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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: DPC Album Cover (Advanced Editing II*)
Collection: Favorites - Ribbons
Camera: Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Location: Easton, CT
Date: Jul 24, 2004
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/160
Galleries: Humorous, Studio
Date Uploaded: Jul 25, 2004

This is basically just a chayote squash inserted into my kitchen sink. I mixed some Play Doh to match the color of the squash and formed ridges for the eyes, which were pulled from an old doll. I held a desk lamp down in the sink with one hand and shot with the other using a 50mm f/1.8 lens.

Post-processing:
Cropped and slightly rotated, levels, heavy USM (I wanted this one to look a little grungy), desaturated most of the sink and metal ring. Cloned out the seams from the Play Doh, and adjusted the color to match better. Dodging and burning around the eyes. Cloned out the existing type on the drain. Created the outlined type in Illustrator, then used a Bevel & Emboss layer effect in Photoshop to make it look engraved. Partially erased and blurred the type to match lighting and DOF, then Levels again to improve contrast.

I expect some people to complain about the legibility of the type, but I think it helps the realism to have some obscurity. If nothing else, I expect a lot of comments! ;-)

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 122
Avg (all users): 7.1330
Avg (commenters): 8.3226
Avg (participants): 7.1889
Avg (non-participants): 7.0938
Views since voting: 13883
Views during voting: 476
Votes: 218
Comments: 71
Favorites: 54 (view)


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AuthorThread
09/10/2009 08:33:55 PM
Food Faces & Edible Effigy
11/25/2006 05:53:37 PM
Why do these types of vegetables always look like things??? lol, good shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/25/2006 01:01:01 PM
HA!!!! Great!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/25/2006 10:32:37 AM
I remember this one from when I first joined DPC. I just love how that little guy looks, and how he's poking his head up through the drain like that. Super creative, and perfectly executed, as always.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/15/2006 10:20:15 PM
okay... that's just freaky! nice shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/11/2006 01:38:05 PM
This is a VERY clever shot. (And whoa - you live in Easton? I just moved to Nebraska after 6 years in Redding.)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/19/2005 07:22:45 PM
Amazing work, inspiring at the least.

TY

Message edited by author 2005-07-19 19:23:03.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/05/2004 05:13:38 PM
A lot of work that paid off beautifully! Exceptional work! Congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/06/2004 09:27:20 AM
This is cool. Perhaps some Draino to clear the cootie up haha.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/04/2004 10:31:57 PM
I have to veiw this picture everyday because my 2 year old daughter REALLY LOVES IT.. I like it but she has gone digital over it and always insists that I stop what I am doing and let her see your picture.. so I guess I should say a big THANK YOU for making my little girl so happy.. There is a picture of her on my profile, she looks so sweet but she is really a boy in a girls body... she likes cars, cameras, breaking things, and is VERY loud... anyway... congrats on the ribbon well deserved
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/04/2004 04:48:24 PM
I love it, especially the drain lettering...i think it's awesome :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/04/2004 12:15:02 PM
I love this image, it's on my faves list now. Wish there was a real band so I could buy the CD :) Let me know if you make it available as a print.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/03/2004 02:05:47 PM
I expected a ribbon when I first saw this one. very smart and well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 10:23:25 PM
This photo impresses me even more after reading your description. Great work and a great idea. Thanks for posting how you did it. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 06:35:40 PM
Even more impressive after reading the description! I assumed this was some sort of toy -- it's all the better knowing that you concocted this guy yourself!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 01:53:25 PM
Congratulations! Awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:05:34 PM
Amazing ... so seamless from the play-do to the text. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 07:26:54 AM
I was wondering what that thing was. Clever idea, and congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 05:23:17 AM
Top shot, well thought out.

Congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 01:57:50 AM
This is brilliant--should've got first if you ask me!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 01:34:14 AM
extremely creative...i love this! congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 01:17:18 AM
Beautifull job and about the most creative in the group. Amazing job with the text.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 01:02:10 AM
Wonderful job! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:54:09 AM
Great Job, Shannon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:48:55 AM
LOL, that is awesome. Congrats on your ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:46:17 AM
LOL..this is so funny. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:35:21 AM
Woohoo! This is fun! Thanks to all those who voted and commented. Glad you enjoyed it! I'm scoring well with every other entry these days, so I'm really looking forward to Miniature. ;-)

Every time I looked at the entries I saw the cover by kiwiness right on the first row of my screen, and I just knew that one was destined for the blue. There are probably only a handful of members even CAPABLE of taking a shot like that!

Message edited by author 2004-08-03 18:28:59.
08/02/2004 12:20:51 AM
I loved this one. It's totally surreal and it very creative. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:19:10 AM
I'm beginning to believe that red is your color! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:14:08 AM
My wife was extremely impressed, she even recognized the chayote.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:12:01 AM
Cingratulations. This image is a gas. A super addition to your port.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:09:56 AM
my fav of the challenge, congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:06:48 AM
Complain about the legibility...?
HA!
It's what made this ribbon-winner!

Congrats Shannon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:05:00 AM
Shut UP!!! I thought that was just a pet frog species I wasn't familiar with. This was one of my favorites... I gave it a 10. Congratulations, and I just loved reading how you did it. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2004 12:04:01 AM
You're on a roll lately, congrats on your second ribbon :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/01/2004 07:21:44 PM
Holy Molly! That's one disturbing photo! Well done! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2004 06:21:57 PM
LOl... I cracked up when this one popped up. I love the etching in the drain, nice touch!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/01/2004 01:27:01 AM
Now, this is jusr hilarious. A gas and a delight to look at. I voted earlier and now bumping you to next level. Good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/30/2004 06:18:23 PM
Definitely could pass as an album cover -- very well done! One of my favorites.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/30/2004 05:20:11 PM
I don't know what that is, but I love the creativity. The subtle text around the drain works very well, but might be a bit too subtle. The only technical issue I have is a little softness at the bottom right and top left of the drain (maybe a smaller aperture to bring them in closer focus), but other than that, this is a nice shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/30/2004 12:27:00 PM
well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/29/2004 09:03:20 PM
great shot, great job on the text. good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/29/2004 04:42:06 PM
very cleaver, sharp, and I like it...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/29/2004 04:38:50 PM
Love this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/29/2004 12:20:34 AM
Bravo!
This is perfect. The text brought this shot to perfection.
My favorite in this challenge! ((10))
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/28/2004 06:40:55 PM
Really creative, Great shot! so cute! 9!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/28/2004 01:52:50 PM
Ha thats awesome!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/28/2004 05:56:31 AM
A great shot for the challenge! Simple, funny and very effective with the etched looking text around the plug hole.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/27/2004 11:55:59 PM
Clever all the way. I love your placement of the text on the drain hole. The "sink" part would probably work better if it was a bit whiter.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/27/2004 11:44:30 PM
very creative 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/27/2004 08:46:06 PM
Gread job :) 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/27/2004 03:45:38 PM
This is one of my favorites! Would like to know how you did the text on the drain.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/27/2004 10:46:20 AM
Really wonderful use of text. Very good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/27/2004 09:24:46 AM
Can't get better then this…Laughed till it hurt… 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/27/2004 08:12:44 AM
Unique. I love it. (10)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 10:50:13 PM
Well, this one just stopped me in my tracks. Finally, a cover that's completely buyable as a real band name and a professional graphic layout. Easily a 10. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 05:51:44 PM
Great job putting the text on. Funny photo. I like the band name :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 05:31:07 PM
This is not only cute but nicely done though lighting on the metallic rim thing could be more even. Very cute and somewhat bizaare. Just what I like! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 04:53:43 PM
No idea what it is but it's adorable, even while maintaining a determined aggressive look.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 01:00:40 PM
Good job with the text! Too funny. Very creative.
Top ten! -8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 12:43:44 PM
LOL!!! ... 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 12:23:23 PM
hehe this is great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 12:21:39 PM
one of the funniest ones. i really like the name around the drain.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 12:19:15 PM
9Very kool. Made me laugh.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 07:20:31 AM
Lol this is great. Nice job on the text too!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 06:29:42 AM
:-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 02:50:42 AM
wicked lol.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 01:12:37 AM
Extremely creative - wonderful job on the titles!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 12:49:37 AM
Great job on the text!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 12:47:01 AM
SUPER treatment of the text. Nice shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2004 12:25:57 AM
Cool photo! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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