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Flight of Fancy
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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Blue III (Basic Editing)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Canon EOS-5D
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM
Location: Pacific Grove, CA
Date: Nov 8, 2008
Aperture: 11
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/6400
Galleries: Landscape, Birds
Date Uploaded: Nov 11, 2008

[Nov. 13th, 2008 11:29:30 AM]

Hmmm--thought it might be a bit of shoehorn. It is blue, but artificially so. I almost held the orange(natural color) version for FS but I had a couple of other ones ready.

100+ votes and almost 7.5! I'll have to call this one an overachiever and a suprise.

[Nov. 15th, 2008 05:40:14 PM]



***
Sweet! Thanks for the votes and comments. I had been out shooting the ocean before sunrise and was headed back to the hotel when I saw a blue heron in this pond up against some reeds. I set up to shoot him and I realized the sun was peeking through the trees and this flock of gulls kept taking off, circling the area and then splashing down again. I thought the back lighting on them when they hit the water looked good and then I realized their silhouettes were also interesting (i just spelled silhouettes with out spell check!. First time ever.) This was my fav of the bunch. The heron??? Who cares? :)

Processing was convert to blue, sharpen and neat image, plus USM again.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 186
Avg (all users): 7.6070
Avg (commenters): 8.3939
Avg (participants): 7.5410
Avg (non-participants): 7.6310
Views since voting: 20449
Views during voting: 407
Votes: 229
Comments: 79
Favorites: 71 (view)


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AuthorThread
06/20/2010 11:19:02 PM
Mark, just added this to faves. This is evocative, extremely well composed... just beautiful. Weird question, though: is the horizon slightly askew by any chance? If so, it doesn't change the photo much, but for some reason (may be just my eye) it looks like it needs to be slightly tilted to the right.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/26/2009 08:02:24 PM
Absolutely stunning... Beautiful work as always. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/17/2009 01:08:55 AM
Just fantastic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/10/2008 11:47:49 AM
I spent the first five years of my life living in Pacific Grove...somehow I don't remember it looking this blue though...I think it was more PURPLE back then...;-)

Congrats on your Blue! Already marked this one a fav...otherwise I'd be happy to mark it twice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/24/2008 08:11:23 PM
I didn't vote but the color shift to blue probably would have weakened your vote with me had I did. Red would have been a more forgiving tweak given the time of day and all. Regardless of the challenge relevancy it's a sweet image. Congrats on the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/23/2008 05:18:36 AM
beautiful image. I love the cool colors and the creative impulse to change the colors.

Congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2008 01:14:30 PM
This is so beautiful, perfect harmony, stunning!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2008 09:23:47 PM
I love what you did with this, the transformation from orange to blue is simply amazing. Congratulations on your first place win!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2008 11:33:18 AM
congradulations!! i think that this photo is really great. I looked at both the orange and blue one, and its very hard to chose which one is th ebest, they are both really great. I personally like the ornage one a lot because of the way the sun is reflecting on the water and how it looks like day and the other looks like night. But anyway good job!!! (:
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2008 09:35:14 AM
amazing foto! almost sureal. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/21/2008 01:48:40 AM
Fantastic! well done and good color shift choice. one other thought, who would give this a 2 or a 3?!?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2008 11:56:45 PM
Beautiful shot! Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/20/2008 01:20:44 AM
gotta love digital photography
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 09:04:42 PM
I have to admit that I love the look of this, it reminds me of the moon instead of the sun and is a beautiful photo. But I do have to say in the spirit of DPC...........hmmm I wonder how I'd feel about fooling the voters.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 08:03:17 PM
** Warning: This post has been hidden as it may content mature content. Click here to show the post.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 05:01:32 PM
Beautiful image. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 04:41:14 PM
SO BEAUTIFUL!!! congrats on the well deserved BLUE ribbon. ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 03:41:28 PM
Hard to pick which version is the best: blue or orange? I like both! The blue is a little eerie (or should I say fantasy-like?) - I like that!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 02:58:23 PM
Gorgeous shot and perfect in blue all the same. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 09:14:36 AM
Beautiful image!! Congrates on your Blue Blue Ribbon :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 08:11:31 AM
Congrats on your first place finish. Well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 07:02:57 AM
Stunning outcome - loved this one during the voting and still do ;o) Congrats...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 04:47:24 AM
Ok, probly my favorite shoehorn of the year. ;-) Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 03:35:54 AM
hey Mark, you spelled silhouettes right, but missed N in convert :). But who cares, right? Congrats on a stunning image, and another well deserved (i would even say, color-matched) blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 03:28:49 AM
Beautiful - nice finish mate.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 02:06:07 AM
WOW - nice finish. It's really lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 01:58:37 AM
Lovely! And congrats on a blue on what you thought was a shoehorn! :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 01:22:07 AM
Just gorgeous. Worthy of the Blue on Blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 01:17:14 AM
Originally posted by aliqui:

This is stunning. I think there's too much dead space at the top. I know you wanted to keep the top right bird, but I think the image would be more powerful without the top inch.


Just had to keep the top bird. :) I went with squarish crop to maximize the pixels.
11/19/2008 12:55:13 AM
Wow, love the serenity and magic of this image. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:44:56 AM
A Beauty...Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:35:52 AM
Congrats on the blue, Mark. What a beauty!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:29:07 AM
Congrats on a superbly well done night shot that I'm wishing I can do one day. With the inspiration derived from this one I just may start trying. Thanks
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:20:21 AM
Beautiful shot Mark...congrats on the blue for blue ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:16:24 AM
fake blue or not, a gorgeous image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:11:29 AM
mark, this is gorgeous! congrats on the blue ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:11:25 AM
Like I said WOW! Congrats on your 'Blue'
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:07:00 AM
Congrats, Mark! I don't think this is an overachiever at all. It's simply gorgeous.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:05:37 AM
Grats on first! Well deserved!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:03:38 AM
Mark, I knew this one had to be yours! Awesome shot. Congrats on the blue! Very well deserved. ETA - I prefer this version over the orange one. You made the right choice!

Message edited by author 2008-11-19 00:18:27.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:03:01 AM
Always great to see you on the front page, Mark. Big congrats on your blue Blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/19/2008 12:02:59 AM
Congrats on the blue. Where did you shoot this?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/18/2008 11:53:09 PM
I suspect that this will get the blue (in the blue challenge, how appropriate!)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/18/2008 03:13:15 PM
Very nice atmosphere !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/17/2008 03:26:44 PM
Mystic - perfect :o)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/16/2008 05:55:33 PM
Wow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/16/2008 05:24:30 AM
This is LOVELY!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/16/2008 05:05:08 AM
very striking
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2008 11:35:59 PM
I'll see this one in the top ten, if not on the front page.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2008 10:23:42 PM
This is just stunning - one of my faves from the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2008 08:24:04 PM
The mood set here is incredible. Beautiful photo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2008 04:05:02 PM
Lovely, dramatic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2008 02:53:08 PM
wow, beautiful!! amazing shot, 10 points!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2008 01:34:36 PM
just a bite less blown out reflection and this would be heaps better. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2008 11:24:13 AM
Wow - that is a cool scene being set. The birds make it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2008 10:48:57 PM
great shot, like it alot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2008 10:36:06 PM
My first reaction is WOW! Then I wish it were more blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2008 09:12:55 PM
awesome catch!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2008 04:58:30 PM
This is a very neat capture! The lighting and the foggy-ness add a dreamlike characteristic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2008 03:48:02 PM
Holy crap! This image made me stop in my tracks. An insta-10, that's what that's called.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2008 01:13:31 PM
I think this one will be wearing a blue!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2008 11:58:02 AM
great timing - well captured.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/14/2008 08:07:21 AM
Excellent. Can't fault this. 10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/13/2008 04:44:32 PM
This looks like this could be someone I know who captured Malibu Lagoon? Hmmm....Beautiful shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/13/2008 04:21:45 PM
That's pretty amazing. I especially like the 3 dimensional sensation, which might be the result of the unusual lighting, the selective focus, and the stopped motion of the birds. A great achievement with what seems like so little effort.

(not voting, but sure faving)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/13/2008 12:34:31 PM
Yeow! Awesome capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/13/2008 09:42:16 AM
Wow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 11:58:47 PM
Absolutely stunning. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 04:28:45 PM
Really interesting image. The light and dark are equally mysterious and the birds flying and swooping add a graceful bit of life to it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 02:36:49 PM
looks amazing
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 11:04:46 AM
Gorgeous! I very much like the composition & post processing of this. Kudos to you!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 08:39:44 AM
Wow, fantastic. Great capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 06:03:32 AM
My favorite of the challenge and a ribboner for sure. Into my favs.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 01:55:24 AM
oh wow...gorgeous!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 01:17:29 AM
absolutely lovable 10/10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 12:57:52 AM
Very mysterious. Lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 12:29:05 AM
It feels like SF, golden gate park. wonderful light.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 12:26:40 AM
This is stunning. I think there's too much dead space at the top. I know you wanted to keep the top right bird, but I think the image would be more powerful without the top inch.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/12/2008 12:12:28 AM
whoa thats pretty...
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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