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HOLOCAUST: The Irremoveable Nightmare
2nd PlaceHOLOCAUST: The Irremoveable Nightmare
hotpasta


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Numbers (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8
Location: Melbourne Australia
Date: Sep 15, 2008
Aperture: F4.5
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/200
Galleries: Emotive, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Sep 14, 2008

The Image: These are my dad's 80 year old arms. He is a sprightly 80 year old and he is a willing model. I should use him more often. I wrote the number on with a sharpie texta pen and used window light and my trusty 50mm 1.8. Dad is Italian and not jewish, so this was obviously a staged image for the challenge. He did live through the war in southern Italy and came to Australia 59 years ago this month. He is a great dad and sacrificed a great deal for us working hard to secure a future for his family.

The Edit: I grayscaled, duotoned, levels, USM, contrast, dodge and burn, changed the colour balance, sharpened and blurred. In the end I wanted a punchy contrast in the image. Duplicated a layer for linear burn and pulled back opacity.

Prediction: Haven't been close lately. Not going to guess :) Hopefully people will be moved as I find this an emotive image.

[Sep. 19th, 2008 01:45:21 AM]

Comments during Challenge: Currently at 6.9910 which is nice...I don't think it will ribbon as there are some great images in this challenge. I hope people will understand that this was not a Jewish person's arm, but a staged image, like most of our images are. I wanted to convey the drama of these numbers and the poignant imagery they represent. Thanks for the votes, faves and comments so far.

Post: My dad is going to be so happy that this ribboned. I am so proud of him.

Apologies to people who felt ripped off that this was staged, but I wanted to convey an emotion and remember something historically significant and poignant and I think I achieved that. While I was thinking about numbers, my mind went to this, so I had to be creative. Anyway, not apologising for it...I am proud of this image.

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 126
Avg (all users): 7.0526
Avg (commenters): 8.4167
Avg (participants): 6.9286
Avg (non-participants): 7.1429
Views since voting: 7553
Views during voting: 308
Votes: 133
Comments: 55
Favorites: 12 (view)


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AuthorThread
09/26/2008 07:29:28 PM
A manufactured opportunity for a photo in this day and age? It's scandalous!

I appreciate the the thought, planning, and excellent execution of this image.

For the naysayers, please don't ever go to a commercial photo shot or video shoot. The shock may do you in.

:-)

This is great work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/23/2008 11:59:05 PM
Wonderful shot Enzo, congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/23/2008 01:44:11 PM
His hands and arms look great for his age. :) Beautifully shot. Congrats on the ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/23/2008 11:40:35 AM
Touching to the emotions, very clever.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/23/2008 07:37:39 AM
Excellent work Enzo, congrats on the second place!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 07:31:08 PM
congrats on a great shot that is full of emotion which is what we are all trying to convey with our photography in one way or another. Beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 05:53:17 PM
great shot, Enzo. very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 05:35:33 PM
Enzo, one of your best. Tells a haunting story even without the title. Immensely moving, made more so by your editing choices. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 03:26:39 PM
Originally posted by levyj413:

Ok, I'm a little disappointed your model wasn't a real Holocaust survivor. It removes some of the impact for me. However, as a Jew, I'm very much in favor of anyone who creates imagery that helps the world remember the horror. Congrats, Enzo!


Generally speaking I would tend to agree with Jeffrey. However since I didn't see this until now I didn't confuse it for anything that it's not. It is a very convincing portrayal of historical significance and a well photographed one at that. Congrats on your red!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 03:09:43 PM
Staged? Sure but it doesn't lessen its impact for me. I love the editing you've done here: it really adds drama to the shot and the placement of the hands works really well.

Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 03:08:41 PM
I had an idea like this Enzo. Great impact for this shot. Congrats for the red ribbon, it's worth a blue for me. Ciao, Paolo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 02:29:08 PM
Congratulations on your Red Ribbon, great image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 01:32:13 PM
literally gave me goosebumps. quite powerful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 12:49:54 PM
Oh, great tribute, Enzo! My mother-in-law was a holocaust survivor, and irremovable nightmare is a very fitting title! CONGRATULATIONS!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 12:29:01 PM
Bravo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 11:55:11 AM
Wonderful ribbon! No apologies necessary for anything staged. You brought the emotion... and I don't care how you did it. *grin*
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 10:48:52 AM
Congrats on a fantastic image, Enzo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 10:43:42 AM
You're are an AMAZING photographer..this brought me to tears! Awesome job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 08:06:02 AM
Really great shot, very moving, also nice tones, and a fabulous idea, very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 07:25:00 AM
Very beautiful and touching. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 07:13:03 AM
Congratulations on the red ribbon!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 04:44:30 AM
Just brilliant - am only sorry I didn't think of it as I know some 'real' survivors, but they are getting fewer on the ground each year.

I'm pretty sure Spielberg didn't use genuine victims or even exclusively jewish people when he made Schindlers List. It was the message that was important then ...as now....never forget! Thank you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 04:09:57 AM
Be very proud of this image Enzo .... it made us remember. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 03:46:14 AM
Beautiful idea and very well accomplished, Enzo!
Looking forward to catching up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 02:54:52 AM
well done Enzo well deserved
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 02:26:57 AM
Staged or not, it is well done.. congrats on the red!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 02:17:35 AM
Excellent Photo Enzo!! Congratulations on the well deserved ribbon.
I did not vote on this challenge , but this would have been my pick for the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 01:45:13 AM
Brilliant Enzo !!! Congrats on the red!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 01:38:25 AM
Ok, I'm a little disappointed your model wasn't a real Holocaust survivor. It removes some of the impact for me. However, as a Jew, I'm very much in favor of anyone who creates imagery that helps the world remember the horror. Congrats, Enzo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 01:13:23 AM
Well done Enzo. Glad to see this make front page.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 01:12:29 AM
poignant and moving ..
a brilliant image enzo .. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 12:48:00 AM
Nice one Enzo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 12:45:56 AM
GREAT SCORE, and so very pleased it got the much deserved ribbon.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 12:39:35 AM
Beautiful and poignant shot Enzo...congrats on your red! Well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 12:37:43 AM
Enzo - congratulations on the ribbon. Incredible imagery.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 12:29:51 AM
Excellent concept, and great processing to get it to look as it does here.
Congrats on the Red!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 12:21:16 AM
wow very powerful enzo..well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/22/2008 12:16:53 AM
fabulous job! yay for ribbons!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
09/21/2008 10:07:29 PM
I like how the light and your processing enhances the textures and lines of the person's hands.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/21/2008 09:44:28 PM
What a poignant photo - well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/19/2008 06:09:35 AM
=]
09/18/2008 01:59:31 PM
An excellent reminder of something that should not be forgotten.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/17/2008 09:17:29 PM
Moving shot. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/17/2008 08:58:23 PM
WOW i feel this is pretty dramatic ..in the face of history ..great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/17/2008 03:19:00 PM
Very moving - the colors and the posture of the hands
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/16/2008 06:28:28 PM
Very moving..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/16/2008 02:26:55 PM
i love that the photographer captured the history and everyone can look at this photo and remember what the numbers mean
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/16/2008 01:07:58 PM
So much story in those hands. Starting with the horror, but continuing to show that with strength, people can overcome that to have a marriage and a long life. And the hands could belong to anyone, so it tells the story of all survivors, not just this particular one. On top of that, the shot is lit and composed well. Thanks for sharing this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2008 08:48:55 PM
Easily the most powerful image in this challenge. I really hope everyone else votes you high as well, this definitely deserves blue. 10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2008 07:38:34 PM
poignant
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2008 01:40:39 PM
Incredibly poignant image. My only 10 given in the challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2008 09:39:38 AM
Good idea, maybe a fraction oversaturated?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2008 05:32:25 AM
such an emotive image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2008 05:22:20 AM
Hard to comment on this. As a photo, I like the way the eyes are drawn to the hands first and then see the horrible number second. Nice tones, nice lines. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/15/2008 12:06:45 AM
this is a moving photo-9
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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