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The Fawns of Dawn
1st PlaceThe Fawns of Dawn
yanko


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2008-05 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di LD IF for Canon
Location: Texas Hill Country
Date: May 30, 2008
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/250
Galleries: Nature, Animals
Date Uploaded: May 15, 2008

Wow my first free study ribbon! I never thought I would win one. Thank you for the votes, favs and the kind comments. I know the title is lame but I couldn't think of anything better. Sorry!

As for the shot, I actually was going to submit a different deer photo I shot earlier in the month and didn't set out to shoot this photo. I captured it while photographing some insects when I noticed them standing there. So with my macro in one hand and holding stuff in the other I got off this shot. Unfortunately, I clipped the hoof and also got a little camera shake which you can't see at this size.

As for the editing I did a lot of crap to it. Lots of subtle tweaks here and there to improve the overall feel.

ETA (editng steps):

- RAW converted in Lightroom then exported to CS3.
- Convert to Profile applied to change from ProPhotoRGB color space to sRGB.
- Curves Adjustment applied to make some white balance corrections.
- Reduce Noise Filter applied for noise reduction.
- LucisArts Filter applied slightly to boost detail.
- Exposure Adjustment applied to shadow areas.
- Color Balance Adjustment applied to warm the image.
- Dodge Tool applied to the highlights of deer.
- Curves Adjustment applied to grass to lighten.
- Burn Tool applied to the edges.
- Photo Filter applied to warm the image.
- UnSharp Mask applied for local contrast enhancement.
- Lens Blur applied selectively based on DOF and then faded.
- High Pass set to hard light applied mainly on the front deer.
- Healing Brush applied to remove some minor distractions.
- Color Replacement Brush applied to spot edit some colors.
- Black and White Film Filter Agfa APX 100 (Alien Skin Exposure 2) applied in luminosity mode to enhance tones.
- Curves Adjusment applied to highlights to fix some hot spots.
- Black & White Adjustment applied in Pin Light mode to make the deer spots pop and darken the foreground grass.
- Curves applied to tweak colors (red/blue/green channels manually adjusted).
- Resize
- Smart Sharpen
- Added border
- Save for Web




Original:


Statistics
Place: 1 out of 481
Avg (all users): 7.3938
Avg (commenters): 8.8947
Avg (participants): 7.4957
Avg (non-participants): 7.1163
Views since voting: 11567
Views during voting: 342
Votes: 160
Comments: 112
Favorites: 107 (view)


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AuthorThread
01/09/2011 08:29:20 PM
Beautiful processing of a brilliant capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2009 07:22:49 PM
yours was the 2nd one on the site that I picked as a Fav...this is just plain amazing
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/30/2008 04:19:21 AM
wow, congratz Richard! if you hadn't shown us the original shot, i'd have thought that the deers were shot during an orange sunset - an extra compliment to you for the editing! awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2008 11:16:38 PM
Congratulations on this beautiful fairytale looking capture. Great job getting the shot and PP applied.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/13/2008 09:42:47 AM
Excellent shot.Congratulation :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/11/2008 02:50:47 PM
First off, I have to add my congratulations to a nice capture that made the rest of the editing possible, and to a wonderful job of Disney editing. I just don't see it as believable though, mostly because the contrast on the body of the front deer is not realistic (the whites are too bright). My other regret is that you cleaned the highlights out of the ears. That was highlighting the direction and intensity of the light, and couples with the highlights on the head of the deer to add quite a bit of depth, beauty, and believability to the rest of the image.

All of that being said, I like the rest of your edits, and congratulate you on your blue! ..... and thanks for detailing your editing process!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/11/2008 02:50:02 PM
Amazing Photo & Post-Process! Certainly a dead-on Blue Ribbon! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/11/2008 12:00:15 PM
LOL- somebody gave this shot a two, and 15 people rated it below average. You have to wonder what it would take to get an above average score from these guys. :-/
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/11/2008 04:26:31 AM
WOW..... WOW.....WOW..... this is totally awesome and a fine capture indeed.....
Quite magical, and looks like a glossy page out of a fairy tale classic story.....

Message edited by author 2008-06-11 04:27:22.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/11/2008 03:45:24 AM
This is one of the best photos I have seen. If I was voting it would be a 10...I was instantly captivated by it when I first saw it....and that was on my mobile phone...so that should tell you something. Congrats babe!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/11/2008 03:28:29 AM
What a treat to the eye - when I saw the thumbnail, I thought I was going to see some over the top treatment - It had all the qualities of a still from a fantasy film I saw - but the full size version looks like an illustration from someone demonstrating the skill of the creator, you know, the style book - makes me want to buy it! I was sorry to hear there is a touch of camera shake, but not surprising, considering your description of taking it!

And I am quite amazed at what you have done from the original to this - truly a work of consummate skill!!

I haven't even looked you up, but if you are not a professional photo- selling success, something is wrong, wrong, wrong!

I am afraid to look in the mirror, as I feel I am Hulk-coloured. Just so exquisitely treated! I liked also the bigger catchlights in the eyes - draws attention perfectly

My hat is taken off to you - I will be buying from you - do you do retouching classes?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/10/2008 07:33:40 PM
To pile on the well deserved platitudes... ;) Your skill at rendering the finished product is incredible. To see your submission and your original side by side leaves me speechless. You had a nice starting point but the transformation is really something to see. Great work Richard! Can I send you a few of my rejects? ;P Thanks for sharing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/10/2008 03:59:15 PM
really nice work, the editing work is remarkable. congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/10/2008 03:05:05 PM
I searched high...and I searched low...until at last I saw it...The silhouette of a tiny UFO reflected in the eye of the deer...WHEW! To my great relief, I may now consider this remarkable and worthwhile Pièce de résistance of your portfolio...a masterpiece of ART...::winks::

Congrats on your ribbon, Richard! Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/10/2008 05:11:02 AM
bloody hell, I wish I hadn't asked! Lol. Thanks for posting those steps, it just goes to show what a master you are in the digital darkroom! your portfolio is just wonderful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/10/2008 03:42:23 AM
Amazing editing...20 :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/10/2008 01:13:37 AM
Congratulations for your success & big thank you for sharing your very good post processing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 10:46:09 PM
Dude... First, the image is fantastic!!! It blew me away when I saw it during voting. After seeing your original, you have given me hope for saving some of my images. Your processing techniques are impeccable and I can't state enough how much I appreciate the fact that you showed your original. This is a truly perfect example of how you can process an image to convey your own personal vision. Expertly accomplished and definitely worthy of the blue ribbon. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 09:50:59 PM
HA - bet you shot this in Lago Vista! FABULOUS image Richard!! Congrats!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 07:20:24 PM
Originally posted by Magno:

My initial thoughts were right! Congratulations on your blue - much deserved. I just wish you weren't as good as you are, because it sure as hell makes me depressed knowing what you can do in pp, and knowing how inadequate I am at it too!!! lol.

I'm going to start a petition, to get you to reveal your secrets and give us a tutorial. All in favour say 'I'. Lol.


I added my editing steps. It's probably not exactly what you're looking for. If I have time I'll see if I can write something a bit more indepth. In the past I have posted how I do things. If you look in my photo composite gallery there are some there that explains in more indepth the steps including some threads about it. Nothing I've done here is any different than what I've been doing before.
06/09/2008 03:58:26 PM
@ Magno: I!

Yanko this is amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 02:32:26 PM
Unreal! Fantastic editing, Richard! Congrats!

Makes me want to go back and reedit some moose shots I took last fall...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 11:27:28 AM
Good Heavens you are amazing at turning a photo into magic! Wow! This is so amazingly beautiful! CONGRATULATIONS on the Free Study blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 10:38:52 AM
Nice edit. It reminded me of Annie Leibovitz's Disney work. Not sure if that's an insult or a compliment (LOL)? Or another way to look at it...you could be her...but much better looking.

see: Jessica Biel

Message edited by author 2008-06-09 10:41:54.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 09:55:39 AM
My initial thoughts were right! Congratulations on your blue - much deserved. I just wish you weren't as good as you are, because it sure as hell makes me depressed knowing what you can do in pp, and knowing how inadequate I am at it too!!! lol.

I'm going to start a petition, to get you to reveal your secrets and give us a tutorial. All in favour say 'I'. Lol.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 08:21:44 AM
Are you going to be famous soon? Should I start ingratiating myself now?

Excellently well done. Again.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 07:04:48 AM
Amazing image and the editing is phenominal! You must post some kind of tutorial to teach us beginners your expert techinques.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 05:07:06 AM
stunning...well done/congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 01:43:42 AM
Great original, but amazing final outcome. Absolutely beautiful. Congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/09/2008 01:29:06 AM
Sublime processing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 11:01:35 PM
Man, Richard, you've really outdone yourself here. Reminds me of woodland paintings I've seen. And the editing is superb. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 09:46:41 PM
wow
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 09:28:23 PM
Thanks for sharing the original. Amazing job on the processing. If that had been my original, I never would have had this type of end product in mind. Congrats on a job well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 08:28:53 PM
Outstanding image, yanko. Beautiful color and light combinations. Congrats on the Blue Ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 04:14:51 PM
And people want to be purists? Whatever for?

Wow.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 02:21:29 PM
the qaulity of this is almost unreal.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 02:20:34 PM
this one is worth big bucks!
no really, very impressive..:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 11:37:10 AM
Stunning image!!!
Congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 11:32:49 AM
Well done , Richard, you deserve this :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 11:28:18 AM
Holy moly!!! If I took an original like that I would delete it without a second glance. I wish I had 1/2 your photoshop skills. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 10:58:02 AM
Congrats on the blue, your photographic & photoshop skills are amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 10:28:54 AM
amazing photo, congrats on the ribbon.. I wish i had your editing abilities amazing work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 10:23:19 AM
:) Congrats on this amazing shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 10:15:10 AM
Simply beautiful!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 09:57:01 AM
Richard- Simply BEAUTIFUL, Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 09:57:01 AM
Great free study image processed to the nth degree. And I didn't notice any comments on over processing, congratulations on the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 09:44:57 AM
Congrats, Richard, an absolutely deserved blue. Man, you really processed the crap out of it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 09:38:56 AM
WTG, Richard! I'm soooo pleased for you. This is a truly stunning image and very worthy of the blue. Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 09:35:42 AM
Congratulations on the well deserved blue! Your processing is amazing, great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 09:34:29 AM
What a stunning shot. So so beutiful. Perfectly processed. You are indeed a step above most with your editing. Very envious!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 09:04:40 AM
Truly spectacular, Richard. Bravc and congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 08:20:55 AM
well done Yanko, a great pic and a well deserved Ribbon! Grats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 08:09:19 AM
Very beautiful. Nice job evoking the delicacy of the lighting from the original.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 07:53:13 AM
awesome shot, beautifully presented congratulations on the Blue!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 06:45:48 AM
congratz, great image ... notice i said "image" since this is waaay to cartoonish in my humble opinion, anyways ... i have no ribbons so what do i know :-)

great work and congratulations again
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 06:35:26 AM
fabulous image so beautiful Congratulations on your deserved Blue Ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 06:16:37 AM
stunning shot mate. Well deserved
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 06:04:43 AM
I'm so honored to have my image follow yours. I love your beautiful photo so much I gave it a 10!! :)

I cannot believe the DOF and lighting. Your image looks perfect. Congratulations on the well deserved Blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 05:17:15 AM
Congrats, very nice!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 05:12:57 AM
Gorgeous - congratulations on your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 04:58:38 AM
Fantastic capture, congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 04:21:26 AM
Beautiful Capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 04:21:16 AM
congrats on the blue!!

The lighting and sharpness are surreal!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 03:44:32 AM
Oh deer deer deer me another ribbon for the Yankovic, congratulate
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 03:09:38 AM
....yeh but it's a crappy title!!!....(jk):)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 02:45:58 AM
Wow looks like I was right!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 02:29:16 AM
Congrats on the Blue - such a deserving image. Awesome shot my friend.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 02:18:08 AM
Richard...I am going to say that this is one of the most exceptional nature image I have seen on dpc, and there have been some great ones...this one trumps just about all of them...congratulations on a wonderful image...how anyone voted this below a 6 astounds me and whoever gave this a 2 or 3 needs to go and get some therapy! Very proud of your work...excellent
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 02:16:14 AM
Right out of a story book! Congrats, Yanko! Quite an image, quite a feat!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 02:01:16 AM
well deserving, congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 01:44:40 AM
Exquisite!!! Congrats on your very well deserved blue for this wonderful shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 01:03:28 AM
The almost surreal lighting make this shot. Congratulations on the Blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:55:20 AM
Oh, I'm so happy this one took the blue! It was my favorite of the challenge! I'd love to hear the story on how you got this shot, and even see the original if you'd be willing to share it. This is just stunning. Congrats! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:48:06 AM
Congrats on the blue - beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:46:28 AM
I missed this during the voting. Sorry to have robbed you of a 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:42:44 AM
HOly Cow Richard! What a shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:38:57 AM
Wonderful! Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:38:34 AM
Perfect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:33:19 AM
WOW!! , WTG Richard. Hell of a shot. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:19:47 AM
I honestly thought it was a painting.... wow
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:15:27 AM
beautiful, beautiful shot. Well deserved blue, just an idyllic image edited to perfection
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:06:45 AM
Superb, Richard! Many congrats on your blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:06:03 AM
Congrats....Awesome image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:05:36 AM
Magical lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:05:33 AM
A beautiful shot, Richard, and absolutely spectacularly processed. Congratulations on your blue - and I finally got one right (this was one of my 10s).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:03:35 AM
CONGRATS!! my highest score in the FS- 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:02:56 AM
Glad this won. Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:02:51 AM
not surprised at all
this was my only 10
congrats on yet another blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2008 12:02:20 AM
Look at you big balla... WTG man congrats on a wonderful win.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
06/07/2008 10:53:18 PM
This is a gorgeous and mystical photo. I love the golden background.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2008 06:49:13 PM
Awesome shot.. should finish very high.. maybe ribbon? 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2008 01:00:22 PM
Amazing work !
The most stunning here is that the image is very dynamic, the motion of one of the fawns is perceptible and the lighting provides also depth and strenght to the background.
Virtually nothing to improve here - if I'm really looking for a flaw, I can have a little regret for the cropped paws.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2008 08:36:16 AM
JUST WOW!!!! the light the colours and focus almost make them seem like statues very nice composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/06/2008 11:44:18 PM
just stunning! what a great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/06/2008 02:00:14 PM
breath-taking, really amazing 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/05/2008 12:37:11 PM
My absolute favorite shot in the challenge. I love the lighting and the simple beauty these two provide. If this doesn't ribbon for you I will be greatly surprised.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/04/2008 01:42:30 AM
nice light and comp
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/04/2008 12:50:11 AM
Ya, this is going to ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/03/2008 05:09:19 PM
hmm...yanko possibly, perhaps simms! Hedging my bets on yanko just because of the pp. Probably neither! Lol. Very nice image nonetheless, will score well. An 8 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/03/2008 04:03:54 PM
Beautiful shot and lighting. It's a pity the feet were cut off...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/03/2008 08:38:22 AM
Is that a high res screen shot from the Bambi movie? Amazing image, love the colors and light. The posture of the animals makes this image facinating. I am betting on a ribbon image here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/02/2008 09:44:58 PM
Beautiful lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/02/2008 10:23:18 AM
This is so beautiful. My fav so far.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2008 01:48:35 PM
Wow, one of the best - if not the best - deer picture that I have seen on DPC. Incredible earthtones and sharpness, not 100% sure of the vignetting but brilliant brilliant brilliant none the less
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2008 01:08:01 PM
This is gorgeous. The light, those big, beautiful eyes, the golden tones throughout the shot ... really, really lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2008 10:56:57 AM
Spectacular! What a beautiful image - the colours are fab!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2008 09:40:04 AM
Nice glow to frame the subjects, well "posed".
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2008 08:54:00 AM
OH MY GOODNESS. If this isn't too sweet and perfectly captured. My only critique is the missing hooves but no big deal. WONDERFUL WONDERFUL
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2008 07:08:26 AM
Magic! Love the lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2008 05:18:12 AM
now here is a blue or red ribbon winner...I am guessing this might be Alex Saberi...superb, faultless, light is extraordinary, they look superb...10 from me...WOW!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2008 03:47:03 AM
Beautiful processing and wonderful capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2008 01:06:14 AM
They look like their stuffed in a museum. Not sure why though. Nice timing if the arn't stuffed
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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