DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Echinarachnius parma
Echinarachnius parma
ShannonLee


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Light On White II (Basic Editing III)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Location: beach
Date: Oct 24, 2005
Aperture: 1
ISO: 1
Shutter: 1
Galleries: Still Life
Date Uploaded: Oct 24, 2005

my friend found this sand dollar in mexico, it's absolutely perfect! i took it on a little car ride to the beach and shot a few pics. It turned out much darker than i wanted it (it was a really overcast day) so i lightened the highlights and fooled with contrast a bit. i'm likin how it turned out! first contest with my new cam :-D

Statistics
Place: 133 out of 277
Avg (all users): 5.0588
Avg (commenters): 6.3333
Avg (participants): 4.6429
Avg (non-participants): 5.3220
Views since voting: 1128
Views during voting: 390
Votes: 289
Comments: 7
Favorites: 1 (view)


Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
11/06/2005 01:18:13 PM
Greetings from the Critique Club!

An image of a sand dollar in the sand. The subject is appealing to me, I've always liked sand dollars!

The composition of the image follows the rule of thirds by placing the subject off center and higher in the frame. In a simple composition placement is critical--it might have been ever so slightly stronger if the center of the sand dollar fell on the intersection of the imaginary thirds lines.

The depth of field is limited, throwing the background out of focus helps bring the eye forward to the subject. There is a great deal of interest in the sand grains--lots of texture and color to look at--but the sand provides little contrast to the subject.

The lighting is flat (as you note). Using a small reflector or flashlight to provide directional lighting might help bring out the detail in your subject, especially needed in the finely etched lines of the sand dollar's star. The far rim of the sand dollar appears to lose its crispness due to these lighting conditions and the fall off of focus at that point.

I keep trying to decide what the image "says" to me. It has a scientific title but isn't a specimin shot since the item is not whole nor, alternatively, is there a lot of environmental context...so that's not it. I suppose, in the end, it says "here is a sand dollar." I think somehow an image needs to help the viewer understand what is special about its subject--what's so special about this sand dollar--or what's so appealing about sand dollars in general? In other words, why do I want to keep looking at this?

Overall a good attempt to portray a favored subject.

Keep shooting!
--Kadi
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/29/2005 10:10:18 AM
I like it when the greek names are used. It gives the subject such a sense of importance. I love the grain of the sand and the varying colors, but it isn't white. It was my understanding the the background was to be white and the subject light. ;~(
10/29/2005 01:05:28 AM
I love the simplicity and positioning of this composition. Like the coloration, too.
10/28/2005 08:46:56 AM
This is beautiful!
10/27/2005 03:09:16 PM
nice capture, but the sand is NOT white enough to be scored higher IMO
10/27/2005 02:57:50 PM
I like this, but unfortunately the background is not white.
10/26/2005 01:16:31 AM
Not sure if people will find this to be white enough, but I love it. 10


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/12/2025 03:10:51 PM EDT.