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Raven Dance
1st PlaceRaven Dance
gyaban


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Winged Things (Expert Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Date: May 18, 2014
Date Uploaded: May 18, 2014

 I worked really hard on this photo. Creating a convincing illusion of a global shape, using realistic positions and props was not easy, but I am very proud and happy about the result.

In order to design it, I studied various photos of ravens, then used a wooden miniature model in order to see what positions would work the best. Once set, I photographed my wife and me in my home studio accordingly: of course, since we are no dancers, a few things had to be adjusted in post-processing, but I made sure to keep it humanly doable. If you look closely, there are even straps on the arms, to attach the wings like a real costume (even though the wings were constructed from individual feathers). The head of the raven was a bit challenging: the wooden miniature had no hair so it was not easy to foresee the result before trying out; however I believe her ear as the bird's eye and her hair as its beak work nicely. Finally, there was also a full moon this week, so I took advantage of it and photographed it for the background.

Thanks for watching, I am very happy that some liked it.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 52
Avg (all users): 7.0761
Avg (commenters): 7.8000
Avg (participants): 7.0857
Avg (non-participants): 7.0702
Views since voting: 2560
Views during voting: 281
Votes: 92
Comments: 27
Favorites: 5 (view)

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AuthorThread
 05/30/2014 11:35:52 PM
this is brilliant.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/27/2014 08:49:16 PM
Fascinating construction. Impressive result. Nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/27/2014 10:45:07 AM
You are such a gifted artist. I didn't see the raven head until I looked at the thumbnail. Pure magic. Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/27/2014 04:19:19 AM
Amazing and breathtakingly beautiful. Most definitely one of your best, Christophe.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 07:55:52 PM
This was my 10 amazing and wonderful.. when I grow up I would love to shoot like this.. thank you for always inspiring and motivating to do better
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 04:39:05 PM
Simply amazing! Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 10:09:08 AM
Incredible as always. I hope you are going to let your wife have a few days off to have that baby:) Congrats on a well deserved blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 09:18:33 AM
I also missed seeing the Raven first time round. Beautifully done, my only 10 and so glad it blued. Congrats Christophe!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 08:46:04 AM
Again something like this I expect from you Christophe! You have done it again!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 08:01:01 AM
Beautifully done; congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 05:31:58 AM
Beautiful work. Im so glad thisgotfirst.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 05:24:42 AM
Another inspirational piece of work from you - congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 03:58:57 AM
I too missed the Raven, now I see it, a wonderful image, Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 03:38:01 AM
I didn't vote in this challenge but I would have been one of your 10's and not among the 4- crowd :)

Surely one of your best creations, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 01:07:14 AM
Congratulations on the blue, Christophe. What a wonderful creation!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2014 12:46:56 AM
Well, this one escaped me, Christophe. I saw the dance, and the various elements, and only now see the whole "raven". Congrats on the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/25/2014 11:55:37 PM
Looks like a poster.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/25/2014 09:21:27 PM
Fabulous work! Technically brilliant and esthetically stunning. My choice for the blue. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/25/2014 04:29:47 PM
Superb!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/25/2014 04:02:52 PM
I didn't see the Raven right away, only the various details, & then this morning I saw it. I like that. A little voyage of discovery. An "aha!" moment. Thanks! And the moon never looked better.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2014 05:12:53 PM
As always extraordinary...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2014 10:34:23 AM
Terrific dramatic choreography. The pose combining two people into a single bird is inventive and creatively brought to fruition. The hands as talons is a wonderful touch. The background is appropriately moody. The branch as foreground is a curious choice, in my opinion. But this is a fine black and white image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2014 12:44:41 AM
You do understand how babies are made. Right? Freaking masterpiece!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2014 01:30:35 PM
...it reminds me of something you would see on a t-shirt minus a wolf...not sure if that's a good thing. I guess it depends on the audience. It is very well done though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2014 07:43:19 AM
Wow
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2014 07:17:35 AM
still coming to terms with how to rate this genre, this is way ahead of a lot of others in this challenge in the manipulation and photography.would I have it on my wall?
how long would it be there?
always questions
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2014 01:25:09 AM
Moody creation.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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