped the turban a bit with Liquify and burned in the vignette (the original already had a vignette, and it seemed more dramatic to run with that rather than remove it)

Woohoo! I finally broke 8! Even this high score was a little tiny bit disappointing, though... I had an 8.4+ on Friday and an 8.26 going into the rollover. I lost 9 votes of 10 at the stroke of midnight! :-/

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 50
Avg (all users): 8.1939
Avg (commenters): 8.7692
Avg (participants): 7.9091
Avg (non-participants): 8.2515
Views since voting: 18426
Views during voting: 653
Votes: 196
Comments: 89
Favorites: 15 (view)


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AuthorThread
05/19/2007 01:20:01 AM
ah,ha
so dramatic !

originality !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/20/2007 09:04:38 AM
I've yet to break a 6 nvm an 8! Great job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/12/2007 02:51:22 AM
Congrats on finally breaking the 8 barrier Shannon! Highly creative, as usual. Cool image :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/12/2007 12:01:30 AM
superb!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/11/2007 08:57:48 PM
Very cool shot! Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/11/2007 01:29:22 PM
Wonderful work!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/11/2007 11:09:56 AM
As a mechanic id like to say this is not exactly what i think of when I hear "Serpentine Belt".
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/11/2007 09:59:43 AM
Wow I saw that and my jaw dropped. What a great image. Brilliant
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/11/2007 08:57:30 AM
Congratulations Shannon! What a great idea and excellent outcome.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/11/2007 08:36:08 AM
great setup. great execution. great idea. congratz !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 07:22:22 PM
yahoo! good for you! I ws one of your 10s, loved this shot & now that I read how it was done, I bumped you to 12 for creativity! 8-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 05:54:54 PM
Damn Shannon. Keep it up and we won't let you play anymore rein deer games! :-P Congrats on yet another (spelled ad nauseum) ribbon...
TC
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 05:53:03 PM
Love your idea and composition. Your lighting is spot on. Congrats on your Blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 05:07:04 PM
eish i want an 8 one day! congrats on your creativity
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 02:50:04 PM
Very clever use of required props...congratulations on winning the blue ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 02:25:42 PM
awesome! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 01:54:05 PM
The Master strikes again! Congrats on your new personal best... well played, my friend!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:39:56 PM
Originally posted by stevieian:

How do you get your children to be so cooperative???


Ice cream.
04/10/2007 12:00:26 PM
Great shot! PS How do you get your children to be so cooperative???
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 11:04:27 AM
What makes this stand out for me is not the cleverness of the setup, nor the execution (even though both of those are exemplary), rather it is the wonderful clarity of the image and the great composition. I don't need to continue and say that this is superb, as that goes without saying.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 10:31:39 AM
Excellent job again! Yes, too bad the score dropped, but you did get your 8... could hardly complain about that! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 10:01:52 AM
Oh man! How cute is THAT!

8.1! It's hard to commiserate about your score dropping so much tho :)

  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 09:37:16 AM
Very Creative!! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 09:31:44 AM
Who Else, but Scalvert! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 08:00:04 AM
Just when I think you can't possibly get any better, you get a personal best! Congrats on your blue and an excellent photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 07:47:52 AM
What I would like to know is where is the furniture that is supposed to be in this room???
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 07:42:18 AM
Creativity at its best. Congratulations on an other top photograph
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 05:43:42 AM
oh my gosh! This is so very, very clever!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 03:17:34 AM
Congrats Scalvert
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 02:54:15 AM
Two things were clear: it was you, Shannon and you would win by a mile. Congrats to the zillionst ribbon and that incredible score and new PB. Excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 01:35:33 AM
Yep, this is a Scalvert, congratulations on your blue..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:57:04 AM
Your incredible talent charmed an 8+ out of the DPC voting snake!!!! Outstanding and amazingly well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:29:02 AM
Wow. You've outdone even yourself here, Shannon. A new blue is probably not as exciting as a new personal best. Congrats on both. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:27:40 AM
Shannon, what a score man! superb in every way, congrats on another (yawn) ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:25:50 AM
Congrats......just a lovely shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:11:01 AM
Was there really any doubt? Congrats. Get this out of your system now before the DPL season starts. :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:09:54 AM
Well done! Congratulations on the blue and a great score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:09:22 AM
Congrats Shannon! Finally got your 8!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:03:59 AM
Well congrats on breaking the elusive 8.0 mark Shanon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:03:22 AM
Yay Shannon! Congratulations on your blue - that color looks good on you! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:02:55 AM
I just "LOVED" this one, and it so, so deserves the "Blue".....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/10/2007 12:02:17 AM
Yep. I was right. Good job man.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
04/09/2007 12:15:21 PM
Best so far! I like the composition the coordinated use of the items and the color and focus. Oh, and the cute actor/model.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/09/2007 05:23:49 AM
If this isn't scalvert then consider this a compliment :)
If it is scalvert, you suck (for being too good!)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/09/2007 03:04:00 AM
Cute...well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/07/2007 10:09:47 PM
Very creative, nice job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/07/2007 07:59:23 PM
Now this is creativity. Perfect!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/07/2007 06:46:20 PM
If you'd only been able to borrow the snakeskin belt someone else used : )
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/07/2007 06:09:08 PM
Awesome creative! Some people have the wildest imaginations! Excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/06/2007 06:08:23 PM
sharp. Great Idea and to the point
One of my top picks for this challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/06/2007 09:54:02 AM
Very clever... nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/05/2007 10:48:18 PM
I love this picture, very cute, original, great idea, ya used everything they asked for in an awesome way! GREAT JOB!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/05/2007 05:35:47 PM
Very Scalvertesque.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/05/2007 05:30:41 PM
Wonderful lighting, well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/05/2007 03:25:10 PM
super cool 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/05/2007 02:51:28 AM
very well done. a ribbon for sure. 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/05/2007 02:30:26 AM
Excellent, perfect lighting, colour, everything. Congrats on your blue ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/04/2007 05:49:00 PM
A very nice out of the box interpretation. Congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/04/2007 04:36:12 PM
My favorite!! Great work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/04/2007 02:35:50 AM
This has shannon written all over it. Beside the pinkish tint to the young mans face, it is perfect and meets the challenge in an understated manner. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/04/2007 01:19:42 AM
veryyy nice, i expect this to get top 3.
so creative! :]
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 11:13:37 PM
By far the BEST picture and idea in this challenge. I really hope no one makes comments about the childs whole body being in it, and not just a body "part". The setup, lighting and composition are right on. Just a superb job, I hope the voters get this one right and get you a ribbon. Well done. 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 10:27:51 PM
Yuck! Drinking vase water? I'd come out of basket to see that! LOL!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 09:52:33 PM
wonderful lighting....beautiful child
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 08:06:15 PM
Very, very, very creative! Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 07:50:45 PM
One of my favourites. Original, was getting sick of the hand, vase, cloth and belt shots. Nice and bright and clear.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 07:30:55 PM
cute and clever!!! snakes are [s]fashionable[/s] ribbonable now here at DPC :))
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 06:59:29 PM
This is a winner: another "scalvert-style" shot. Very clever and well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 06:34:03 PM
Every required element has a specific use in the photo. Very good.

ETA: Just noticed this is probably Scalvert's. Congrats on your yellow. :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 06:17:36 PM
Amazing.
We really ought to rename the challenges in your honor and DQ you form competition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 04:12:08 PM
Very cute!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 03:09:02 PM
Shannon? perhaps? If not, congrats, you have a scalvet-esqe shot (and probably a ribbon)

I like how you've used the elements, but it doesn't look contrived.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 11:43:38 AM
This is great! My Pick for Ribbon! The lighting, the use of props, the concept all come together perfectly. also the space is great- it seems like a lot of entries are jammed into a little box. this is nice and clear. My only thing is the child's face looks almost purple. I would have tried to mess with the hue a bit, even it out.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 10:27:09 AM
wow- great concept and excellent execution 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 09:39:35 AM
Wow! That is very creative. Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 08:56:00 AM
I love this
Very creative
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 08:23:53 AM
Love it! Clever use of the items, cute kid and a nice square crop. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 08:01:12 AM
You'll will the the winner...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 07:54:09 AM
I love this one..... A "10" from me.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 07:52:52 AM
"Charming would have been a great title" ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 05:21:38 AM
brilliant! well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 04:32:26 AM
wooww cool editing here. well-done! r10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 02:54:16 AM
We have a winner, folks! And I suspect it's not their first ribbon.

SO GLAD you didn't forget the 640x640 rule - that woulda sucked to have this DQ'd. Most creative use of the items by far. Congrats and well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 02:51:08 AM
Bravo! A most creative use of these items, well done! 10 and my pick for the blue :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 01:22:20 AM
hahaha
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 12:46:41 AM
Great image (9)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 12:23:45 AM
Is this a scalvert....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 12:20:30 AM
This seems like a Scalvert to me...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/03/2007 12:14:13 AM
Very neat. I know who this is. I'll see you in 1st. Well, you'll be there not me, hahahaha. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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