DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
scalvert


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Clichés and Sayings (Basic Editing III)
Collection: Favorites - Ribbons
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
Location: Easton, CT
Date: May 1, 2006
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/125
Galleries: Humorous, Animals
Date Uploaded: May 2, 2006

 My first entry after The Scalvert Stupid Move of 2006.

If there's one thing DPC has helped me with, it's shyness. I went down the street and knocked on the front door of a farmhouse with a slightly unusual request (well, not so unusual for me). After a few confused looks, the family graciously helped me with the shot- not once, but twice. The first time, I couldn't find a decent bow, and the one I made out of ribbon looked horrible. It was midday, so I tried shooting inside the stable, but the lighting and background were lousy, and it was tough to get a decent shutter speed. I pressed my luck and called back the next day to see if I could try again (extremely ironic given my title).

This was Round II. The horse's name is Oscar, and he was SOOO patient. We tied the bow to his mane with a short string over his head. Then we put sticky maple syrup on his muzzle so he'd open his mouth. The rest was luck. A big thank you to the Steel family for making this possible!

Processing: Convert RAW to 16bit TIFF, Noise Ninja, shadow/highlight, levels, curves, adjust color channels (including a hue shift on cyan) and saturation, crop/rotate, and slight USM. Other than that, I barely touched it. ;-P

Statistics
Place: 16 out of 288
Avg (all users): 6.6113
Avg (commenters): 7.5758
Avg (participants): 6.4565
Avg (non-participants): 6.6936
Views since voting: 1978
Views during voting: 376
Votes: 265
Comments: 40
Favorites: 5 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 05/14/2006 01:10:12 AM
One of the most memorable images in this challenge. Very well done!
Congratulations on your top 20 finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/11/2006 02:47:28 AM
Yeeehaw! He needs braces dude! Great job Shannon! I am just truly amazed by your creativity. I'm glad we're on the same team :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2006 11:19:44 AM
Scalvert...LOL..you really crack me up!

Don't be shy to ask people to do things that may seem odd though. For this challenge my first inclination was to ask a cop to lie down on the ground next to his car, or to pretend he was alseep while sitting in his car. The title was to be "A Cop Out". LOL....I just never found a cop in a position where I could ask him. They were either busy or I couldn't find one sitting on the side of the road. I didn't bother going directly to the police station, and I probably should have. But I have no fear about asking for such things. For my Environmental Portrait I had to ask permission to do a kooky shot again, LOL..and I had no quams. Supervisors had to be called in order to get the permissions, but it all panned out and it is my favorite entry to date. In a small town like mine it seems even more kooky to most, but once they understand the reasons they kind of get into it and think it is fun.

Ironically, for this challenge, the shot I took which made 29th place was not even planned. I had actually gone to the feed store and bought a small miniature chicken for one day and then returned it. I bought some worms, and got some good shots for "The Early Bird Catches the Worm", and for "A Little Birdie Told Me". It was a really tough choice and I must have entered and pulled and reentered about 25 times. Upon returning the chick though, I saw a box of ducks. I took a couple of half fast shots into the box and then left the store. Wouldn't you know that it is one of those shots I actually used, last minute, and gave me the 29th place shot.

Anyway, Kudo's to you for stepping out of your comfort zone. It can really pay off sometimes then just remaining shy. :)

Rose
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2006 09:18:09 AM
ROFL Too hilarious. Congrats on top 20.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2006 08:50:47 AM
What what... i don't get this! :S
This was my favourite photo in this challenge and one of the 3 I gave a 10 (I voted on all the photos) but now it says here I gave you a 2?!?! I even reviewed which pictures I gave a 10.. and your's was there!... I don't know how this happened and I'm so so sorry, this 2 does not fit here! (like you can see on my comment made during the voting). Love this picture and I've already added it to my favourites... I really don't get this :/ Sorry again...
And btw I think your picture deserved to be in the top 10... at least!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2006 02:26:51 AM
Youse wuz robbed... a TWO? THREES??!! This was my favourite! Great photography and imagination, and absolutely hilarious.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/09/2006 09:27:14 PM
Well done. I like the added touch of the bow.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2006 06:42:47 PM
Haha :D Good idea and a cute picture :) Like everything about the shot and the background is a plus. Love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2006 01:40:48 PM
Marvellously funny.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2006 10:13:15 AM
You're killing me! Good job. I especially like how you matched the bow color to the harness.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2006 01:13:57 PM
Clever.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2006 02:30:46 AM
cute photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2006 11:41:14 AM
Excellent fit to the subject.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2006 11:11:30 AM
Ha,ha very nice...hope it goes for a ribbon. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2006 10:28:46 AM
Amazing one! Very nice theme and execution.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2006 03:52:16 AM
Someone needs some gum
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2006 02:15:57 AM
Excellent - superb capture of the horse's expression and a blue ribbon to boot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2006 12:17:16 AM
the ribbon sets this shot off so well.... great job - well photographed
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2006 08:27:22 PM
LOL very funny!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2006 03:06:16 PM
I LOVE this photo! Your horse is so cute and seems happy to be having its picture taken and your creative way of fulfilling the challenge is fantastic. Great job! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2006 05:56:03 AM
great sharpness and depth of field. excellent job in meeting the challenge. -10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2006 04:55:09 PM
liek the ribbon. hehe.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2006 06:57:40 AM
very clever.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2006 06:27:50 AM
Good shot and detail on his mouth.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2006 05:02:33 AM
Excellent shot! Quite possibly a ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 09:03:05 PM
Great for the challenge. Best of all the animal shots and I'm not horsing around.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 07:41:43 PM
So funny... great photograph
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 07:29:40 PM
And how did the horse feel about the ribbon? Clever idea, well executed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 06:52:04 PM
Very cool image.
I had to come back and bump up the score for the smile you put on my face with this image. Thanks
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 06:34:54 PM
Very cute setup!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 06:16:58 PM
HAHA...Some photos just make me laugh till my sides hurt! Thank you for the laughter...I needed it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 05:09:18 PM
Classic! Great composition and photo all around - very well thought out.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 04:13:27 PM
I hope you got a model release! And maybe you could have brushed his teeth too, yuk :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 01:59:05 PM
good
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 01:30:46 PM
Great idea, i love it. Nice shot, next time have him brush his teeth. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 12:07:47 PM
ha
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 12:04:11 PM
brush ur teeth
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 05:39:00 AM
poor horse...but still nice pic
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 03:38:03 AM
by far the best "gift horse" so far. And unless there is a better one in the next 7% I would say the best of the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/03/2006 02:32:30 AM
You captured the idea beautifully! this photo is awesome... 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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 02:32:25 AM EDT.