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Hard Metal.....Soft Heart
Hard Metal.....Soft Heart
hdogg4u


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Tools of the Trade (Basic Editing III)
Camera: Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Lens: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon
Location: Ionia Free Fair
Date: Jul 26, 2005
Aperture: F/5
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/125
Date Uploaded: Jul 26, 2005

 Taken at the Ionia Free Fair. His name is Charlie Brown he is an old school black smith. I spent about an hour with him on July the 25th watching what he did and he taught me things about how things are done being a black smith. Well I couldnt think of a good idea for this challenge till the morning of July 26th. I thought about seeing Charlie again in the evening and the time I enjoyed with him the previous night. Finally at 4:00pm it struck me tools of the trade anvil, metal, hammer, fire, wow and Charlie. I went over and asked if I could photograph him and this man said to asked me "Why" and I told him for DPC and what DPC was about and he told me "Is it your hobbie?" At which point I realized just like being a Black Smith was his and photography was mine. He let me shoot him. I shot about 200+ images that evening. I mentioned to Charlie that I would give him the originals to the pictures and Charlie said to me "dont worry I will sign a release form for you"

He just flat out amazed me and what he tried to teach me only comes through time, dedication, passion.

As far as the editing.
Started by croping to compose.
Curves Layer to adjust color correct
Channel mixer layer to convert to Black and white
Brightness/Contrast layer to get some depth and tones.
Save as psd file
resave psd file for testing as another name
added black border to give a pop to the image
Resized for DPC
Smart Sharpen using CS2
Save for web for DPC.

Statistics
Place: 5 out of 342
Avg (all users): 6.5254
Avg (commenters): 8.5789
Avg (participants): 6.4634
Avg (non-participants): 6.5752
Views since voting: 3033
Views during voting: 394
Votes: 276
Comments: 28
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 12/25/2005 12:07:47 PM
Beautiful pic and beautiful story behind it.

Re the Chit below, being mocked by a moron is like a badge of honor. Wear it with pride.

I wish he had badmouthed some of my pics.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/04/2005 12:50:37 PM
Well, this a slight effort to bump what's his face comments down a bit. Congratualtions on a top five finish. I love the capture of the mood. He seems to be intent on his work, yet have great care at the same time. Cheers!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 11:10:22 PM
SORRY I SOUNDED HARSH, BUT FOR ME ITS NOT THE BEST PHOTO YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN. YOU ARE STILL A TOP PHOTOGRAPHER SIR. JUST MY OPINION. OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE LIKE IT. DAMN I HAVE CAPS LOCK ON. SORRY

SORRY TO SEEM HARSH. YOU ARE A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER ANYWAY
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 09:40:00 PM
The whole voting system on this site makes little sense. 76 people gave it a 6. The average is clearly 6. How it finished 5th seems totally odd. How can anyone give it a 10? And equally how can anyone give it a 4? Its an average shot at best, it offers nothing of interest and is an obvious "oh its a man with tools" Its so unimaginative. I guess this site isnt very artistic based.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 09:37:27 PM
5th place for this? Its not very good imo. Its a terrible composition, the whole image is oversharpened and noisy and it just looks boring
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 05:58:06 AM
This one was among my favorites for the challenge, after reading your comments it's even more so.
Offer my namesake a framed print, he sure deserves.
Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 12:41:22 AM
Great finish and a great shot! Congrats on 5th!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 12:06:57 AM
A stunning b/w with tones that blows the viewer away. Congratulations on your top FIVE finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/02/2005 10:19:19 PM
great b&w
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2005 01:01:18 AM
great job. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/31/2005 10:09:32 PM
Excellent capture. One of the best in this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/28/2005 02:51:22 PM
I see soneone else was at Hale Farm and Village. Parts seem a little blown out, but overall a good capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/28/2005 11:59:55 AM
I think this is a wonderful image. I love the circular motion of his body. The place where his legs and left arm are cropped is a little awkward. Overall perfect for this challenge. 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/28/2005 10:49:01 AM
A big plus for photographing a person at work. Nice title, good composition and post processing. -9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/28/2005 10:48:38 AM
Great shot, nice to see a smith actually still smithing things ;) would have liked to see either no movement or a bit more movement on the hammer but definately one of my favorites from this challenge either way..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/28/2005 10:42:22 AM
Well done. Like the b/w. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/28/2005 07:07:36 AM
Nice bold image 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 11:55:03 PM
8 - Met the Challenge. Well captured use of tools. Good character here. Black and white works well, perhaps sepia may have had more 'effect', not sure. Criticism; a tighter crop, or just losing that background left 'something'. A different angle (though I know you would sacrifice the 'character') but incorporating/emphasizing the tools (including his hands - especially at rear) would make this a better photograph in my opinion. Original and a good capture of a true skilled trade(sman).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 10:21:45 PM
Just Great! B&W when taken properly is excellent for showing lighting contrasts. Would have not cropped quite so tightly. I gave it a 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 08:56:46 PM
The human interest aspect in this picture makes it wonderful. I also like the black and white. Well done and good luck.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 05:14:08 PM
OK, finally a pic worth something. I've been disappointed so far in this challenge with people taking things too literally and not working on composition or "the art" of it all. This is the first 10 I've seen. Possibly worthy of top 3 in a mediocre field.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 03:55:03 PM
nice B/W.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 01:02:27 PM
10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 11:55:12 AM
I like this black and white shot. Nice textures too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 03:54:37 AM
love the title, love the composition and the use of B&W) a 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 02:24:50 AM
Very nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 01:59:13 AM
I like the b/w and the tones. not sure what he's doing though. not that it matters for scoring 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2005 01:03:24 AM
Best I've seen so far. Has a timeless appeal. Great tones and detail. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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