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Backstage at the Apollo
Backstage at the Apollo
Quasimojo


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Clowns (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Location: Home
Date: Jan 8, 2008
Aperture: f1.8
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/125th
Date Uploaded: Jan 8, 2008

 I had a lot of fun shooting this one. I wear glasses so the other challenge wasn't interesting enough for me and this sounded like fun - plus I knew I'd lose out to lots of killer b&w octogenarian shots ;) This one was a LOT harder, especially because I have ZERO space to set anything up and context seems to be so important to some of these setup/studio type shots. I learned a lot - especially how important context is. Also, this is a self portrait in the dark so framing was a royal pain in the a$$ - especially trying to get props in shot. In the end the only prop I kept the jazz cigarette (other shots with bottle of booze).

So, I had to go close crop. I had a really hard time choosing between this and a few others - but whichever one I chose would likely have been the wrong one...let's see how this one does. The other I think is better 'eye candy' but I think this will speak to more people. Lit from one diffused on camera speedlight (but you probably knew that from the lights in my eyes).

PP: most work done in the RAW conversion - white balance, small crop, contrast, blacks, clarity. Moved to PS, usm, noise ninja, resize, jpg.

Post challenge: Disappointing score and placing to be honest - I expected this to do better in that particular field of entries but I underestimated the cute factor. Still, I'm proud of this photo and I guess that is all that matters although it would have been nice for more people to have connected with it. I tried to keep the DoF towards my face to isolate the emotion but it was interpreted by many very differently. Sometimes the photo isn't about being perfect technically...at least to me it isn't. 26 people voted this image 3 or less, 78 voting it 4 or less. I didn't expect this do to that well but I didn't expect so many people to hate it either.

Here's a few of the outtakes. One is edited, the rest are as is.






Onwards and upwards...

p.s. the neighbours thought I was nuts...the outdoor shots were taken at about 6pm when people were coming home from work. I didn't use any of the outdoor ones because I couldn't handle the yellow cast of the streetlights in photoshop properly.

Statistics
Place: 23 out of 52
Avg (all users): 5.6736
Avg (commenters): 6.9231
Avg (participants): 5.4444
Avg (non-participants): 5.6908
Views since voting: 1467
Views during voting: 621
Votes: 386
Comments: 34
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/09/2008 04:31:32 PM
Really enjoyed the story you added to go with the entry - thanks for sharing that!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/16/2008 02:07:32 PM
Great portrait with strong composition. Congrats on the Posthumous BLUE
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/16/2008 11:29:26 AM
I think this photo should have done way better...atleast top five!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/16/2008 11:07:46 AM
Indeed a very fine image that should have scored much higher.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/16/2008 08:56:30 AM
You got robbed. I gave this an 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/16/2008 08:48:00 AM
very good job simulating a candid!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/15/2008 11:16:41 PM
My favorite photo of the challenge. Great DOF, great portraiture.

Posthumous Blue Ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/15/2008 09:14:49 PM
Nice make up, love the colours, somehow I wish it was a tad sharper =]
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/15/2008 06:33:03 PM
this picture is okay, not something i would do but a differnt view is always good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/15/2008 01:38:02 PM
I really like how your picture shows a diffrent side of clowns that most people don't see. Great picture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2008 09:02:46 AM
Whites of the eyes are quite dull, but under basic editing theres not a lot that can be done there. Not totally convinced the focus is fully on the eyes. The brightness of the bowtie is not matched but the colouring of the makeup and hair and so takes the focus away from the face
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2008 06:09:11 PM
Could maybe use a little brightening up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2008 02:27:04 PM
The lack of focus and the...dullness of the colors (perhaps because of low lighting) keep this from really standing out for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2008 12:14:14 AM
Make me faint!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/12/2008 12:48:12 PM
great portrait with fine details and strong composition...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/11/2008 12:58:03 PM
very creative i like this one a lot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/11/2008 08:14:11 AM
Good shot, but I really think that the ribbon draws away from his face. It's simply too bright!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/11/2008 12:17:01 AM
Haha. Clown with a spliff?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2008 04:53:17 PM
HA!!!! love the image... there is something about the DOF that's distracting from the face... can't put my finger on it though
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2008 12:28:09 AM
BRILLIANT~!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2008 12:15:05 AM
Lovely colour 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2008 12:05:59 AM
HAHAHAHA Fantastic...great capture in the eyes!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 11:32:11 PM
I like the feel, the eyes are great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 10:28:16 PM
Interesting depth of field, but I find the in-focus tie in the foreground distracting...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 09:31:57 PM
Scary guy. I had a hard time with the focus but I am sure it was intentional. Nice job capturing all the vibrant colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 09:16:32 PM
Excellent job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 08:31:29 PM
Interesting choice of smoking material for the clown!?! I wish the DOF would have preserved that great bow. Neat expression on his face. Interesting crop choice - very intimate.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 06:35:01 PM
a great concept and nicely captured the out of focus area is a little ditracting - 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 04:16:45 PM
Something is just a bit off for me... but I'm having a hard time placing it. I think it has to do with the green of the tie in the foreground combined with the shallow DOF
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 03:34:34 PM
Interesting. Try and get the focus on the eyes for maximum impact.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 01:27:27 PM
i find the narrow depth of field makes this image interesting, and i love the rough look of the face, maybe use of softer light instead of a harsh flah would be better
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 10:58:21 AM
Trying to interpret what he's got in his mouth, either a hand-rolled smokable thing or a burnt piece of wood. Anyway, colorful image; the eyes being a bit shadowed lends an enigmatic appearance to his expression.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 07:12:53 AM
No wonder clowns are always smiling...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2008 12:11:41 AM
Nice shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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