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Sunday Night Bath
1st PlaceSunday Night Bath
vawendy


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Everyday Objects II (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: 2013 Challenge shots
Camera: Canon EOS-7D
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS
Date: Jul 28, 2013
Date Uploaded: Jul 28, 2013

 [Aug. 4th, 2013 11:43:25 AM]

So... I knew I wanted my object to be a lamp. I started out thinking along the lines of Coley -- regular table lamp hanging from a tree. Maybe with a person under it. Reading a book? But I couldn't quite picture it... I knew the cord would be threaded up through the lamp, so it could hang from it's cord, but would the person be too far away? And I really didn't have any good tree candidates.

Then I thought of a floor lamp in the middle of a wooded path. I liked that idea, but it seemed to need a person, and it seemed to ruin it whenever I tried to place the person in my mind.

Lamp in the river! That's it! The person could be bathing. Big bath brush, shower cap...

That's it!!

Grabbed the husband, the kids, and the lamp, bought a ruffled shower cap, tied a 580ex II flash up in the shade of the lamp (in a ziploc bag, in case the lamp tipped over) and headed out to the river.

First problem -- the waves in the river were bigger than normal! We couldn't put the lamp out farther, because the waves would have knocked it over. We couldn't move my husband in closer, because he would have been too shallow, so he really wasn't in the best placement as far as the light went. But that's just life. The composition wasn't going to be perfect, but it was the best we could do.

2nd problem, the waves kept knocking him over!

3rd problem, the cord was strung out on the beach. Since this was a working lamp, the deal was to try to keep the plug dry so that it would continue to be a working lamp... that didn't happen... I tried to rig a baggy around the cord, and my son tried to keep it from washing into the water. It was a lost cause.

4th problem no light on bather's face. Not a problem, we had extra flashes, but couldn't really figure out the best way to make the lighting make sense

and then...

it started to pour!

Rain!

Lots of it!

Quick!! Get the camera gear, lamp, everything into the car!

Did we get the shot?

ummmm... no, not really...

rain stopped 5 minutes later.

We're still there, might as well try again.

Dragged everything out and continued shooting. Darkening skies making things much more difficult. Too dark to work with. We'll have to work with what we have.

How's the cord doing? lift up baggie around cord... baggie full of water...

Come home -- process shot, rinse brackish water off of lamp, enter shot, let lamp dry for 24 hours before trying it.

Lamp doesn't work. Uh oh. Husband is not going to be happy. Sheepishly admit to husband that night. Husband replaces burnt out light bulb that wife had unknowingly put into lamp.

Lamp worked!

Thanks for all the comments! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

Huge thanks to my husband and kids!

Outtakes:





Statistics
Place: 1 out of 63
Avg (all users): 7.0235
Avg (commenters): 8.6667
Avg (participants): 7.1053
Avg (non-participants): 6.9574
Views since voting: 3925
Views during voting: 201
Votes: 85
Comments: 35
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
 08/07/2013 07:15:51 PM
It is great to hear the story behind the great image. It looks like a lot of fun and worth it in the long-run
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/06/2013 05:07:30 PM
Your story is so much fun, as always Wendy. Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/06/2013 01:45:18 PM
I thought I recognized that silly man! Amazing what he'll put up with, isn't it? Congrats on a wonderful blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/06/2013 01:13:57 PM
Wendy, brilliant image and story. So deserving of the blue. Congrats and ((hugs)).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/06/2013 09:50:24 AM
Your story is as brilliant as the photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/06/2013 12:41:36 AM
Oh my, Wendy... I just love the notes. I imagined this was an entry with a story, but I never thought it would have been like that. I honestly can't imagine my hubbie and kids doing such things for a picture. You lucky gall :)
Congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 08:58:05 PM
Simply fabulous Wendy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 07:33:44 PM
Congratulations and thanks for sharing the alternative takes, mostly interesting. The last one with just the lamp is simply haunting and evocative, wonderful.

Message edited by author 2013-08-05 19:34:12.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 06:40:52 PM
Love this Wendy. Very clever.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 03:45:59 PM
Creative and well executed -- a couple of traits your images consistently exhibit. Nice job and kudos to your brave model.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 01:11:51 PM
Ohmygosh.... you have way too much fun! That sounds so crazy... but so fun. What great sports your family is! This is such a fun photo. Great payoff! Congratulations!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 01:09:53 PM
Bloody brilliant!! Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 10:04:36 AM
Great idea, and fun looking result Wendy! Congrats on the top shot!
Your notes make it even better. It's another "Wendadventure".
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 09:41:05 AM
oh, this gave Rick and I a good laugh...well done!!! I don't think I could get Rick to be one of my subjects if I bribed him with....well I can't think of anything that would motivate him....lol
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 08:42:42 AM
Best story I've read for ages. Still think you should have consulted the squirrels. Well done Wendy (and family)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 03:49:30 AM
"Remember that time we took the old lamp down to the river?" - I can hear it being said for many years to come. Congrats on this just reward for your continuing adventures!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 03:23:03 AM
Congratulations Wendy! Your notes are a hoot! Your husband deserves some sort of medal. And waves in the river? I thought it was the sea. We don't have waves in our rivers.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 02:31:49 AM
Well deserved blue. congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 12:32:59 AM
If you and your family ever get arrested send us a note 'cause you'll need all the help that you can get!

PS. I hope that the lamp was plugged in somewhere
Great outtakes also
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 12:23:20 AM
great idea! really enjoyed reading "behind the scene story" love your creativity.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 12:11:28 AM
You are a amazing. Congrats on the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 12:06:59 AM
Honestly your husband deserves a medal or something for this and your whole family truly, good to see this crazy shot ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2013 12:03:44 AM
Congrats! Made me laugh, you are a crazy woman! ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/04/2013 11:01:29 PM
I'm giving you a 10 because I want you to be on the front page.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/04/2013 05:59:08 PM
Okay, that's pretty funny!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/04/2013 05:20:03 PM
Too few bubbles for a real Sunday treat...love the shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/04/2013 06:16:40 AM
LOL. Now that's a new take on an old everyday subject. +1 for the laugh.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2013 07:20:21 PM
Now that's thinking out of the box.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/31/2013 11:43:24 PM
very creative, my favorite so far!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/31/2013 04:14:57 PM
This is most certainly the most original entry. Bumping to 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/31/2013 07:38:21 AM
This is great...looking forward to seeing how it was done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/30/2013 02:23:30 PM
Extremely cool.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/30/2013 08:55:44 AM
Lol this is a crack up, you really made him do that, NO WAY!
Would of loved seeing the reaction of someone turning up at the beach at the time of shooting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/29/2013 12:42:26 AM
Clever Put a smile on my face
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/29/2013 12:13:47 AM
LOL! Love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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