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Dead Man's Hand
Dead Man's Hand
Traff


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Bokeh III (Basic Editing III)
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon Series E 100mm f/2.8
Location: Home
Date: Oct 23, 2006
Aperture: 2.8
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/125
Galleries: Still Life, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Oct 23, 2006

 In poker, the dead man's hand comprises a pair of Aces and a pair of Eights.
Legend has it the origin of the name comes from the hand held by Wild Bill Hickok at the time of his murder, which contained the aces and eights of both of the black suits (also known as "bullets"). The identity of Hickok's fifth card remains a mystery.

Hope I've met the challenge criteria ok - I interpreted Bokeh as meaning the way foreground/background blurring supported the mood and intent of the image...
I originally shot this for 'After The Game' but switched challenges at the last second - dunno if I did right..

Details:
Table Set-up. Movie lamps bounced off the ceiling.
Post Processing PS2: Curves / Gradient Map (Greyscale) / Photo Filter (Sepia 90%) / More Curves

Statistics
Place: 126 out of 440
Avg (all users): 5.5889
Avg (commenters): 7.0000
Avg (participants): 5.5154
Avg (non-participants): 5.6667
Views since voting: 2280
Views during voting: 344
Votes: 253
Comments: 10
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 08/29/2007 03:45:03 PM
Originally posted by vtruan:
DNMC to me, boken is not dof to me.


Yes, on reflection, and having considered the concept of 'bokeh' I agree.
I think bokeh should not really show any recognisable shapes, more an emotive blur of colour/tones.

I'd originally shot this with a view to entering the 'after the game' challenge, and switched at the last minute - i think my original choice would have been more appropriate.
 11/01/2006 07:26:09 AM
Originally posted by slugsgomoo:
Very nice, but isn't the dead man's hand a full house (2 eights and 3 aces)?


The original inspiration for the image came from Bob Dylan's Ramblin Gamblin Willie where the hand is described as "Aces backed with Eights" - which would indeed suggest a full house - but when I Googled it was consistently 2 pairs (Aces & Eights) and the fifth card varied depending on who was telling the story.
I really liked the Bill Hickok legend (there are several variations) where he had thrown in his fifth card and was waiting for a replacement when he was shot, so the fifth card was never known. I represented that here by showing it face down...
Maybe I should have titled it Wild Bill's Dead Man's Hand :)

Message edited by author 2006-11-01 07:28:39.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/31/2006 05:22:57 AM
great tones and DOF, a shot to remember!! well done!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/30/2006 09:44:18 PM
the background helps the message
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/26/2006 12:17:05 PM
I like your creativity.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/26/2006 03:29:55 AM
Artfully done. Creates a powerful atmosphere.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/25/2006 06:55:49 PM
nicely done! tells a story & everything!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/25/2006 11:29:48 AM
Very nice, but isn't the dead man's hand a full house (2 eights and 3 aces)?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/25/2006 11:16:52 AM
//www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm DNMC to me, boken is not dof to me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/25/2006 09:45:04 AM
Clever shot and nice arrangement.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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