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Girl with a Pearl Earring
1st PlaceGirl with a Pearl Earring
Alex_Petrini


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Image Grain V (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Studio with People
Camera: Nikon D600
Lens: Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD for Nikon
Date: Apr 24, 2013
Date Uploaded: Apr 24, 2013

 [May. 5th, 2013 02:08:32 AM]

22 hours before rollover:

Votes: 81
Views: 200
Avg Vote: 7.4938
Comments: 20
Favorites: 4

I really hope this image will be on my profile page. Never had 4 favorites during voting :)

---

What an exciting week! After first 2 votes (5.50) the photo constantly improved reaching 7.56. Then it began to follow a different path and touched its lowest point at 7.15 - still great of course. Last 2 days have been super and last time I could check the score, it was at 7.5682 with 22 comments and 5 favorites.

Of course the image is my effort in trying to imitate the very famous Vermeer's painting. I love Dutch/Flemish painters of the past and it's my tribute to them. At first I had another painting in my mind but my model wasn't available. The girl is my niece. Not Alessia, who's in many of my portraits - this is Virginia. She's currently working in the extreme North of Italy, but she sent me a message asking me to take a nice photo of her between 20th and 25th when she had planned to be here. So I thought of this challenge and asked her if she liked my idea. She had worked in the Netherlands and had seen the real Vermeer's painting, so she was very excited.

So I began to study the lighting of the original painting. It didn't seem too hard. Vermeer used a natural light coming from a window. I planned to take the shot with my studio lighting, but when I was setting all the stuff I noticed how the light coming from a window of my attic was wonderful and decided to use it. I set the black background in the right position and all was ready. 

But before the shot we had to prepare the model. We didn't have too much time but we tried to do our best to be very close to the original painting. When I took the first shot a sort of smile appeared on my face: my idea was working. 

Besides the light coming from the window I used a white surface on the right of the frame. I didn't want that area to be too dark.

I took no more than 7-8 shots. They were all very good and we choose the one with the more convincing expression.

Last but not least I have to thank my Elysium teammates who helped me to choose the right amount of grain needed and to fix an imperfection of the left part of her face.

I'm very happy to see this photo in my profile page - I can say that this portrait changed something inside of me... but this is a personal thing and it's hard to explain it through words.

Thanks everybody!




Statistics
Place: 1 out of 133
Avg (all users): 7.6146
Avg (commenters): 9.0000
Avg (participants): 7.4074
Avg (non-participants): 7.8810
Views since voting: 5223
Views during voting: 245
Votes: 96
Comments: 64
Favorites: 24 (view)

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AuthorThread
 05/08/2013 10:03:58 AM
This is an awesome shot. Well done. I am going to try it too !! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2013 04:06:27 PM
Well deserved, beautifully done in every way!
Congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2013 09:45:06 AM
Truly a stunning image - stood out from the very first time I went through the entries. Congratulations on the blue - well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 09:31:44 PM
Truly a great shot, classically styled and very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 06:49:38 PM
Fantastic shot, Alex. Beautifully executed. Congrats on the well deserved ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 04:17:39 PM
AWESOME! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 01:41:53 PM
Well deserved Alessandro. This is a beautiful image and I'm sure your niece is delighted with it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 01:37:29 PM
nice work Alex! perfect lighting, great model. I think I would like to see this image without noise as well :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 10:11:34 AM
What a thrill Alessandro! Love reading your background story and so happy this won! The natural light just takes your breath away.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 09:23:43 AM
Breathtaking image. Beautiful model (love your story, too). Congrats on your win, Alessandro.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 09:06:30 AM
Beautiful! Congrats on your blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 08:24:36 AM
Congrats on the well deserved blue ribbon; beautiful image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 08:20:26 AM
another well deserved Blue! Strepitosa Alex!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 08:01:47 AM
Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 08:00:19 AM
So happy this took blue. Congrats on a beautiful image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 07:48:42 AM
Beautiful image. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 07:35:52 AM
Definitely one of your best, I would say a milestone in your portfolio, and one of the finest images seen on DPC. And she is such a beautiful model.
Congrats on the blue, glad to see my only 10 won this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 07:23:05 AM
Beautiful congratulation on your win. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 07:20:43 AM
Very nice! I knew this would get the blue and I'm happy to see it on your profile page! I still say its my favorite picture that you have done.....just great work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 05:54:57 AM
The colours are so fab, congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 05:35:24 AM
absolutely outstanding work, good sir. huge congrats on only on the blue, but on a milestone in your photographic journey.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 05:27:42 AM
Congratulations my man,superb winner all the way.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 03:36:01 AM
Fantastic effort and image! Congrats on the blue!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 03:22:37 AM
WTG, Alessandro, great effort, great result.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 03:00:26 AM
Good grief, Alessandro. What a reproduction! That facial expression is spot on.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 02:57:55 AM
Congrats Alessandro, great work and definitely the best in the bunch
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 01:51:38 AM
Beautiful work Alessandro, congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 12:35:50 AM
Wonderful work Alex. One of your best to date. Worthy blue no question!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 12:34:12 AM
Perfectly done. I knew this would get the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 12:20:40 AM
Alessandro ... You worked so hard on this fine concept and you did it proud! Congratulations on the Blue!! Go Elysium!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 12:11:18 AM
Spectacular, Alessandro. Congrats!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 12:10:07 AM
How did I miss this. It is fantastic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 12:09:14 AM
Forgot to add great colors. I'd be very surprised if it did not win. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 12:07:15 AM
Was my pick for the blue. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 12:07:10 AM
Very nicely done Alessandro- congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 12:05:07 AM
Congrats when I first saw this I thought it was the painting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2013 12:01:44 AM
whoa,sweet! congrats alessandro!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/05/2013 11:32:58 PM
yep 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2013 11:19:05 PM
I think the capture itself is stunning and expect this to be on the front page with a ribbon. I find the grain a little heavy on her skin but the light is delicious. Lovely. 9 Voted earlier, back to comment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2013 11:07:37 PM
U nailed the painting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2013 11:06:59 PM
Spectacular!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2013 08:53:58 PM
Such a success. everything came out perfect. The colors came out terrific, as blue as any blue ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2013 06:47:45 PM
Absolutely gorgeous; lighting, processing, colors are terrif and the grain really brings it all out.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2013 09:58:30 AM
Pretty darn close if you ask me. VWD.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2013 04:10:00 AM
Too many r's in the earing :) (edited: my spelling is really bad!)
A very good attempt to recreate Vermeer, great light and the model although missing a bit of the innocence of the original.

Message edited by author 2013-05-06 01:03:21.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2013 10:24:25 PM
Madonna...the beauty lives forever, great job man 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2013 02:29:14 PM
Nice use of grain for painterly effect. What Vermeer's might have looked like a few years after.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2013 01:02:36 PM
Congrats! This is really a great reproduction of Vermeer's painting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2013 12:55:57 AM
classic theme rendered wonderfully
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2013 11:42:44 PM
Lovely light, beautiful girl. The grain works to give it the textured feel of the painting it replicates.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2013 03:46:25 PM
Voted earlier, bumping up, and coming back to comment.

Very nice nod to Vermeer's classic painting. Lighting, expression, and model dress & pose are fantastic! I love the image grain here for it gives it a textural feel to compliment the nod to a painting. Also, the brown dress/cowl now has a feel and look of wool. Well done - hope to see this in the top 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/02/2013 01:35:33 PM
Best in show award, congrats wow factor high
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/01/2013 11:26:03 AM
Another cracker of an image in my view 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/30/2013 06:59:07 PM
I look at this image and am reminded of a classical painting. Unfortunately, for the life of me I cannot remember what it is called. Very nicely done... you have managed to capture an image that could readily pass for a painting.

Very nicely done. Definitely my favorite to date. A 9 for now.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/29/2013 07:14:02 PM
Well done! This is my favorite. You deserve a ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/29/2013 05:28:47 PM
Beautiful image. Rich colors, looks like a painting. My choice for blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/29/2013 10:48:21 AM
I love it! Well done. I love the square crop... I suspect some won't.

(commenting only)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/29/2013 10:16:10 AM
Even though I'm not voting on this...it would for sure be a ten. Its by far the best of the bunch. I can however add this to my favorites...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/29/2013 09:13:46 AM
By far the best. One of the best images I've seen posted on DPC. Perfectly executed. Send to 1X.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/29/2013 08:42:38 AM
A dream of Vermeer doing photography, with an even more beautiful girl. Happy to witness this in its anonymity, before the many times people will quote it.

Challenge-wise, probably the only image where the grain works.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/29/2013 06:51:24 AM
Gorgeous shot and wonderful grain.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/29/2013 04:49:51 AM
Very nicely done with excellent lighting. Vermeer would have been proud.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/29/2013 12:16:52 AM
impressive remake of Vermeer's painting I did a double take. Quality stuff here IMO.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/29/2013 12:16:46 AM
will ribbon...great work 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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