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Arise
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gyaban


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: The Four Elements III (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Date: May 2, 2013
Aperture: f/22
ISO: 100
Shutter: 183 sec.
Date Uploaded: May 2, 2013
[May. 7th, 2013 10:37:51 AM]

For those that are interested by the technical side of things, here is how that photo was done:

1) The phoenix was drawn from scratch on a black piece of cardboard, then cut out to obtain a stencil. This step was done by my wife, who has much better drawing skills than I do, not mentioning the patience to cut that cardboard during hours.
2) The phoenix was installed in the studio, fixed by its upper part to an horizontal bar. The point of this fixation is to be able to remove the phoenix and put it back in place easily, at will. To begin the shot process, I temporarily removed the phoenix.
3) I turned off all the lights in the studio: from there I worked in the dark.
4) I opened the camera shutter (bulb mode of course).
5) That is the trickiest part: I created some smoke (in that case with a smoke machine), then quickly threw an heavy object in the water to create the splash: simultaneously, I triggered the flashes (one flash + orange gel on smoke, another flash + blue gel on water/splash) with a remote I kept in my other hand. Yes, I had to try several times (throwing something in a glass of water in a dark room with smoke everywhere is a bit annoying).
6) I put the phoenix back in place, then placed a red gel in front of the camera lens.
7) I started to light paint the phoenix, using a candle from behind the stencil. Of course it was important to not stop moving, in order to avoid any blown area.
8) I put a yellow gel in front of the camera lens, then did some more light painting. The point of this second step was to obtain two different colors in the bird, which would (hopefully) look like fire.
9) I closed the shutter - done!

The processing was not too complex: the main point was to adjust the colors (especially on the bird) to make them look closer to what I had in mind.



[Post Challenge]

I wasn't really expecting a ribbon for that little experiment, I am very glad some liked it. Thank you very much!

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 58
Avg (all users): 6.8681
Avg (commenters): 8.6364
Avg (participants): 6.4118
Avg (non-participants): 7.1404
Views since voting: 3447
Views during voting: 202
Votes: 91
Comments: 31
Favorites: 7 (view)

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AuthorThread
 05/16/2013 05:50:05 PM
You are a Genius! I'm sure!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/12/2013 08:21:57 AM
Congratulations on your ribbon,this is amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/12/2013 07:12:42 AM
Love your image, Christophe. So pleased to be with you on the front page.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/11/2013 09:58:27 AM
Congratulations on the Red Ribbon.
It is amazing how much imagination, thought and effort goes into your work. Thanks for sharing the story which is has so much educational value for non-clickers like me (I may be the odd ball here w/o any photography skills!)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 10:12:57 PM
Holy Crap!!! That was a lot more involved than I thought it was. Great job!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 08:29:29 PM
Fantastic concept, process, execution, result. Beautiful image. Congratulations on the ribbon, Christophe.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 01:33:59 PM
Ridiculous.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 12:45:49 PM
That is an amazingly long shot!!! Fabulous, and creative, Christophe. A lot of fun and beautiful. Thanks for sharing the technicals. I feel like I'm attending Gyaban University :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 12:22:30 PM
You're a freaking artist! I'm amazed every time I see your work....just wow
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 08:29:47 AM
Nice work Christophe- from concept to completion, you are indeed "l'homme."
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 07:29:22 AM
So well done Christophe! I just let out a "Wow!" When I first saw it. Congrats on your well deserved ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 07:28:49 AM
Outstanding...similar process with this ..but you yielding much better results. Nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 05:25:57 AM
I would have never guessed how this was done! Very impressive

Message edited by author 2013-05-10 05:26:23.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 04:22:37 AM
Incredible result and what incredible lengths you go to.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 04:18:21 AM
Genius !
Well done, another great entry and a fantastic image !

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 04:16:19 AM
Great idea, great effort, congrats on the red, Christophe!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 02:55:54 AM
Originally posted by vawendy:
I knew it looked like a stencil -- but I never figured it for light painting.


+1

I'm surprised it didn't score an 8! Not only a great idea, but also a wonderful view!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 01:49:32 AM
Congratulations on the red. What a fantastic effect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 12:24:14 AM
How fun! I knew it looked like a stencil -- but I never figured it for light painting. Very clever! Congrats on the red. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2013 12:19:08 AM
Congrats!

Message edited by author 2013-05-10 00:25:23.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/09/2013 10:55:00 PM
Great idea and wonderfully implemented!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2013 12:31:51 PM
Impressive
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2013 09:04:54 AM
Presumably this is the Christophe entry? Hell of a job, regardless.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2013 07:18:20 AM
Oh wow, this is great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2013 10:11:54 PM
Superb...10!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2013 09:39:25 PM
No idea how you did this but it's pretty cool!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2013 11:53:42 PM
Wonderfully creative.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2013 07:38:37 AM
Fancy stuff,certainly has me thinking,good image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2013 05:56:25 PM
it rings a bell in my mind ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2013 05:29:17 PM
I really want to know how you got it under advance ruleset - for now the only thing I can do is to give you a 10 :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2013 12:27:19 PM
Wonderful idea and originality, super colour and splash.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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