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Your Own Personal Jesus
Your Own Personal Jesus
Coley


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Masters' Free Study II (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
Location: Bradford Ontario
Date: Nov 16, 2008
Aperture: f 8
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/80
Galleries: Emotive, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Nov 16, 2008

 This was a very difficult shot to take. On so many levels.

First why this shot.
This is part of the continuing saga of the fallen Angel. She previously met with The Umbrella Man. The shot is a symbol of the determination and the sacrifices the Umbrella 'Man is prepared to go through in order to help the little Angel.

The title ripped from Depeche Mode, highlights how this symbol can apply to our own lives. If we are lucky/blessed we all have our own personal Jesus.
A wife, a friend, a brother/sister, a father, someone who looks out for us or protects us, will sacrifice anything for us.

It is fitting that in this shot I am the Umbrella man and the little Angel is my daughter. My family is the most important part of my life. I would do anything for them and hope to always be there as their "Personal Jesus" I don't mean to get all gushy about this ... it's just how I feel (Thanks to Sandy BTW for hanging out in the cold with us in order to push the shutter button )

Although this shot appears to be a little controversial, it is meant to be a positive image. A Priest I knew and admired, once remarked how the cross was actually a plus sign. "Now how can that be negative?"

The other difficult part of this shot was the actual physical constraints.
I never had to get on a cross before :D I built a platform out of wood and 2 hardware brackets. I had the shot all set so that all my wife had to do was hit the shutter button. When I got on the cross( about 10 feet off the ground)
the brackets bent from my weight and I almost came down in a crash. Now that would have been a shot.

Hope everyone at DPC can see the positive of this shot.

Thanks for looking

Cole




Statistics
Place: 17 out of 170
Avg (all users): 6.8879
Avg (commenters): 8.4872
Avg (participants): 7.0105
Avg (non-participants): 6.8402
Views since voting: 4125
Views during voting: 742
Votes: 339
Comments: 56
Favorites: 13 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/23/2025 04:34:53 PM
Originally posted by Coley:
Originally posted by roz:
when i first joined dpc i was often blown away by the lengths ppl would to to get the photo they wanted for a challenge ..
i remember one where the photographer had actually taken some wooden planks into a lake to get the photo ..
like i said on your other photo .. thats committment ..

this is an example of that same committment ..


Hahahahahahah Roz , You are hitting the nail on MY head.

It is funny how you get so wrapped up in life, that you forget or loose touch, with the things that really bring you joy. Photography, and all aspects of the process have been a huge passion for me over the years
and a lot of that passion came from the DPC challenges and the spirit of this community. I carry my camera and gear with me 24/7, but lately and for longer than I will admit, I never bring them out to shoot.

As I look forward to 2023 I hope to get motivated and reignite and reintroduce myself to the shutter button on my camera. You might see a few more entries from me in the not too distant future.

I have 2 lovely granddaughters/models(LOL) now who have never met the umbrella man. Where did I leave my bowler...?

Thanks for the very kind words Roz I appreciate them more than you could know.


i'm not sure whether i saw this reply from a couple of years ago ..
but i've come to check you out since the pm ..
and have looked at so many of the photos you entered in challenges ..
which is how i came to see your reply ..

its interesting how 'time' can get away ..
dont leave it too long before entering again ..
if the rest of the remainder are anything like me your presence would be greatly appreciated .. :)
 12/26/2022 11:48:40 PM
Originally posted by roz:
when i first joined dpc i was often blown away by the lengths ppl would to to get the photo they wanted for a challenge ..
i remember one where the photographer had actually taken some wooden planks into a lake to get the photo ..
like i said on your other photo .. thats committment ..

this is an example of that same committment ..


Hahahahahahah Roz , You are hitting the nail on MY head.

It is funny how you get so wrapped up in life, that you forget or loose touch, with the things that really bring you joy. Photography, and all aspects of the process have been a huge passion for me over the years
and a lot of that passion came from the DPC challenges and the spirit of this community. I carry my camera and gear with me 24/7, but lately and for longer than I will admit, I never bring them out to shoot.

As I look forward to 2023 I hope to get motivated and reignite and reintroduce myself to the shutter button on my camera. You might see a few more entries from me in the not too distant future.

I have 2 lovely granddaughters/models(LOL) now who have never met the umbrella man. Where did I leave my bowler...?

Thanks for the very kind words Roz I appreciate them more than you could know.
 12/26/2022 09:47:32 PM
when i first joined dpc i was often blown away by the lengths ppl would to to get the photo they wanted for a challenge ..
i remember one where the photographer had actually taken some wooden planks into a lake to get the photo ..
like i said on your other photo .. thats committment ..

this is an example of that same committment ..


  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/21/2008 09:37:28 PM
Your wife, The Mother Superior, will one day write an amazing memoir about being married to a famous (in Pendleton) pumpkin juggler with religious mania.. ;-) Happy Holidays to you and your good humoured family.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 08:58:56 PM
I was expecting a ribbon here. Great image with a perfect execution. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 08:46:59 PM
Cole my friend. Brilliant! Love it! Your gaze is priceless! Great finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 07:49:24 PM
The 3 ones are a crime. One of the best shots in this challenge. Good job...

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 02:38:44 PM
Love the story behind the image. You are intense.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 07:11:28 AM
I expected this on the front page, one of my fav's.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 03:03:23 AM
Cole - I think your work is SO cool! Well done, great finish in such a tough field.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 01:39:58 AM
One of favorites for the challenge, can't believe it scored below 7!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 01:07:05 AM
Thanks for your notes. This whole series has been very strong. Congrats on top 20!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/08/2008 12:13:26 AM
Shoulda been top 5 man. It's awesome.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/07/2008 11:36:34 PM
Nice idea and set up, great lighting and comp, 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2008 10:52:41 PM
You have found your niche. I like the interactino here. The effort is worth a lot here, the location and forced surreal event that tickles postmodernism certainly gets the art gallery goers speaking in tongues - some sharp, some gibberish. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2008 10:44:32 PM
Coley, right? Blacks are too black on this one. Your shot usually have some amount of detail in the blacks, but not this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2008 09:16:21 PM
You're amazing. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2008 04:43:12 PM
Could be a coley? :) Well controlled B&W. You certainly have the range there. Interestingly weird shot. Makes one dwell a little while. The last shot I voted was also weird, but I didn't think in a way that made me think. Maybe it's my religious persuasion. Gonna bust out with the first 9 on this one. Bumped to one of my 3 10s.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2008 04:26:58 PM
yea coley! thats the way to do it! Take em all down! Awesomenss as usual, your such an inspiriation
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/07/2008 04:26:38 AM
I bet there are no prizes for guessing whose this is. ;-Þ
Another slightly quirky but well-done effort.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2008 12:44:12 PM
This better be on the front page...10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/06/2008 11:01:37 AM
I just love this, her expression and the way he is looking down at her just perfect! Quite the set up as well but the image is worth it. Oh and you should get extra points for the title but now I can't stop humming the Marilyn Manson tune and I must say he is not someone I usually can't get out of my head!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/05/2008 03:45:23 PM
Not sure what to do with this... for some reason it makes me hurt inside when I look at it. It does indeed create feelings which is no doubt a good thing. Not sure what you're thoughts were when you planned this but it sure makes me think what the background is. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/05/2008 03:36:35 PM
...pick up the receiver, I'll make you a believer... -- 9 --
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/05/2008 12:28:55 PM
Haunting, provocative, chilling, and strange. I like it. Looks like something out of a Stephen King or Clive Barker story. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/04/2008 11:44:19 PM
I love everything - the concept and the B&W.... The vin on the top really works for this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/04/2008 09:16:55 PM
Talk about surreal! WOW!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/04/2008 06:11:14 PM
I like your daughter Coley
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/04/2008 09:27:17 AM
The second I saw your title I thought of the band Depeche Mode.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/04/2008 08:42:47 AM
A Coley classic. Surprised at how much snow you have already! We still have green grass over here out east...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2008 02:49:01 PM
for me this photo is a little masterpiece. You have conjugated two strong things, the simbol of the cross that always is a strong simbol and the black and white that is the best expression of the emotive photography. the composition is excellent, the models have a great expression. the overexposed whites of the snow and the sky whit a little grey and a little vignetting are a great contour of the image. well done the blacks. really a strong photo. I don't know if this will be apreciated as it well deserve. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2008 02:35:34 PM
coley, a remarkable series.

I have been a fan of this series for a while.

The only gripe I have is the 18% grey thing, your dipping into the abyss on both ends of the scale hurting the detail within that battle.

However, it doesn't kill me. It's the look of the series, and so there you go.

One of the few high earners in this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2008 02:31:55 PM
interesting concept shot! Says "Coley" to me
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2008 01:01:21 PM
Love your stuff. The only nitpick I have (And it really is a nitpick) is the model's hair. It looks as though the character is some sort of angel, and yet her hair looks pinned and done up, which I wouldn't expect to see.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2008 08:37:13 AM
Coley, of course:)10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/03/2008 05:00:18 AM
Perfect b&w, lovely props & styling. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 06:19:03 PM
Coley version - darn - lost track of how many now in this series.
Shouldda' done the nuns....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 04:29:38 PM
Great idea and execution. Depeche Mode Rules too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 03:33:28 PM
Hi Cole! I like the smirk. :-) Nice addition to your series!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 07:44:51 AM
how's the book coming? hope all's well with you and your family!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 06:32:21 AM
brilliant setup and the image is breathtaking
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 01:43:16 AM
I always love your stuff :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/02/2008 12:20:37 AM
Brillant Coley. Into my favorites.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 09:49:53 PM
Very interesting image. I wish I understood what message you are trying to convey.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 08:36:01 PM
Gosh, how do you keep coming up with these? You are amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 12:51:14 PM
Love it Coley 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 12:40:01 PM
very interesting. I usually hate photos of girls with wings, but in this case it works. And I give you a huge credit for not being afraid to be sacrilegious :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 12:29:46 PM
coley? haha very cool man, i love your trademarks.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 11:11:36 AM
wonderful setup!!! very evocative , 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 10:14:30 AM
Has to be Coley. Love the sense of story telling.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 09:16:05 AM
you might want to check the EXIF data of this photograph.

you will most likely find "Ribbon: Blue" written somewhere :) 10
ps: I hope the religious nature of the shot does not attract some low votes and/or private offensive messages, like my "in money we trust" entry did.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 03:21:03 AM
Great title and of course image. Good luck Coley.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 03:16:13 AM
Love the umbrella folded up by the base of the cross. Everyone's gotta have a signature ;) Not that this one needed it, it has your name written all over it :) Fantastic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 12:34:05 AM
Coley...you are amazing
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 12:21:11 AM
Fantastic!!!!!! I don't really know what else to say about this. It is fun and unique and gets me thinking.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2008 12:13:25 AM
WOW that took some nerve with this crowd. FANTASTIC WORK. I love the juxtaposition between the angel and "Jesus." Great focus and contrast.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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