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Song of the South
Song of the South
jmsetzler


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Hidden Gem -- 1,000th Challenge! (Advanced Editing VII*)
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM
Location: Hickory, North Carolina
Date: Sep 28, 2008
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/400
Galleries: Candid, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Mar 9, 2009

 "The best photo you have ever taken with a digital camera" is quite a dynamic concept. I like photographing people and I have tons of people photos that I love. Putting one of them at the top of a list as my 'best' is simply impossible. Since people intrigue me for many reasons, I like some photos better than others, depending on the time of day, mood I'm in, and the weather forecast for next Saturday. I might not like it at all tomorrow, but when Tuesday rolls around, it will be on my favorites list once again.

This photograph that I have chosen to submit here is one that I made in September of 2008 at a local event where some Civil War re-enactment activities were going on. This young boy caught my eye in the group simply because of his age and size compared to the rest of the participants in the event. I watched him for a few minutes and probably shot 8 or 10 images of him as he marched with his group. Out of the images I made, this one is my favorite because of the subtle smile on his face. He looks more serious in the rest of the images, but the quick glimpse of the smile created a bit of an 'out of context' element in this image for me. These people who participate in Civil War re-enactments are quite serious about the authenticity of everything they do... from their clothing to their mannerisms. This brief moment of smile, in my opinion, is a short departure from that seriousness, and a random moment in time that appeals to me and will continue to do so for a long time.


Statistics
Place: 533 out of 1129
Avg (all users): 5.6333
Avg (commenters): 6.6400
Avg (participants): 5.6140
Avg (non-participants): 5.7375
Views since voting: 833
Views during voting: 680
Votes: 510
Comments: 54
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/17/2009 02:08:29 PM
I'm totally liking this as I come back to it. I failed to comment on first pass, but it's been at 7 and I am bumping to 8. You've created a quiet, understated, intensely human image that resonates with me. The tonalities are wonderful overall. To my eye, it looks like the face has been dodged just a little too much, it just seems a hair too light, but that's a quibble.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 02:05:34 PM
Nice portrait of a young soldier, great color choice, I feel like I'm back in time.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 10:31:23 PM
Great photo and kudos on finding such a perfect model.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 06:50:55 PM
Nice picture... I like your choice of sepia toning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 04:41:24 PM
This looks like a very young soldier in a civil war re-enactment. We forget that there were no age restrictions at that time. Nice shot, well composed and processed with the authentic B&W look.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 01:41:32 PM
Nice shot. I like the composition. The coloring is nice to draw us in.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 03:31:54 AM
Well captured and presented.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 02:08:55 AM
Good shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 09:53:22 PM
This kid makes me think of Huck Finn, but I don't think he fought in any war. Nice black and white image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 04:04:08 PM
Superbly detailed and lit portrait. Very nice sepia conversion. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 02:38:46 PM
nicely done. I like it very much.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 01:53:44 PM
Nice portrait, love his/her expression
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 10:38:22 AM
pretty nice I give 6 ;)
brano
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 10:21:19 AM
He has a very photogenic face, nice B&W treatment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 09:24:07 AM
This is an excellent shot. If the quality wasn't so good I'd think it was from about 150 years ago...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 04:03:59 AM
Nice portrait and old look.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 12:04:23 AM
The kids expression seems to spoil the shot somehow :(
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 10:58:15 PM
how cool! i love the historical story this tells. great choice for b&w
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 10:50:36 PM
I like the tones and my attention is pulled to the face
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 10:02:04 PM
Good shot. B&W suites the pic and good frame.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 08:56:57 AM
This is a photo I will remember. Great expression and framing! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 05:34:04 AM
great focus
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 12:34:37 AM
Good commentary piece. Excellent hue. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 02:07:08 PM
perfect toning choice for this image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 12:59:41 PM
Nice portrait
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 12:39:18 PM
Nice shot, good call on the sepia toning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 12:15:43 PM
Color treatment works well with this image. A good portrait that speaks to the viewer.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 11:10:30 AM
Great candid portrait. Good choice with the editing, as it fits the theme.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 07:20:47 AM
Keep your head down kid!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 05:42:57 AM
adorable expression, nice sepia
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 01:44:58 AM
nice image and i like its not in color adds to the sense of history
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 10:35:02 PM
wow...this is really special...great to catch the moment...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 10:21:33 PM
The effect is good for this photo. I really like it. Good lighting of the eyes too so that they weren't caught in the shadow of the hat.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 09:33:37 PM
Must be a Civil war reenactment. About my only issue here is that a child getting ready to march into battle, and possibly to his death, would not be smiling. I do realize of course, that this was a reenactment and the shot is what it is. Other than that out of place smile, this is good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 09:08:34 PM
Probably too close to reality for comfort. Great expression, outfit & equipment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 07:32:52 PM
Nice capture. The sepia toning fits the subject perfectly.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 06:57:49 PM
A recreation that speaks so much of the reality behind it.....except he's too clean.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 04:27:27 PM
simply amazing
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 03:42:01 PM
stunning focus and color tone - high score from me
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 03:12:42 PM
great candid, nice shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 12:16:31 PM
Great capture. Love the sepia, the detail, the pose, the context. Good stuff.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 09:53:58 AM
Great capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 06:13:20 AM
I love how you even captured his/her freckles.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 04:11:32 AM
An imagine worth lingering over. Great details and emotion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 03:23:34 AM
With the exception of the nice new clothes this depicts the awful reality of that conflict. Child warriors.
Nice job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 09:06:04 PM
I really don't like the funny look on the mouth... but the rest is spot on wonderful.

Not voting yet.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 01:22:49 PM
Beautifully done, would make such a good print!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 10:08:22 AM
Congratulations on being part of this 1000th challenge on DPC. Keep up the good work!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 08:56:56 AM
I like the monochrome take to the image. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 08:32:05 AM
Nice job, well composed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 08:24:55 AM
The frame is to much but the rest is really nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 07:57:45 AM
nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 03:24:30 AM
cool capture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 02:48:30 AM
Love the garb.. seems like the effects could be more dramatic but overally I like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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