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I will no longer fear the future nor will I regret the past
2nd PlaceI will no longer fear the future nor will I regret the past
byshen


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: New Year's Resolution II (Classic Editing)
Camera: Nikon D100
Location: Around town
Date: Jan 3, 2004
Aperture: F9
ISO: 200
Shutter: 6 sec
Date Uploaded: Jan 3, 2004

 This was the MOST DIFFICULT picture I’ve ever taken!!! I came up with the idea to show future and past in a car. The future would be the view ahead and the review mirror would represent the past. I wanted the past to show a storm, fire, something that would represent something bad had happened. The difficult part was how to get the image I wanted in the review mirror!

After brainstorming for a couple of days I finally decided that an image on a TV could be reflected in the review mirror. I started on this shoot Friday night. Took some test shots of the road and one of the road looking back for the review mirror. Then I created an image in Paint Shop pro of the road with fire around it. Next I set up the SUV. I lowered the passenger seat and wedged my tripod between the seat and the center console using pillows until it was very tight and would no longer move. Placed a 20in tv in the passenger seat and wedged it into place using more pillows. Connected my laptop to it and projected the image I created of the fire and road on to the TV. Adjusted the review mirror until the image could be seen in the camera. Placed a car battery and a 300W power inverter in front of the passenger seat to power the tv. Cleaned the windows really good. By the time I was finished setting up it was 3:00am!

Got up around 6:00am, drove out to the bridge and stopped at the marina before the bridge and waited for the sky to lighten up. Waited until there were no cars, then drove out to the bridge, came to a complete stop and took a picture. Managed to take 2 more before cars started comming and I had to drive on. Crossed the bridge made the first U turn I could and came back to the marina. Round trip from marina took around 6-7 minutes. Checked the pictures, looked good except the image in the mirror was way over exposed! I turned down the brightness on the TV all the way down, waited until there were no cars and tried the second attempted. Only managed 1 shot this time before cars appeared and I had to drive on. The sky was getting bright very fast. Was only able to do 2 more runs with 1 picture each for a total of 4 runs and 6 pictures before the sky was way too bright.

Got home, uploaded the images and realized in last two runs the sky was too bright and overpowered the street lights. The first run the mirror was overexposed which left only the one picture from the second run usable! At least I got one usable image! Lowered the brightness, changed the white balance, adjusted contrast, rotate 1 degree, crop, resize, and submit! Whew....Had to jump though a lot of hoops to get this image! I hope you guys like it!

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 169
Avg (all users): 7.2128
Avg (commenters): 8.4324
Avg (participants): 6.9381
Avg (non-participants): 7.4058
Views since voting: 15509
Votes: 235
Comments: 80
Favorites: 38 (view)

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AuthorThread
 10/22/2005 08:46:59 PM
now that is some serious work to achieve a ribbon. good for you!
10/22/2005 08:38:15 PM
Stunning photograph and title to match.
 10/12/2005 11:17:11 PM
Awesome concept. Awesome execution. Congrats on your red ribbon! Well deserved.
 07/22/2004 03:54:51 PM
Great picture and great idea!
 05/31/2004 02:50:11 PM
one word.

WOW.

:o)
 01/20/2004 09:44:31 AM
Excellent color contrast, dramatic shot! If you ever think you'll re-do this shot, my only suggestions would be to align the mirror a little more to the right and see if you can get the top of the TV set out of the picture. Good job!
 01/20/2004 08:06:07 AM
Your hardwork and great imagination really paid off. This is a wonderful shot. Congratulations on your well deserved ribbon.
 01/18/2004 07:36:07 AM
Great shot. I love the cool bright beauty of the blue with the heat of the orangy reds and yellow all framed in the darkness of the car interior.
 01/17/2004 07:09:18 AM
Originally posted by byshen:
Originally posted by Konador:
Congrats on your ribbon :) I was just wondering, why did you use a TV, and not just print the picture and sellotape it to the mirror? That would have been a lot simpler by the sounds of what you went through :P


I actually thought of that. The problem with that idea is it was much too dark in the car for the picture to show in the mirror. I would have had to shine a light on to the mirror for it to work. The additional light on the mirror would then spill over to the mirror frame window etc plus it would not look as real as a reflected image in the mirror. The TV on the other hand was a real reflection of light and therefore looked more realistic.


Ahh, good point! I didn't think about that
 01/16/2004 05:45:08 PM
Wow.
 01/16/2004 07:36:05 AM
Congratulations on your ribbon, I read all the details that went into this shot, so it is definitely a "wells deserved" ribbon, and I really do like it, again congratulations.
 01/16/2004 04:18:09 AM
Wow you seem to have gone through a lot of trouble to get this shot - but it was worth it - wonderfull shot.
Its a great and unique idea aswell.
Welldone and Congratulations on the ribbon.
 01/15/2004 03:09:15 PM
Congrats! Wonderful shot.
 01/15/2004 07:52:28 AM
Wow! Thanks for sharing.
 01/14/2004 09:34:27 PM
It's was worth all the work! Congratulations!
 01/14/2004 07:39:18 PM
right on dude.
sweet job on the setup.

01/14/2004 06:43:11 PM
You exhibit a wonderful imagination and a keen desire to accomplish your goals. Congratulations on your ribbon.
 01/14/2004 04:47:59 PM
Congrats on a very difficult shot! I'll join the D100 crew in the kudos :)
 01/14/2004 01:53:23 PM
great shot - complicated set-up! You have my full respect for your effort. Go team D100 ;)
 01/14/2004 12:57:47 PM
Originally posted by Konador:
Congrats on your ribbon :) I was just wondering, why did you use a TV, and not just print the picture and sellotape it to the mirror? That would have been a lot simpler by the sounds of what you went through :P


I actually thought of that. The problem with that idea is it was much too dark in the car for the picture to show in the mirror. I would have had to shine a light on to the mirror for it to work. The additional light on the mirror would then spill over to the mirror frame window etc plus it would not look as real as a reflected image in the mirror. The TV on the other hand was a real reflection of light and therefore looked more realistic.
 01/14/2004 12:55:28 PM
i am amazed that is a magnificent pic great job
 01/14/2004 11:40:34 AM
Congrats on your ribbon :) I was just wondering, why did you use a TV, and not just print the picture and sellotape it to the mirror? That would have been a lot simpler by the sounds of what you went through :P
 01/14/2004 11:22:03 AM
Congrats and a job well done! Well deserved ribbon!
P.S. I'm a big fan of your work!
 01/14/2004 10:40:25 AM
Thanks for good comments. You have obviously put a lot of thinking and work into this pic and deserve the second place, congrats!
 01/14/2004 10:25:08 AM
That's a good shot, congrats... I liked the blue in it!!
 01/14/2004 10:14:34 AM
Thanks for all the great comments! It was a lot of work but the end result was worth it! Glad you guys & gals liked it!

There were several suggestions about cropping out the clock at the top and the antenna on the right side of the picture. Actually it is not a clock. It is the temperature and compass. SE stands for southeast. The temperature I did not really care about but the compass I wanted in the picture. The idea was although I do not know where the future will take me I will not fear it because I believe I am headed in the right direction now despite the past. I am now guided by faith, belief, God, higher power, a moral compass etc which the compass at the top symbolizes. It was a sub idea but I guess in the end it proved to be more of a distraction.

The antenna was an oversight. Should have removed it before the shoot but luckily I can remove it post challenge via Clone brush. ; )
01/14/2004 08:11:27 AM
Unique shot! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 07:50:37 AM
Congrats on the ribbon!! Loved reading the story - thanks for sharing it! That is incredible the work you went through to get this. It is inspiring :-)

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 07:39:48 AM
This is an impossible shot...at least a very, verry difficult. Gorgeous work. Bravo. Into my favs.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 07:26:02 AM
It's people like you that inspire me! Taking that much time and creativity on a shot makes me go wow! You rock! :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 05:40:31 AM
Riped off! You should have been first by a mile!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 05:38:55 AM
I'm in awe & a believer! I look forward to the next Rabbit you pull out of your hat. Keep up the excellent work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 05:35:01 AM
awsome, I only got to voting in 50%, but woulda voted a 10!
well deserved ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 05:16:00 AM
Possibly one of the most well-deserved ribbons we will see this year. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 01:51:31 AM
Wow I was wondering how you did this, I like it, great colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 01:39:17 AM
I admire your vision, patience and tenacity. And of course the wonderful result of a job well done. You've captured your scene in the perfect light possible.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 01:28:19 AM
A lot of thoughts and work put into this. Well worth it. Love that race against time to get the perfect lighting. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 12:29:48 AM
You certainly deserve the ribbon after that effort
very unusual shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 12:14:42 AM
Wow! Congratulations. Never mind that the picture is AWESOME, you deserve the ribbon just for the setup. Damn! Now that's dedication to your craft. Well done, and very well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 12:07:46 AM
Well-deserved ribbon... you sure went to alot of work to get this one! Your story is a hoot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2004 12:04:38 AM
Congratulations! Very nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/13/2004 09:38:16 PM
Well done !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2004 01:19:12 PM
This is a great image. Nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2004 11:25:01 AM
Wow. That's intense... what an amazing image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2004 08:50:20 AM
Very nice shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2004 08:01:54 AM
Interesting photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2004 06:20:50 AM
i gave it a 10. wonderful image, makes me wonder how it was created with the standards of the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2004 03:02:06 AM
Awesome idea, maybe a tighter crop showing less of the car and more emphasis on the rear view mirror and windscreen would have made it more effective.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/12/2004 10:12:16 PM
I like it a lot. Unique effect of cold blues and hot reds from the rear view mirror.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/12/2004 05:44:50 PM
great shot how did you do it? im very interested
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/12/2004 01:58:00 PM
This is probably the winner, but I find the display on the top to be a bit distracting. Hope that it has something to do with the picture and doesn\'t turn out to be just a bit of uncropped image.

... and really would like to know how it was done. Bravo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/12/2004 10:12:47 AM
Briliant idea with good skills. I like it a lot....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/11/2004 10:28:20 PM
Probably the best shot in the challnge. Good technically, and matches challenge well without using weights, cigarettes, food. Good job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/11/2004 05:58:34 AM
Very nice, interesting photo. Good title and connotation.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/11/2004 04:28:00 AM
How did you get and inverse mirror! thats awsome. I would have cropped the top black strip off.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2004 10:17:33 AM
whoa!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2004 03:39:50 AM
Very, very, nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2004 01:14:24 PM
The blue on red is amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2004 11:59:22 AM
very cool photo ... nice colors, composition ... photo in mirror is awsome. Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2004 05:41:10 PM
wow that is very amazing. was there actually a fire behind or just the sunset? either way, very creative and if this wasn't staged, very nice catch.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2004 08:23:02 AM
This is an interesting, complicated shot. Nice color too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2004 02:21:36 AM
Nice composition, perfect lighting and color. There must be something wrong with this photo -- oh yeah, it isn't mine!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2004 12:31:52 AM
This is surreal. How'd ya do it?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 09:34:13 PM
This is a great image. Quite graphical and fitting to the title! The only thing I would want corrected is the wire on the right side which distracts attention from the main part of the picture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 07:46:13 PM
I'm guessing Florida? Good concept and well taken. Next time crop out the temp and direction.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 06:26:14 PM
I really like this shot!..The lighting from the car pannels is a nice touch, so is the rearview mirror. good job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 03:48:29 PM
I admire this pleasing shot. Great focus, light and colors. Really nice, good luck in the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 02:23:55 PM
I like this a lot. Great exposure in challenging conditions. Amazing contrast in the sky colourings. Nicely composed. The compass reading and antenna are a little distracting, but could be easily fixed. Very creative expression of the theme. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 01:56:59 PM
i can't wait to hear how this shot was taken, it seems difficult to not have the camera in the reflection of the mirror, but given the benefit of the doubt, the colors, concept, and resolution are great!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 12:44:35 PM
I think I figured out how you did that, but I'll wait till I see the comments after the challenge. Real neat shot. Good color and good concept.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 12:41:21 PM
Nice compo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 10:58:38 AM
Nice shot, very nice shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 10:19:48 AM
Very good idea, it would be better to crop the car panel so that only the windshield and the mirror are visible.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 09:13:24 AM
WOW...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 08:04:07 AM
Wonderful shot. Amazing mirror image. I think that is only color corrected... It can be the sunset light or a burning forest. Its diferent ligth and color matches perfectly with the title. Very well created and done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 06:45:38 AM
Burnin' that bridge lbehind you looks to be a different picture? Can't see such a light source to produce that effect... would be an amazing site....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 06:41:33 AM
Go Go Go
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 02:55:10 AM
This is gorgeous- how in the world did you do that! My highest rated photo---10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 12:33:57 AM
awesome effect
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2004 12:13:42 AM
Very clever
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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