DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
Hiding Under Nana's Dining Room Sideboard
Hiding Under Nana's Dining Room Sideboard
MaryO


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Earliest Memory (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: People
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX
Location: Springfield, VA
Date: Feb 3, 2008
Aperture: f/16
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1
Galleries: Snapshot, Emotive
Date Uploaded: Feb 3, 2008

 This actually is my Nana's sideboard and I used to hide under there when we went to visit her. Usually because her dog, Jigs, had gone there to hide from me and I followed him. Good thing he was a patient dog. The fact that I used to hide under there is why I decided to adopt this particular piece of furniture when we were cleaning out Nana's house. It does bring back good memories.

I wanted an old-fashioned look so I decided on sepia and some noise for processing. I usually get rotten scores when I go outide my box so I'm not expecting much from this. Also intentionally took it at an angle like I was looking up and out from my hiding place. Used the timer and guessed at the angle; liked this shot best because the movement came out just as I wanted it. Nana is long gone, after all, so her memory should be a little faded.

PP - converted from RAW 2x (light and normal), overlaid the lighter version and erased all but the sideboard, merged inverse of multiply mode, 2nd layer with Gaussian blur and increased brightness, merged in multiply mode, levels, cropped, dodged around and on "Nana's" legs (and she was a grandmother at my age so I made a reasonable stand-in), dodged/burnt detail on sideboard, burnt reflection on floor some, gradient filter on upper right to darken it some more, blurred most of the background more on the right, added noise, duotone, added border, resized, sharpened, added some more noise so it would look intentional (though I bet I still get a few "too noisy" comments!

__________________

Post-challenge: WOW! I really wasn't expecting much from this, but it was authentic to me and I'm thrilled it connected with so many people. And posthumous, too! Awesome :-)

Thanks, everybody!!

Statistics
Place: 4 out of 83
Avg (all users): 6.4942
Avg (commenters): 8.8000
Avg (participants): 6.3333
Avg (non-participants): 6.5620
Views since voting: 3355
Views during voting: 292
Votes: 172
Comments: 28
Favorites: 7 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 02/16/2008 11:47:09 AM
Hey, I remember doing this too (in Alexandria, Va). Did I see you there? Thanks for the memory and great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/13/2008 10:33:52 AM
This is dreamy and so reminiscent of my own childhood I would say it is my sentimental favourite, absolutely!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 11:04:32 PM
Bingo! Stunningly done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 03:06:39 PM
To get a high score and a Posthumous blue is a true indication of a fabulous image. You nailed the challenge with the dated look -- the shoes, skirt, and sepia tone, together with the 40's style pose. Great job. Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 10:13:19 AM
Woo Hoo, Mary! Way to go. Yes, this connects to lots of childhoods :) You're awesome.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 09:43:25 AM
Mary - huge congrats on your HM! This is a really wonderful photo. Very evocative. I'm glad it got the recognition it deserves!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 09:33:34 AM
Personally, I can't believe this didn't take the blue by a mile. In my opinion, it's far and away the best entry photographically and also meets the challenge "better", or at least more viscerally, than anybody else did. Nevertheless, killer finish!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 08:59:45 AM
Originally posted by levyj413:
You're probably making Don squirm - he doesn't usually like the ones that do well overall. *grin*


Quiet there, you contentious rapscallion. I am thrilled that DPC recognized your genius, almost. Fourth is still low.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 07:57:03 AM
Just plain stellar!!!! Great job!!! A PH Blue.....you REALLY knocked one out of the park to get a top 5 and the PH Blue!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 07:53:36 AM
well done Mary! and great story to go with it...

you are on a roll!!! CONGRATS
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 07:52:46 AM
This was a 10 in my book. So glad you got a PH, you deserved it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 04:38:30 AM
WTG, Mary! Love the look you gave this wonderful photo. Congrats on 4th place and the posthumous blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 01:03:18 AM
Wow, are you on a roll lately. Congrats big time! Just a fantastic photo, so rich with meaning. Thanks for sharing your memory with us. As I looked at it, I thought "boy, I hope posthumous saw this." So congrats on winning that blue! You're probably making Don squirm - he doesn't usually like the ones that do well overall. *grin*
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 12:50:51 AM
This is great photography, and a well deserved front page.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 12:20:51 AM
Excellent, Mary! 'Grats on going outside the box and doing very, very well! A Posthumous blue is just icing on the cake.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 12:06:11 AM
Grats on 4th - I gave this a 9 and was one of my faves.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2008 12:05:08 AM
Way to Go Mary! This was one that stood out to me in the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/10/2008 10:21:57 PM
Well, this one was easy. Posthumous Blue Ribbon.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/10/2008 08:08:01 AM
I like the "retro" look, well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/09/2008 06:51:46 PM
I love the blur in the feet. Very interesting photo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2008 07:46:23 PM
Wonderful! Love the dreamy quality.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/07/2008 05:36:09 AM
For a moment you tricked me, the image has the almost perfect look to be a first memory. But, after paying a bit of attention, I thought: can the first memory be dynamic? I mean, here's this lovely lady walking and she'll pass pretty soon. So, how will this image be imprinted on a kid's mind and stay there for so long? I think this is a reconstruction of several first memories. And, a perfect one at that, a very good telling of a story. Even her dress, the chairs, the table, remind me of my aunt, and that's really pushing my memories way back.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2008 06:07:25 PM
Nice use of shooting perspective. Long grainy exposure gives this a very moody feel, little bit like a piece of a memory.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2008 04:23:29 PM
This is a view i now remember after looking at this picture. The woman even moves, the colors match the memory. Well done, Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2008 07:44:59 AM
This is beautiful AND authentic looking. Hope you reach top 3.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2008 01:14:12 AM
Wow...Nana's got some great gams!!! I like this shot a lot! This is the perfect memory. (9)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 12:16:37 PM
Grain, light and toning used to brilliant effect, plus the fuzziness in the legs providing movement. Really beautiful shot and genuinely evocative of yesteryear childhood memories - even to the detail of her skirt and shoes. Absolutely brilliant interpretation and execution.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2008 09:03:02 AM
Great image...the tone suits it and it really speaks childhood to me! The motion really adds to it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/31/2025 05:27:17 AM EDT.