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Seekers at the Clambake
Seekers at the Clambake
Bear_Music


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Searching (Advanced Editing V)
Collection: Challenges
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Location: Chatham, MA
Date: Oct 6, 2007
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/500
Galleries: Candid, High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Date Uploaded: Oct 7, 2007

 Tone mapped from raw, CS2, apply color, neat image, local cloning, vignette, sharpen, resize, border, save for web.

************

This is one of a series of images captured by crouching beside the pit, extrending my arms, hovering the camera, prefocused with the 10mm lens, inches above the firebed, and clicking off exposures without using the viewfinder. I understand the reaction to the perhaps too-prominent ear of corn, but this was by far the most atmospheric and successful of the exposures, most of which were just a disappointing mix of steam and fuzzy shapes.

That is steam by the way, not smoke; maybe a quarter cord of firewood was burned down to coals over the course of several hours on a bed of rocks in a pit in the sand, then the coals were covered with more rocks, then with wire fencing, then with seaweed, then with saltwater soaked burlap, and then finally the food was laid on this, the pile was covered with tarps, then sand was piled over the whole thing to a depth of about a foot, and we waited...




Statistics
Place: 9 out of 122
Avg (all users): 6.4604
Avg (commenters): 7.4118
Avg (participants): 5.9091
Avg (non-participants): 6.7158
Views since voting: 2912
Views during voting: 359
Votes: 139
Comments: 44
Favorites: 7 (view)

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AuthorThread
 12/12/2007 07:34:57 PM
This is great. I love the atmosphere you captured.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/31/2007 11:14:53 AM
I'm coming to this a bit late, however, from what I have seen of the finish, THIS was the ultimate shot.

I always love random shots, where you are using your mind's eye to capture what you instinctively know is great. I find sometimes my most spontaneous shots are the huge attention grabbers.

Huge kudos for getting in there and 'seeing' this from a perspective most would never consider. Truly awesome.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/20/2007 12:15:38 PM
I really liked this one during voting Robert, and just wanted to let you know I really appreciated the uniqueness and creativity of this photo. A definite slice of life photo...well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/20/2007 08:23:55 AM
great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/20/2007 03:24:16 AM
An excellent result, truly. And I bet the food was awesome which makes it even more of a bonus. Excellent editing as well - but that's nothing new from you. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/19/2007 12:17:23 AM
I love it, it's very ethereal, almost scary. Very cool.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2007 06:57:37 AM
Wow, really nice angle and composition. You really got a wonderful view with this shot. Congrats on your position.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/16/2007 11:14:27 PM
Look like a Stephen King movie, great image. Congrats top 10 finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/16/2007 07:49:43 PM
Well you learn something new every day. I had to google Clambake. :P Congrats on your top ten finish. Very different.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 04:47:41 PM
Even at 9th place, I still feel this was under rated. By far the most visually arresting/appealing image in the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 01:33:02 PM
This is the kind of photo that makes me want to start all over again, showing that photography can be art. Most hesitantly I add that the signal ear of corn is somewhat jarring, a little out of sync with the other elements, its less attractive end in prominence and at this resolution (on my monitor?) the rest of it too blurred to give it any grace, and this is the more noticeable because the ear behind it to the right has just enough and no more detail to suggest such grace.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 09:53:10 AM
This one is my choice. Love the composition and the way you precessed it. You always show us what a Master can do. Congrats Robert!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 09:11:53 AM
Muy, muy cool. I love that chartreuse ear of corn pointing straight at the guy in red who is framed by the smoke/steam.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 08:05:01 AM
I love the steam (or maybe smoke? I've never been to a clambake). If it was steam, it looks like you were risking some moisture in your camera to get this shot, I hope it stayed healthy. The effect is very interesting and different. A clam's-eye view, haha.

Message edited by author 2007-10-15 08:06:02.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 06:45:34 AM
WOW!! that is an awesome POV!! so glad the smoke was blowing the other way!

Alternatively, the tune "smoke gets in your yes" could be appropriate here too :)

Nice one Robert!
~Anni
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 06:39:47 AM
Rob, best shot I have seen from you for many a month. should of finished higher. Would like to hear the story behind this shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 03:14:07 AM
Congrats on your top10 finish, Rob. Mind telling us what the heck those guys are searching for?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 03:12:18 AM
Go the BEAR! Congratulations on your top ten finish - COOL!

What a great perspective - well sighted and captured.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 03:05:32 AM
So many perfect elements here, the flashes of light and color, the naturally monotone-ish areas in the lower center/left, the off-kilter horizon, the people "appearing" out of the steam, and all of it fading so perfectly into that patch of blue and cloud at the top-left. Congrats on a great finish for a great shot, I wouldn't change a thing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 02:55:36 AM
Robert...This image looked great as a thumb, I saw it while scanning the entries but didn't stop to do any voting or commenting. The slight touch of red shirt contrasts nicely with the green corn, then the nets full of clams(?) have just enough detail to set the scene off nicely. The steam... perfect, I could go on but I don't want to give you a big head. ;)

It truly shows the searchers, looking for the perfect take home item. Glad you did so well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 02:06:04 AM
Originally posted by ShannonLee:
do u have any idea how good this is???? u must.


Yes, actually :-) I am surprised and pleased it made top 10, though; I did not think this image would be much appreciated. It's certainly the best finish, by far, of any of my OOB entries, and I have made quite a few :-)

Thanx, all, for the kind words.

R.
 10/15/2007 01:53:09 AM
do u have any idea how good this is???? u must.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 01:24:55 AM
yum!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 12:29:03 AM
Congrats on your Top 10 finish!!! Really well done!!! Unusual, creative, and atmospheric. Inspires me to think out of the box.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 12:05:03 AM
I thought the perspective of this was fantastic! Congrats on the top 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/15/2007 12:02:22 AM
loved this shot! one of the few in this challenge... :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/14/2007 03:48:18 AM
A great shot of an ordinary scene. Love the smoky look.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/14/2007 12:27:02 AM
I love this shot. Great use of the foreground, the foggy steam, and the color. The foreground nearest corn is a bit distracting, but also forms the color for the middle ground contrast with his red shirt. Just a nice shot composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/13/2007 08:27:21 PM
Nice shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/13/2007 07:55:07 PM
Lovely interesting point of view. 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/12/2007 11:22:02 PM
A dynamic ambiant image with great perspective and excellent use of colour. If the more poorly lit objects and textures (in the pit) and the front and face of the central figure (man in red) were brought a little better, we would, IMO, have a great photograph leaving little or no room for improvement.

The atmosphere, however, is contagious enough to rouse anyone's senses.
A 6 on my rigorous scale.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/12/2007 07:07:58 PM
this is cool. doesn't help you photographically but that's not my purpose. so far my favorite of the challenge. Never seen anything quite like it. Love the touch of yellow and red. well done. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/12/2007 12:06:58 AM
This is a FANTASTIC perspective! Good thinking! The color of the corn in the front right really caught my eye. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2007 02:33:40 PM
Love the point of view and the steam between the clams and the people. Very good anonymity.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/11/2007 07:17:54 AM
great perspective and nice subtile colors 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/10/2007 10:23:35 PM
cool shot and a great perspective, well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 09:30:30 PM
The perspective is very creative, good job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 07:50:40 PM
I like the lighting in the foreground.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 06:26:04 PM
Uniquely refreshing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 10:00:46 AM
COOL perspective!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 06:07:15 AM
great 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 05:03:09 AM
have no clue what they are doing, but i like the mysterious atmosphere created by the POV and the smoke. don't like the border here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 03:46:01 AM
very nice capture in difficult lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2007 12:54:41 AM
I have no idea what this shot is all about, but I like the illusion it gives.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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