DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries

 
You are viewing 1st place.
2nd
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
At Last Light
1st PlaceAt Last Light
Pedro


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Silhouettes II (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED
Location: DeWinton, AB
Date: May 15, 2005
Aperture: 8
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/8000
Galleries: Nature, Animals
Date Uploaded: May 15, 2005

 Well this is very interesting. Looks like it will be my second highest score by just a hair, and it was a total hack job. I had tried for much of the eve to get a decent silhouette of the boys after feeding time, but they weren't cooperating. then as I'm on my way out, I look in the rear-view mirror, and there they are following me. So I jumped out of my car, zoomed way out on the 12-24mm, held the cam under the fence and snapped one pic off.

I had edited and entered another one that I liked before I even looked at this one. It needed a lot of work - rotating, cropping, fencepost cloning, etc since I wasn't even looking through the viewfinder when I took it. I did a rough draft just to see if it would look ok and I liked it, but only had about 10 minutes to edit and enter before the challenge ended. unfortunately, I was in such a hurry I forgot about the lazy-ass clone job I did on the clouds near Fever's head. It wasn't until after the voting began that I noticed how shoddy it was, but by then it was too late to fix. Surprisingly only a few of the commenters noticed it, or it wasn't a big enough deal to care about. Ben (Konador) gets the prize for being first to notice and dis me for it (that's not sour grapes, I deserve serious noogies for letting that slip). I can't look at this pic without being angered by it. As I'm getting fond of saying in these comments...sometimes I'm an idiot (seemingly more often than I'd like to admit).

Anyway, other than than the rotate/crop/clone of the fence post I didn't do much. I quadtoned it, which is why the clouds look so ominous (no, I didn't dodge or burn much), and then hue shifted to give the late day light look to it (it was about 6pm when I shot it...sunset isn't until 9pm here these days). Curves removed all the shadow detail, and it's possible that I used a little neat image layer, but I can't really remember.

I seriously considered wrapping his face with fishing line and calling it "Disturbed Horse At last Light" but I thought I'd already...uh...beaten that horse to death. :D

P

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 248
Avg (all users): 7.7215
Avg (commenters): 8.5455
Avg (participants): 7.5678
Avg (non-participants): 7.8739
Views since voting: 18988
Views during voting: 541
Votes: 237
Comments: 123
Favorites: 102 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 03/15/2011 08:52:44 AM
Fantastic image...brings the viewer right into the frame!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2007 01:19:05 PM
Stunning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/23/2006 08:15:16 AM
I love horses, as i have some, and i know how horses can be..sometimes less than willing to hold still. Great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/24/2006 07:51:35 AM
nothing to say other than that I just love it :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2006 07:14:21 AM
Very interesting shot. One reason is monochrome colores and not POP composition. Good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/15/2005 02:38:39 PM
Did you use any filters on this shot? polorizer? enhancer? anything? the shot looks amazing. Also, what were the settings on the quadtone? This picture inspires me to take pictures like this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/09/2005 09:32:10 AM
beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2005 12:00:14 PM
Just marvellous...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/04/2005 05:54:16 PM
This has got to be one of the most incredible pictures I have seen yet.

Message edited by author 2005-06-04 21:54:36.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/29/2005 04:19:26 PM
One of the best on DPC shood have made this a print, I bet you would have sold a ton.

Travis
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2005 07:33:11 PM
It brings to mind the Nag Rhett Butler stole for Scarlett when Atlanta fell.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/26/2005 08:44:31 AM
this is just beautiful ... it would be interesting to see the original ... your work is amazing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/25/2005 09:58:28 PM
hey, i just wanted to say great picture, worthy of i high place for sure... as great as it is tho, i cant help but be distracted by the poor clone action to the left of the horses head... i didnt see it at first, but my freind pointed it out, and now i cant stop looking at it... hehe, without the little slip there tho, a perfect picture... congrats... lol

mH
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/24/2005 06:23:59 PM
Congratulations on your Blue! A powerful, magical image artistically presented. Great Stuff!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/24/2005 04:46:31 PM
Congratulations Pedro. You've been creating some very beautiful images and I am enjoying the freedom you are expressing.
All the best.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/24/2005 02:21:51 PM
WOW WOW WOW :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/24/2005 04:33:29 AM
Don't beat yourself up about the editing. I think it's an exquisite photograph - worthy of the win!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 09:05:39 PM
glad to see another burn tool lover. Beautiful shot, added to my favorites.

-Frank
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 07:16:07 PM
too very cool horse, great job!!!
congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 06:23:30 PM
Wow! COngratulations! A well deserved blue ribbon on this awesome shot of the horses..I love the colors and the sky really worked with this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 03:07:20 PM
beautiful...good job congrats on the blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 12:51:30 PM
awesome, this is such a *you* shot. congrats on the blue, you rock. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 09:10:01 AM
Nice work P, and yes, bad cloning!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 07:23:03 AM
Congrats Pedro - another well deserved ribbon for you! :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 05:34:56 AM
This one really stood out in the crowd - congrats (even with the slight cloning imperfection)! Well deserved ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 04:59:44 AM
I love the wide angle perspective on this. Awesome shot. And if you hadn't mentioned the cloning problem, I probably never would have noticed it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 04:23:38 AM
One of my favorites! Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 03:03:25 AM
Ahhhh what a great image!! Congrats P man!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/23/2005 02:28:14 AM
congrats P. Funny what quick shots end up doing well. Still deserves the win. Great work as usual.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 11:31:57 PM
Awesome !!! Congratulations !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 11:09:32 PM
Congrats on the Ribbon it was my choice for the Blue, well done on a great silhouette.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 10:53:38 PM
Congratulations Pedro! Cool Shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 10:45:43 PM
Fine image, powerful and deserving of its blue. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 10:43:03 PM
Congrats on the blue Pedro. Very dramatic sky.

I love the composition and the touch of colour on the other horse's back. Though the front horse is amazing, for me the horse in the b/g is the factor that makes this so interesting. Gives the image a depth that otherwise wouldn't have been there.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 10:38:07 PM
damn incredible.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 09:47:31 PM
Congratulations, on another blue, and another stunning photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 09:43:03 PM
It's very infrequent that I get a correct pick on ribbon. You're lucky I didn't jinx ya. But every once in a while I actually get it right! Congrats on a well deserved blue!
TC
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 09:35:09 PM
Congratulations on the ribbon, an excellent and entertaining shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 09:27:17 PM
Yesssss!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 09:12:44 PM
congrats Pedro. Truly beautiful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:42:47 PM
Wow, congrats on the blue and having the 2nd highest scoring image with the D70!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:37:22 PM
Well Pedro, it's a beautifully done "hack job" as you say.

Stunning. Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:37:06 PM
I love this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:34:59 PM
Congratulations Pedro. Stunning image. You are on a roll. I'm glad you didn't try to wrap the horse with string though ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:33:31 PM
Looks like another Fuit Snack ad to me, Pedro! ;-)
Great job! Definitely deserves the ribbon.

...of course, you know with all the fame and glory, you also get featured in the tabloids more often! :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:27:51 PM
It's always the unexpected pictures that turn out the best. Dispite the evil clone, this is great. Your best horse picture :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:10:19 PM
Congratulations on your blue. The use of this lens clinched your well deserved placing. Awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:09:38 PM
Very fine work, Pedro! Loads of emotion and interest here. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:08:08 PM
hey pedro you little rat! hehe great photo, time to knock forest
off, congrats on the BLUE
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:05:16 PM
Very strong, congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:05:15 PM
AGAIN???? Geez... ya might want to keep a fire extinguisher in your camera bag. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:04:55 PM
Congrats. Lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:02:46 PM
Fantastic, one of the best I've seen in a long while ! Congratulations !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:02:20 PM
Absolutely Beautiful!!! Congrats!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:02:02 PM
w00t! you rock! congrats, hon. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:01:26 PM
You're on a roll man, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:01:04 PM
brilliant. well deserved
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 08:01:03 PM
COngrats! Sweet shot there Pedro!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/22/2005 05:07:35 PM
Purists might find the coloring in the sky disturbing but for me it adds drama and tension. For a week now I've wondered if it might be DQ'd not because I don't like it .. but because as an entrant myself, I fear it. Well deserved kudos for reminding me how very much I have yet to learn!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 11:25:39 AM
I'd have placed this top if it wasn't for that high-speed elephant! Brilliant composition. Only crit is right hand side of the sky feels a bit over-processed
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/22/2005 09:45:39 AM
just beautiful. I hope you ribbon 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2005 11:46:45 PM
Very nice catch.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2005 04:35:25 PM
Great perspective and the sky is amazing, but area by his face looks cloned, a little unatural. I apologize if I'm wrong and that area is untouched.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2005 03:02:05 PM
Top 5 for sure, awesome composition and tone. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2005 02:56:17 PM
Very gooood.... nice sky to finish off the photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2005 09:26:29 AM
Wow, very dramatic if I could I'd bump to a 12....nice work
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2005 08:55:40 AM
Love the point of view. Very subtle and nice colors. Everything is perfect to me. I gave it a 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2005 07:38:51 PM
Absolutely stunning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2005 06:49:34 PM
The sky looks amazing. Great capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2005 06:06:38 PM
The angle here is stunning. I would love this even without the dramatic sky. I hope the sky is mostly natural and not assisted too much in PS just because that's my preference, but either way, this is a terrific shot. I expect this will either ribbon, or else really suffer from people who don't want to see anymore PSed skies. 9 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2005 05:52:38 PM
love it..............hope you win
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2005 03:46:04 PM
this is a memorable shot - so dramatic - unique/quirky placement of horses keeps my interest. One of my ribbon picks
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2005 06:39:29 AM
Way kewl perspective here. I love the distortion in the first horse. Gives this shot a lot of charactor. Good luck. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2005 05:49:23 AM
This is one of my absolute favorite images in the challenge. I really like the unusual perspective, very effective. The only thing that seems a little odd/distracting is the area by the front horses face, perhaps some cloning happened here? Even still, this is a great picture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2005 01:40:27 AM
Good story behind this photograph... Very successful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2005 10:08:34 PM
One of the most startling entries in the challenge, wildly surreal and mind-blowing. It's a pity the BG horse was not better-framed between the legs of the other. Stron entry!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2005 07:27:22 PM
Excellent subject with nice, dark tones throughout. This is a great example of a beautiful silhouette with strong lighting and (I believe) burning techniques as well. Very nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2005 05:58:45 PM
This has beautiful photographics.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2005 12:57:30 PM
very good... now if the background horse was just framed a little better... ideally under the chin of the foreground horse it would be perfect. I like the sky and tones.. should do well... good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/18/2005 06:50:02 PM
I really like what you have done here-the closeness to the first horse combined with the sky really has an incredibly dramatic impact.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/18/2005 06:41:37 PM
Looks unnatural, nice shot though. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/18/2005 02:37:43 PM
Simply put, this is my definition of a 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/18/2005 11:15:12 AM
bit more dodge and burn would have made this dramatic ;-o
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/18/2005 08:32:40 AM
Nice perspective and color control. Beautiful skies.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/18/2005 08:11:58 AM
Although there are elements about this I am unsure of it has such strong visual impact I have had to score it highly - good luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/17/2005 09:05:04 PM
This one of the best I've seen. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/17/2005 08:25:21 PM
a bit too dramatic for me. i think a normal bw with slightly more dodged highlights could have been more effective.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/17/2005 04:12:08 PM
Nice Shot, The angle creates a interesting illusion that the horse in the background is a baby or miniture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/17/2005 12:12:16 PM
How dramatic!
Wonderful POV, amazing sky, I love the sepia tones here.
at my first round over this photo, I thought I didn't like that other horse in the background. But at second round I think it's adding more life to the scene, and more perspective. So bumping up... from 9 to 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/17/2005 12:09:20 PM
nice photo, one of my favorites. Great composition and lighting. Would prefer just one big horse in it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/17/2005 05:54:16 AM
I like the perspective here. The clouds are very well captured and very beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/17/2005 05:46:08 AM
Woo - spooky. The fishangle really helps the angle. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/17/2005 04:22:59 AM
Very interesting sky. Almost too powerful as it takes away from the main subject. Very interesting angle, however. I like the "different look". <5>
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 09:19:27 PM
This is great. Beautiful tones, interesting composition beautiful sky. I would try to position the second horse the way it would not be obscured by the first horseĆ¢€™s leg, or I would try to clone it off. (9)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 07:37:07 PM
what a bizarre shot.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 06:27:20 PM
Great angle - creates a very interesting image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 06:27:01 PM
Not sure on the post processing on this one, but never the less, it is an absolutely beautiful shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 04:05:42 PM
i love this shot. I think the sepia works really well here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 03:56:42 PM
My favourite.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 01:24:23 PM
Incredibly well lit sky and interesting shapes on the horses...especially the front one. Very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 11:50:39 AM
Absolutaly wonderfull!! Great pose on the horse. strong outlines on the silhouette. Very contrasty and bright colorfull and interesting sky. I couldn't ask for more!! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 10:55:31 AM
I'm not sure what exactly you have done here, but it sure works well. I'm not too sure on the cloning, if that's what you've used just above the horses' head, but it does, imo, spoil a perfect 10. Still a great shot, though, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 10:32:17 AM
Nice perspective, great sky. Like the coffee/tobacco color.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 09:41:49 AM
This is a truly exciting and dramatic shot. I love the sepia-type tone to it - wonderful composition. Love the way the eye is led by the lines of the horses. Perfection 10 I'd predit this will be one of the three ribbons.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 08:45:13 AM
wow. Extreme point of view - love it! great tonal range. use of cloning on upper left a little distracting and needs to be cleaned up. excellent capture otherwise. 8 from me!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 07:57:32 AM
This is a nice shot from an unusual perspective. The only thing I don't like is that it's a little heavy on the saturation of the sepia.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 07:52:08 AM
Lovely shot... Great angle, nice sepia...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 07:34:46 AM
Absolutely stunning! How low did you have to get? LOL
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 06:19:37 AM
Beautiful shot! I love the crispness and the color. Well done. (9)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 04:18:41 AM
Nice perspective. Too bad the second horse was directly behind the first
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 03:31:38 AM
wow, i really love the sky in this photo, great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 02:33:42 AM
This is amazing... I hope I can take pictures like this someday...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2005 12:03:48 AM
Wow! Love the colour, love the sky.10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2005 10:41:08 PM
Some quite bad cloning in the top-left which really spoils the photo for me. Otherwise quite nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2005 10:21:26 PM
What a WONDERFUL capture! This is one of my favorites for this challenge. They sky is spectacular and the horses are beautiful. Great close shot and a very striking image. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2005 10:20:34 PM
I'm goin' out on a limb here and sayin' Ribbon or at least top five. [disclaimer]That's after seeing ony about 20 images. But this is one out of 20 that says to me 'stop and look'.[/disclaimer]
TC
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2005 10:04:20 PM
Amazing angle, pose (photographer gets credit), threr's motion involved. Tones are top notch. This is certaintly the picture in this challenge that impresses me the most. Good luck !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2005 09:49:02 PM
Nice capture. Love this. The Sepia is great. Detailing in the clouds works well. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2005 09:16:32 PM
Supurb! Great angle of shot, second subject adds interest, facinating sky - sepia in high contrast? Great catch!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2005 08:57:22 PM
Absolutely stunning, the sky is perfect, and you chose an excellent subject. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2005 08:48:07 PM
There are way too many horse photographs for this challenge.
This one is BY FAR the best one out of them though. I love the
angle and the sky behind them. Nice Work - 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2005 08:40:30 PM
Really like the perspective on this one
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2005 08:35:12 PM
great image, i like everything about it
  Photographer found comment helpful.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/04/2025 08:08:30 AM EDT.