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Marble Toss
3rd PlaceMarble Toss
JMart


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Pattern III (Basic Editing)
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di for Nikon
Location: Michigan, USA
Date: Mar 25, 2008
Aperture: 18
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/5 sec
Galleries: Macro, Water
Date Uploaded: Mar 25, 2008

 Here's a retouched version of this shot:


The harsh lights are intentional to give a more marble like feel. When I adjusted the light to remove the glare it also made the drops look less like marbles. Anyhow, I anticipate some folks may point out that harshness.

The defect that I wish I had time to fix now is the black line going through some of the upper drops. Very distracting. Also, some of the drops aren't shaped quite right. Still, I want to enter this for the fun of it.

-----------
OMG! I totally didn't expect this to do so well, let alone get my first ribbon with it! That March Macro side-challenge has really paid off in unexpected ways. Thanks to all for comments and votes.

This is the background I used for this image (obviously changed colors):


For anyone wanting to do these shots, there are several examples and explainations here at DPC. Basically, you just need to put a piece of glass above a background (6-10 inches should do), Put some drops on the glass, focus on the drops and off you go. It helps to make sure the glass is very clean (rain-x works well to help bead up the water). For drops I just used a medicine dropper for large drops and dabbed the surface of the glass with a wet twist tie for the small drops.


Statistics
Place: 3 out of 290
Avg (all users): 6.9948
Avg (commenters): 8.5833
Avg (participants): 6.8734
Avg (non-participants): 7.0804
Views since voting: 5772
Views during voting: 316
Votes: 191
Comments: 31
Favorites: 10 (view)

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AuthorThread
 11/28/2009 01:14:43 PM
Very cool!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/20/2008 10:17:23 PM
Congrats on your ribbon - this was nicely done...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/06/2008 01:15:13 PM
Congrats on your first ribbon - this image is great and thanks for sharing how you did it :o)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/05/2008 12:00:43 PM
Very, very well done. And thanks for posting the steps.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/03/2008 09:32:41 PM
Yes this is cliche, and yes it's been done to death, but most likely for a good reason -- people love this kind of stuff! (The proof is in the ribbon.) Dr. Confuser's opinion is valid, but it doesn't say much about your particular shot. I don't mind a cliche so long as a.) the artist brings something original to it, and b.) it's well executed. You've succeeded on both counts. Nice work! Keep doing what you're doing, and congrats on your first ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/03/2008 04:45:58 AM
Congrats on your first ribbon! Nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/02/2008 09:04:07 PM
Congrats on your first ribbon! With only one vote of "1", I think the folks who are tired of droplet shots were very much in the minority! A cool take on the droplet idea.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/02/2008 08:18:41 PM
Well I for one think it is brilliant. I don't care how much it has been done before.

Everyone has to learn at some point and learning something new is what makes photography interesting.

I am now off to buy some glass to give it a try too!

Well done on getting a ribbon, you did very well and I like it very much,
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/02/2008 02:27:34 PM
Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:
Just my opinion, and you can feel free to throw it away, but a chiched tired theme. I long for something new.

OK... chiched & tired seems a little harsh to me, but you're entitled to your opinion.

I perfectly understand from reading the forums and comments on similar shots that there are some folks here at DPC who are tired of "this kind of shot", be it this exact style or other water/milk/coffee drop shots. I'm a newbie, so perhaps I might just be naive, but drop shots are truly amazing IMHO and the possibilities for creative twists on all of these "tired themes" seem no less than for those tired old bird, waterfall, Golden Gate Bridge, baby, building, and flower themes (all of which I have to admit to also loving). We̢۪ve all seen the exact same subjects and techniques time and time again. Rather than asking if it̢۪s been done, I̢۪d rather ask if I can do it in my own way. Otherwise I̢۪ll never learn anything, let alone create anything worth while.

Just don't forget, whatever you're doing with your art, chances are you're not the first to use ANY given technique and somebody out there is already over what you're doing. It would be a real shame if that stopped you from learning in the direction you want to go. As for me, I'm here to learn as many techniques as I can, practice my shooting, and have some fun.
04/02/2008 09:47:18 AM
Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:
Just my opinion, and you can feel free to throw it away, but a chiched tired theme. I long for something new.


It's new to me, I've never seen it before, was one of my favorite shots from the challenge :)

Message edited by author 2008-04-02 11:26:03.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/02/2008 06:51:40 AM
Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:
Just my opinion, and you can feel free to throw it away, but a chiched tired theme. I long for something new.


Saying this after the fact is kind of.... useless. During the voting, I can accept.

Great shot JMart. You've pleased the masses.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/02/2008 06:48:49 AM
Congratulations. This was a very cool shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/02/2008 05:31:42 AM
Congrats on the ribbon and the new PB!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/02/2008 04:42:25 AM
well done/congratulations...great image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/02/2008 03:30:59 AM
Very cool shot. Many congrats on your PB and first ribbon, John.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/02/2008 12:19:08 AM
Hey, congrats on a fun shot. New personal best and first ribbon, to boot! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/02/2008 12:08:38 AM
Just my opinion, and you can feel free to throw it away, but a chiched tired theme. I long for something new.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/31/2008 07:14:13 PM
This is such a cool picture, but has to be photoshopped. The colors and pattern are great.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/31/2008 05:34:09 PM
Also a crowd pleaser to see a great image using refraction.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/30/2008 03:54:07 PM
OK I'm jealous, how'd you do this?! lively, colourful, fun. dare I say Top 10? 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/29/2008 01:20:05 PM
very well produced,great idea 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2008 10:46:44 AM
Really cool, overdone but still cool. Would have liked a little more vibrancy in the colors but really good job!!
7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2008 10:35:28 AM
Fantastic, excellent capture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/27/2008 12:30:57 PM
Interesting effect. I sort of like this, even though I generally don't go for things like this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/27/2008 12:20:23 PM
Great concentric pattern effect! No doubt this will do well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/27/2008 10:42:09 AM
Most patterns were blah. This caught my eye and held my interest. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/27/2008 09:49:48 AM
good contrasting colors, and a nice unconventional pattern.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/26/2008 10:59:03 PM
THIS LOOKS AWSOME!! Patterns all the way!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/26/2008 03:28:57 PM
Nicely done. I like that it doesn't feel "flat" like some of these shots do. You chose your colors well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/26/2008 09:33:35 AM
this is realy awesome. i cant tell if the marbles are still or in motion with the background. This shows great pattern too nice work
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/26/2008 01:38:45 AM
This is awesome...i'm going to try to copy it now...
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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