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Captivity
Captivity
BHuseman


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Best of 2007 (Advanced Editing VII*)
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM
Location: Phuket, Thailand
Date: Sep 10, 2007
Aperture: f5.6
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/250
Galleries: Animals, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Jan 18, 2008

 This was an image that I wanted to put n the September Free Study, but I chose a sunset over Prom Thep Cape instead. Now this is my second chance to submit it and I am going with.

This image was taken at an Elephant Trek in Phuket, Thailand. The Elephant was chained by the foot under its overhang and thrown food to eat. People coudl donate money to purchase bananas to feed the Elephants. This particular trek site was acutally a rehab center for Elephants that were abused in the labor camps in Thailand. Despite the fact that the goal is to treat the elephants better than they are treated in the labor camps, I still found it sad that these magnificant creatures are tied up like this and not given the opportunity to roam as they should.

I think the chain around the foot is a powerful statement of CAPTIVITY. This is an animal that yearns to walk free amongst the prairies with its family and instead it is pimped out to the countless tourists that will visit Phuket each year.

I don't have high hopes for this iamge. I am afraid that it will get lost in this challenge with everyone's best shots fo the year, but it is a photo that I have wanted to share. If I can reach a 6 with this I wil be happy, but in reality I predict only a 5.3XXX. My prediciton is based on the fact that this image is more emotive than beautiful and I have found that emotive is not always what wins on this site.

I went with the Black and White because I think it added to the drama and impact of the image. I used Alien Skin Exposure in order to simulate the look of BW film. I am happy with the contrast and the detail in the skin of this beautiful animal.

*Post Challenge*
First off I can't thank everyone enough for the kind comments and votes. I really didn't expect this image to do this well, and it is an honor to be rated so high in a challenge with such master pieces. congratulation to the winners for your placements, and to everyone for your exceptional photos! Really some magnificant photos that really show the talent of all of you.

I am glad this photo did as well as it did. I was afraid that people woudl view it and not want to rate it high because it wasn't pretty, or wasn't a shot that you wanted to study. I am glad to see that you all looked past that and voted on the photo itself.

As for the statement it says, all I can is I am sorry if I stirred a negative reaction in some. More so in this photo that I am sorry for my desparation shot.

Again, thank you to all and best of luck in 2008!

Statistics
Place: 14 out of 484
Avg (all users): 6.9424
Avg (commenters): 8.4583
Avg (participants): 6.8833
Avg (non-participants): 7.1111
Views since voting: 3641
Views during voting: 395
Votes: 243
Comments: 41
Favorites: 14 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/20/2008 09:25:29 AM
This is a very moving and powerful image...not only is it well composed: it is thought provoking...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 08:52:47 AM
This picture is an excellent shot. The detail and the framing are done beautifully. You capture the mood perfectly.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 02:09:05 PM
congratulations for this wonderful image Ben!! Il like the title and the duotone processing as well.
I think it had a good chance to ribbon in a regular free study.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 10:08:41 AM
Yes, it is a powerful statement. Very well done. Congrats on the excellent score and placement.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 09:58:17 AM
I love this photo so much. I'm so happy it did so well. Congratulations!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 07:37:24 AM
best of the challenge - technical excellence with a message that pops right off the screen
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 05:45:51 AM
Incredibly powerful image. I just had to come back to see if you had shared the story behind this one, so thank you for taking the time to share it. This close up shot makes so much more of an impact than if you had just shown us the entire elephant. I'm sad that this shot was even available for you to capture, since it just isn't fair to this magnificent creature, but I thank you for taking the time to capture this and share it with all of us. Congrats on a fantastic score and placing in the challenge!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 03:29:38 AM
a very powerful image...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 01:20:09 AM
Awesome, awesome! one of my few 10's.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/28/2008 12:31:38 AM
This is a great, great shot - one of my top picks - and it did a whole lot better than you expected. 'Grats on an excellent photograph!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/27/2008 08:47:33 PM
Nice sharp detail. I like the way the picture tells a story.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2008 07:24:12 PM
ONe of my favorites. STrong image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2008 06:27:13 PM
This leaves a pit in my stomach.. Sorry no vote.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2008 04:32:06 PM
love the variety of textures, though i'm not sure how i feel about the centered composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2008 03:17:49 PM
Ben, I just love this shot ... adding to faves (I'd vote it a 10)... Go Team Stranger! comment only, no vote
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2008 03:28:42 PM
Very sad. Excellent photograph for the emotive aspects and the technical stuff as well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2008 12:13:48 AM
Very Cool. Caption Is Great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/25/2008 10:16:28 AM
wow, what an emotional photograph and great way to capture the texture.

10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2008 07:25:40 PM
Seriously emotive. Poor elephant.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2008 03:13:09 PM
Excellent texture and tone! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2008 02:51:16 PM
A powerful photograph, that certainly gets home its message. Technically good, too, but it is the simplicity of composition that has greatest impact for me. Worthy of a 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2008 10:54:00 AM
This is a fantastic capture that also sends a message.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2008 09:52:11 PM
What a powerful shot this is. Very well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2008 07:03:15 PM
So sad. Fabulous detail.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2008 11:45:02 AM
This is a fairly compelling image, I must say. The chains are so huge and stark looking that, along with the title, it really hits you. I must say that about 90% of the time, the title on images doesn't really "tie into" the image for me, but here it is integral. Very creative thought process also, zeroing in on this, where most people would just make a shot of the whole creature.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2008 11:01:26 AM
Great shot, definitely emotive.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2008 10:43:35 AM
Awww. . .sniffle sniffle. The whole captivity thing makes me so sad -- even tho I love to photograph the animals. This photograph is beautiful. I love that grungy processing. It's perfect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2008 11:01:12 PM
One of the very BEST up close captures with so much emotion and awesome textures I have ever seen

It moved me to tears.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2008 05:21:53 PM
Impossible not to notice and remember.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2008 04:02:36 PM
What a powerful and sad image. It gets a clear 10 from me, and it makes me sad to view it. You couldn't possibly have conveyed this in a stronger way.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2008 01:06:09 PM
This is so sad.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2008 12:35:39 PM
Love the b&w for this, stirs emotion. Fantastic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/21/2008 11:38:30 PM
What a wonderful capture. I could feel the shackles of servitude. You get my 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/21/2008 09:14:16 PM
This image says so much. Love the B&W and crisp sharpness. Well cropped and executed. Good Luck. 7.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/21/2008 07:41:29 PM
poor thing. this is a 10 and a fav! well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/21/2008 07:01:54 PM
Invisible chains are often more torturous. But I know what you mean. 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/21/2008 01:25:52 PM
Black & White works well here... evocative photo. A shot this close would be very difficult in the wild ,,, the captivity just seems wrong to me...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/21/2008 03:41:04 AM
wow wee! This is the most powerful image i have seen in a very long time!! Pretty much perfectly executed, the crop and exposure are spot on. Not really much more to add. It's a 9 from me
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/21/2008 01:31:13 AM
wow, what an amazing image...awesome focus and b and w conversion...8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/21/2008 12:31:26 AM
Good statement and great title for this. They are such beautiful and powerful creatures and it's a shame how they are treated in parts of the world. 10 from me..:)

www.elephantnaturepark.org - a happy place free from abuse for elephants
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/21/2008 12:24:29 AM
Very emotive image - nice texture - great post treatment - good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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