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Cheers!
2nd PlaceCheers!
giantmike


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Celebration II (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-50D
Lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Location: Madison, WI
Date: Jan 3, 2012
Aperture: 32
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1.6
Galleries: Studio, Food and Drink
Date Uploaded: Jan 3, 2012

 A few days before the 4th of July, I found a package of 30 sparklers for $2. My intention was to use a few for the 4th and the rest for photos. Turns out we didn't use any for the 4th, so they are all for photos (yay!). I used up a few here and there just playing around, and then forgot about them. Then comes this challenge. While putting away some stuff in my photo cabinet, I noticed the remaining packs and suddenly I knew what part of my entry would be. I also figured I wanted to do something with champagne. And then, by stroke of luck, this tutorial was posted: //www.learnmyshot.com/How-to-Photograph-a-Glass-of-Champagne-with-Sparklers

That gave me great tips on shutter speed, aperture, and especially the use of Ginger Ale. So I bought a bottle of Canada Dry and went to work. My setup included:
* Two pieces of 2x4 taped together with a small hill drilled in it. This acted as the stand for the sparkler
* Two boards taped to 2x4s to act as tilted ramps for the glasses. I then taped the glasses to the boards
* I setup a piece of black plastic behind the scene to eliminate the wall reflection
* Two lights, one on each side of the scene behind white sheets used for diffusion
* Poured the ginger ale in the glasses, which promptly condensed. I should really use warm soda so I could have gotten better bubbles, since I had to wait for the condensation to clear to get a nice clean shot
* Lit the sparkler and took my photos.

I really like how this turned out. There are small things I would change such as the reflections in the glass and more bubbles in the ginger ale. Hopefully voters will forgive me for those two flaws.

Post processing:
* Crop
* White balance
* Increase exposure, black point, and brightness
* Increase contrast
* Increase saturation with lower vibrancy
* Retouched out part of the sparkler stem and some background noise
* Topaz DeNoise
* S-curve
* Export as TIFF
* Resize
* Sharpen Edges
* Save as JPEG

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 40
Avg (all users): 6.9431
Avg (commenters): 7.2000
Avg (participants): 6.2500
Avg (non-participants): 7.0777
Views since voting: 4127
Views during voting: 298
Votes: 123
Comments: 26
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 11/26/2012 05:49:56 PM
Great picture, great idea, awesome reflections, nice symmetry. (I'm kinda freaking out about what's gonna happen on 11/28 though. What if there is no time for celebration? What if Bieber will really kill us with his voice? Hahahah.) Back to the picture, congrats on the ribbon. Definitely deserved!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/14/2012 11:35:57 AM
Nice work,Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 08:56:22 PM
Wonderfully festive! Congrats on winning the Red!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 05:50:17 PM
Wonderful shot, Mike! Very well done and ribbon-worthy. Great way to start the Noo Year!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 03:21:15 PM
I liked this one alot too! Congratulations & HAPPY NEW YEAR! What a great way to begin :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 11:28:00 AM
Excellent positioning of the sparklers and the overall use of frame. Love the shot!
Congrats on the ribbon!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 02:33:56 AM
EXCELLENT WELL DONE ON THE RED FROM SHEZ
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 01:58:41 AM
Lovely shot, Mike. Congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 12:45:50 AM
Congrats on the red Mike. Great job! (Thanks for the setup details)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 12:39:19 AM
Congrats on your image, Mike! May this the the first of many for the year!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 12:25:44 AM
Congratulations on a fine image Mike! Apparently fire brings in the votes ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 12:21:41 AM
Congratulations. Excellent work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/13/2012 12:21:31 AM
THis had ribbon written all over it the instant I saw it. Guaranteed to p[lease the DPC crowd for sure. Super well-made. Congrats in the red!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/12/2012 11:41:33 PM
Great control of the distance between the subjects in order to generate the proper image through the liquid while maintaining correct perspective for the contact point.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/12/2012 06:39:07 PM
Great idea, beautiful concept however i think the execution lets the image down a little, still a great photo. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/12/2012 01:00:55 AM
The reflection of the fireworks in the glasses really makes this image. Great idea and nicely done. On a personal note I would love to see this in b&w. I know it would result in a lower vote but it is something I think may have created something really interesting for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2012 07:10:53 AM
I like this shot, nice and simple, good composition, I like the reflections and the overall golden tone. Nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2012 12:58:57 PM
I,m in heaven.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2012 08:30:20 PM
really clever,the glasses were angled prior to photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2012 08:03:16 PM
That is just smashing!!!! Great timeing and capture!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/08/2012 06:22:37 AM
I'm sure I'll see a lot of wine glass shots in this challenge, but I'm not sure I'll see another one better before I get done voting! Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2012 04:44:58 PM
Clear winner of the challenge...not even close.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2012 02:35:09 PM
Cute and well done! Did you try a deeper DOF to get the sparkler in focus too?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2012 12:43:45 PM
Top3
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/07/2012 11:33:35 AM
Great symmetry - needs no title the image says it all.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/06/2012 03:37:00 AM
nice idea but the drink looks like some form of green insipid pond water from here, sparkler is not centred which i find really annoying
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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