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Reflecting
2nd PlaceReflecting
Lydia


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Foreground Bokeh II (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX DG HSM for Canon EOS
Date: Jun 18, 2012
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 1600
Shutter: 1/8000
Date Uploaded: Jun 16, 2012

 I saw this frog... as he jumped away.

I went back for my camera... and an umbrella for shade. It was SO HOT even late in the day!

I settled in... bracing my camera on my knees... it took quite a while before he showed up again... just a bit away from where I saw him initially.

But... there was nothing between us. WHAT are the odds of that?! A clear shot of a frog... this close... in the wild... with nothing in the way? *sigh* It's a Foreground Bokeh challenge. *sighs again*

I know... right? *sigh yet one more time*

Shooting for foreground bokeh... Need bokeh... If I move... frog's gonna go under again for another ten minutes... in the sun... if I move.

*heavy sigh* Sweat rolled down... again... into my eyes... again. I dared not wipe it... so squeezed my eyes together really tightly... blinked a bit, and... yeah... that helped to clear.

But, still... no shot with foreground bokeh.

What to do?

Move and he skitters? More waiting and sweat in the eyes?


I wiped. Frog didn't blink! He was staring right at me... I think he was focusing on the umbrella... and not me.

So... I moved lower to get a better "water-level" shot. Yes! Belly in the dirt. :D

Did I get it? I'm not so steady on my handheld shots these days... especially with a long lens.

I decided to risk it and go back home... hoping I got something that the eye was in focus.

I hope you think I did.

I just loved the experience.

I'm now washing my clothes... I did lie down a bit in the muck. :D


PPS: The Original --->


ForegroundBokehFrog3340cLN3r-E

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 126
Avg (all users): 7.5152
Avg (commenters): 8.7059
Avg (participants): 7.3529
Avg (non-participants): 7.6173
Views since voting: 4679
Views during voting: 292
Votes: 132
Comments: 56
Favorites: 6 (view)

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AuthorThread
 06/30/2012 07:06:51 PM
To be honest you are one of my favourites.
And it's images like these that are the reason why !
Superb !
Didn't vote but this is an 8 or 9 I think.
Very well done !
And thanks.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2012 02:45:32 AM
Oops double post

Message edited by author 2012-06-30 02:45:58.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2012 02:45:31 AM
Fantastic story Lydia and a super photo. Well done with the ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2012 02:35:52 AM
Excellent! Love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/28/2012 09:57:35 AM
Love your story-well deserved ribbon, Lydia !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 10:59:13 PM
OMG I am missing soo much.... I LOVE THIS... Congratulations!!!! We are going to have to start calling you "The Frog Lady of DPC" LOL mine are itty tree frogs that hang around the pool... not prudy green Kermitt frogs!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 10:40:52 PM
It's perfect! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 07:01:52 PM
Congratulations, Lydia. I love the image, I love your account of getting it. You did well!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 03:44:06 PM
It was obviously worth all that effort! (I'm surprised you didn't adopt him).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 02:20:05 PM
Excellent shot. Beautiful greens and golds. Congratulations on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 01:56:25 PM
Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 11:40:59 AM
Well, I guess 4 eyes are better than 2! Congrats, Lydia!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 11:40:47 AM
Congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 11:20:54 AM
my personal favorite from this challenge. thanks for this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 10:58:23 AM
Congrats. Did I pick it or did I pick it? Great work at 1600 on the 20D.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 10:47:53 AM
I love the story - well worth the effort! Congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 10:21:44 AM
This is such a cool shot and a wonderful story to go with :-). Congratulations on your score and your placement.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 10:18:27 AM
Congrats on the red, great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 08:25:54 AM
I LOVE THE STORY ALWAYS DO WITH YOUR IMAGES AND I LOVE LOVE THE IMAGE WELL DONE ON THE RED... FROM SHEZ
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 08:13:27 AM
Congrats Lydia! Wonderful image and story. My top pick.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 08:01:06 AM
Congratulations on your red ribbon Lydia. Thanks for the great story, too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 07:03:07 AM
Wonderful capture big congrats on your ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 07:02:56 AM
Well done Lydia, you should have kissed him.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 06:20:03 AM
Rolling in the muck is so much fun sometimes! Congrats on your splendid red!

Message edited by author 2012-06-27 06:22:13.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 05:05:54 AM
very nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 03:43:57 AM
congrats Lydia, wonderful clarity!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 03:17:08 AM
I love this Lydia a superb shot.

Congrats on the red.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 02:24:21 AM
Sweating and lying in the dirt is definitely worth it when the result is as excellent as this. Outstanding shot, Lydia ((Hugs)). Congrats on the fantastic score and ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 01:43:26 AM
Congratulations on your ribbon. Outstanding image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 12:55:15 AM
Wonderful Lydia, nice and warm.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 12:50:11 AM
Sometimes a little muck is worth it :-) Congrats on the red. No contest from me...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 12:32:24 AM
LOL! Love the story. You do great portraits - people and amphibians. And the occasional horse or two. But the stories are the best part!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 12:31:07 AM
Oh man I never see a frog, excellent shot not the bluey but the reddy, is still good.

Can you write down what programme you used to PP this it rocks!

Message edited by author 2012-06-27 00:31:37.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 12:29:18 AM
Terrific. It's worth getting down and dirty every now and then. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 12:20:20 AM
Congrats! This is fantastic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 12:09:44 AM
Nice to see you right next to me :-) Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 12:05:21 AM
How cool is this - my two 10's got first and second place :) I just loved that the bokeh actually contributed to the beauty and effect of the shot in these two. Wonderful focus on the eyes, Lydia. Hope your clothes came clean.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2012 12:01:51 AM
extremely well done (I was writing the comment as roll over hit) - Congrats on the ribbon!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
06/26/2012 10:13:53 PM
This is different... and good!! Voted earlier.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2012 09:47:03 PM
this beats out the alligator this time
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2012 06:47:55 PM
Love this one; colors are wonderful and the bokeh very nice. My top pick. (voted earlier)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2012 04:17:12 PM
Photographic precision and truly enhancing bokeh. My no 2 pick.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2012 06:00:38 PM
Love this image. The green is just memorizing against the browns.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2012 02:42:30 PM
Ha, nice! The bokeh leads me right to the subject, and the circles of confusion create a happy feel.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2012 01:02:53 PM
Great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2012 10:12:44 AM
Excellently done! The foreground and background bokeh draw the eye to the subject immediately. If you are not LydiaToo, should take as a compliment, that this immediately made me think of her style and capabilities.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/21/2012 05:07:52 PM
Yes thats it. Very nice bokeh and in the foreground.
I wish I would have been able to create that
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/21/2012 12:08:44 PM
Good image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/21/2012 11:53:29 AM
Best in show, congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2012 10:24:23 PM
One of the best in the challenge! Great idea and execution
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2012 02:37:25 PM
My highest rated of the challenge. It's not a flower, and it's not just grass in the foreground lol. This image is clever, razor sharp where it counts and has a very pleasing color palette. I would like to have seen the bottom 10% or so cropped though. It tends to pull the eye to the bottom right corner and kind of sticks out. Still one of my faves and should get the blue imo. Good job and good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2012 01:02:46 PM
Love the subject, the reflection, the light, the perfect foreground bokeh. Fab shot... One of my favorites!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2012 09:20:04 AM
I bet the bluey goes to you. I love the golden water and of course how can you not mention the 4 eyes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2012 07:44:58 AM
Really nice !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2012 07:06:01 AM
Great perspective and I love the colors and subtle patterns in the bokeh. Puts a bit of warmth in the scene.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2012 12:25:59 AM
This took my breath away! I can't stop staring at it... Awesome bokeh and beautiful reflection too! Wish I knew how you took this. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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