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Tail's tale
3rd PlaceTail's tale
Melethia


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Symmetry In Nature (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Challenges 2012
Camera: Canon EOS-7D
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS
Location: Hermosa Pier
Date: May 10, 2012
Aperture: 6.3
ISO: 160
Shutter: 1/160
Date Uploaded: May 13, 2012

 So I had another photograph entered. Might have scored mid to high 5s. But there are these two three guys, both all of whom have ribbons along the left side of their profile page that go for days and days. Seriously, you have to scroll down to see them all. Tons. Millions of 7s. And they say to go with this one even though it will bomb. (Well, Robert didn't think it would bomb.) Of course, one of those guys has a shot that will probably ribbon.

Seriously. I'm beginning to think they just don't like me. :-)

Anyway, this is a poor dying little fish in a box on a pier. The guy had an old cardboard box with a plastic bag lining it and was dropping in the fish he'd caught. They were, of course, all in various stages of gasping and dying. So it's kinda sad. I love to eat fish, but I do hate to see them die. Overprocessing courtesy of a wickedly strong setting in an older version of Topaz.

And yes, the little fish is lying atop some larger fish. I'll post the original shortly.

Thank you all for your kind votes and comments! I'm as surprised by this as I'm sure the rest of you are! (Well, except for Robert. He was pretty sure this would do well.) :-)

Original:


Processing was a square crop to emphasize symmetry and a crunchy Topaz Adjust setting (Grunge Me, most likely). The annotation in Bridge also says I tried the Silver Efex in luminosity blending mode, but I don't always keep that after I try it, so not entirely sure if I did that or not.

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 101
Avg (all users): 6.7843
Avg (commenters): 8.6923
Avg (participants): 6.8723
Avg (non-participants): 6.7091
Views since voting: 3622
Views during voting: 218
Votes: 102
Comments: 75
Favorites: 10 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/02/2013 02:16:36 PM
I'm with Wendy on this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/24/2013 09:30:32 AM
This still has to be one of the most awesome shots on DPC!! This is the gold standard of art shots, imo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2012 06:11:58 AM
Congratulations,lovin' this image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/24/2012 03:43:58 AM
This is so lovely and interesting Deb. A very well deserved ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2012 08:28:17 AM
you've got such a great eye to have spotted this, congrats on the ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2012 08:20:06 AM
Well done darling, for a fabulous image!it is simply stunning
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 07:36:24 PM
Yes, the texture and color of the tail are very nice. Great shot.
Very effective cropping, as well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 07:07:18 PM
Wow the texture in here is beautiful. Lots of artistry in this shot of a fish tail - who would have thought it possible? Congrats on the yellow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 05:34:23 PM
RIBBON! RIBBON! RIBBON! And it wasn't even a pigeon!
Way to go, Deb! This is a great, great photo!

CONGRATS ON YOUR RIBBON!!!!!!!!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 03:31:42 PM
Ahem... FOUR advisors.....

About time you ribboned, SLACKER! Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 02:49:21 PM
this was a great win!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 12:54:24 PM
Wow, this is super! Congratulations!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 12:20:32 PM
Hey - look at you on the Front page, and with a very arty shot.

Nice piece of work, but if you're going with a fish in a shot you really ought to fillet . . (ok - rubbish joke)

;- )
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 09:17:07 AM
Congrats on a well done entry! Love the saturation de-Tails. (couldn't help myself)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 08:58:18 AM
Congratulations Deb, excellent!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 07:52:26 AM
If fish tales were butterfly wings, I'm glad to see this one flew you straight to the top! Congrats on your ribbon, Deb!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 05:14:43 AM
Terrific, Deb. 'bout time you landed on the front page again.
:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 05:04:07 AM
Congrats Deb; this was my top pick. Glad to see this on the front page.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 04:54:44 AM
Deb! You're kicking butt and taking names!! Excellent job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 04:14:17 AM
Look at you Deb! You have been smashing through your competition in the BOYA side challenge. I love the textures and detail seen in the tail and fish scales. To have the tail extent out of the bottom right corner in a square crop was an excellent decision for it calls the eye's attention to all the shapes, texture, and details.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 04:10:10 AM
Woohoo so glad to see you back where you belong!! Congrats Deb!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 03:59:01 AM
Hey, girl!! Nice to see you at the top of the pack. This is so well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 02:52:36 AM
Congrats on the fishy ribbon! Love this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 02:42:49 AM
Wow this is really nice Melethia, I am surprised to see it on the front page, not because it's not worthy because it so is, but because I would have thought it wasn't the norm for DPC, so pleased to see this here!

Congrats on the Ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 02:02:16 AM
I'm so glad this ribboned!! Definitely my favorite of the challenge -- 9 from me, and it really should have been a 10 -- I must have been in a cranky mood when voting. :)

Superb! Awesome! And truly incredible!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 01:30:36 AM
And the birds get pushed down another notch. Well done Deb. ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2012 01:29:58 AM
Excellent work Mel, well deserved
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 11:56:07 PM
Congrats on the ribbon, Deb!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 11:30:33 PM
Well done Deb! One of my top votes in the challenge. :-)

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 11:16:16 PM
Congrats Deb - fantabulous!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 10:51:49 PM
Congratulations, Deb! Way cool - this one is art. The transparency of the tail makes it look like an overlay.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 10:42:33 PM
Of course! Dead fish! Why didn't I think of that??! Congrats, Deb - a fantastic job and I think the processing is light by most ribbon standards. Looks like you'll get that Ribbon Hogs patch after all. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 10:21:20 PM
great composition, reminded Soutine to me :). Congrats on the ribbon Deb!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 10:19:57 PM
Congrats with your ribbon. It's nice to see this one in the top 3.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 09:47:31 PM
Well done Deb! Congrats on a much deserved and overdue ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 09:09:05 PM
Well done Melethia
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 09:04:15 PM
Originally posted by Melethia:
Originally posted by levyj413:
Congrats, Deb! And did either of your advisors ribbon?

LOL! Yes. One of my advisors got the blue. :-)


And this one, 17th... I think you had 3 advisors, hon...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 09:04:01 PM
beauty - great choice of processing and crop and tones - congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:56:12 PM
Ha, bet you are glad you didn't use the other one, great photo Deb, a big congrats from me on your well deserved ribbon.

Message edited by author 2012-05-21 01:37:44.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:52:08 PM
Beautiful shot, Deb. Congrats on the well deserved ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:45:28 PM
Deb!!! Yippeeeeee!

This is amazing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:31:07 PM
sweet tail.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:30:41 PM
Excellent Deb - I'm a big fan of the image and you, so very glad to see this great image rewarded with a ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:18:38 PM
Oh, million thunders! Would have never hoped for the fish to get yellow! There is hope in the world! (PS I gave it 8 a while ago and did not have time to review and bump)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:18:27 PM
wonderful picture!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:14:08 PM
Bravo, a fish tail tale to remember.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:13:54 PM
Congratch on the ribbon, quite a worthy one. It pays to follow advice sometimes, eh.
If you look at the thumbnail, it seems the bag is a larger fish that the tail is resting on.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:12:33 PM
Originally posted by levyj413:
Congrats, Deb! And did either of your advisors ribbon?

LOL! Yes. One of my advisors got the blue. :-)
 05/20/2012 08:12:15 PM
Go Deb! Great job on this one!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:11:25 PM
Congrats, Deb! And did either of your advisors ribbon?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:08:48 PM
Well done Deb. A lovely token for a totem.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:08:48 PM
Congratulations, its amazing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:08:14 PM
Way to go Deb, simply love your work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:03:46 PM
Wonderful image Deb. Congrats on the well deserved ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:03:18 PM
And you know it's b/c I bumped you that you got the ribbon, you owe me girl.........lol
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:02:52 PM
GO DEB!!!! YAY!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:02:04 PM
Told ya Told ya TOLD ya! Awesome awesome awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:01:49 PM
Congratulations! Beautiful shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:01:39 PM
WoW oh Wow oh Wow, you got a ribbon, it's been a while, WOOT WOOT!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 08:01:09 PM
Way to go Deb!!!!!!!!! Yay.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/20/2012 07:49:00 PM
This gets teh best in show for artistry and topicality. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 07:39:10 PM
bilateral symmetry and a story with an ending. You can't beat that!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 06:11:35 PM
beautiful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 06:05:59 PM
I think I know! Perfect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 03:55:39 PM
I never knew a tail could look so good. 10.

And you enter my Verineat gallery
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 02:27:56 PM
Not sure if this will get a good score, but I like this one!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 01:08:52 PM
Beautiful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 12:52:33 PM
a bit fishy, but I guess this was unavoidable. I like how the sack (?) edge is looking like a fish backbone.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2012 05:04:57 AM
My top pick; very artsy image and well done. (voted earlier)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2012 03:13:47 AM
Love the composition and the difference in this image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2012 02:44:12 PM
Most unusual take on the challenge, great image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2012 09:37:17 AM
nice texture and feel - 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2012 08:05:49 AM
Nice..I like this
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2012 05:04:42 AM
I like this a lot. It's oddly wonderful. :) Quite artsy too. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2012 08:26:08 PM
Utterly awesome, really stands out :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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