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After work, alone with my thoughts
After work, alone with my thoughts
david_c


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Shadows V (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM
Location: My basement studio
Date: Dec 23, 2008
Aperture: f/14
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/160
Galleries: Portraiture, Studio
Date Uploaded: Dec 23, 2008

 Trying some techniques I've seen around the 'net. Bought a $6 set of blinds from Home Depot hung them from the rafters. Built a DiY honeycomb grid/snoot from some black straws and and a cereal box (that took PATIENCE). Positioned the snooted flash behind the blinds. Second strobe (with a blue gel, but you can't tell in this edit) at the background. Small aperture (f/14) and 1/160 to kill all the ambient light (there wasn't much, but enough for auto-focus to work correctly). The flash was triggered with my Cybersyncs (from Paul C. Buff, the Alien Bees guy).

Processed from RAW in CaptureOne 4 (really starting to like that), output to black and white with mid-tone contrast. A little curves and unsharp mask in Photoshop.

Seeing as the scoring has been getting tougher, I will predict a low-to-mid 5 finish. It's a self-portrait (sorry!), and that's VSOP I'm drinking.

post: Well, OK...top 10 works for me. That surprises me a bit...this looks terrible on my laptop, I think it's time for a calibration. Thanks for all the comments and the great finish. I was 6.1-ish last night, I guess some troll-votes must have scrubbed.

Statistics
Place: 8 out of 124
Avg (all users): 6.2263
Avg (commenters): 6.5000
Avg (participants): 5.7442
Avg (non-participants): 6.3673
Views since voting: 1720
Views during voting: 325
Votes: 190
Comments: 20
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 09/22/2009 03:47:15 PM
Glancing through your shots this one really stood out to me. I love the lighting and the mood. I really like the little reflection in the eyes. Great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2008 10:01:15 AM
Originally posted by Rando D300:
Excellent lighting,
Congrats on a top 10 finish

Thanks, Randy! Cheers, and Happy New Year. Rodger Hodgson from Supertramp is playing with Kim Mitchell at the free Falls concert this year, btw.
 12/31/2008 08:37:49 AM
Excellent lighting,
Congrats on a top 10 finish
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2008 08:03:22 AM
Originally posted by ggcadc:
great image, doesnt seem to meet the challenge instructions...

I'll have to disagree. "Use light to capture one or more shadows", and I hope that's what I accomplished. I guess I'd be interested to see why you think it doesn't match the challenge.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/30/2008 12:37:56 PM
Lovely lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2008 11:36:12 AM
Like the subject, I'd have framed it differently though. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2008 01:59:19 AM
great image, doesnt seem to meet the challenge instructions...
 12/29/2008 03:19:07 PM
lovely portrait, nice use of shadows
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2008 11:36:46 PM
very interesting lihgting choice, i really like it. and the way the light hits the drink in the cup as well just is beautiful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2008 02:14:11 PM
nice light
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2008 11:33:32 PM
surly...i like it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2008 11:54:52 AM
I like this a lot. I wonder how it might have looked with his (your?) eyes in the shadows. Just a passing thought -- it's still a strong image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2008 10:04:44 AM
nice portraiture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2008 09:37:23 AM
Nice use of shadow to create intensity in his gaze
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2008 01:42:18 AM
Nice shot, though perhaps a touch dull. I know that's the intended mood but there's a just too little detail here. I turned the brightness right up to see if it was just my display but still the same. Taking into account the great composition, 6 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2008 01:30:58 AM
Good shadows. The light on the eyes makes this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/25/2008 09:54:55 PM
Great expression on your face, and interesting use of shadows. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/24/2008 12:20:53 PM
One of my favs from the contest, I woulda perhaps liked alittle more light on his face, but then again, I like the dark mood as well. Well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/24/2008 12:05:12 PM
I hear the Dragnet theme...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/24/2008 04:15:54 AM
Nice mood in this shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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