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Wretched Excess
Wretched Excess
RKT


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Affluence (Basic Editing III)
Collection: 2005
Camera: Canon PowerShot S45
Location: Against Henry ( He volunteered the fur)
Date: Aug 1, 2005
Aperture: 2.8
ISO: 50
Shutter: 1/60
Galleries: Fashion, Portraiture
Date Uploaded: Aug 2, 2005

 Reworked version can be seen here:

//www.pbase.com/rkt/image/53348838

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AWESOME! Lucky 13...how appropriate.

Dirty…rotten…stinking…filthy rich…


{{{soapbox}}}

The "fur" in this picture was my cat Herny...alive and well.

I really cannot think of anything more disgusting than wearing fur…I can’t imagine wanting to rip the skin from some little creature to satisfy my own vanity…I actually feel ill thinking about it. I don’t buy the “fur is warm” argument either…so are a lot of other things that were never alive at one point…I don’t understand how someone can wear fur and not feel guilt…it’s mind boggling really. Fur is murder…I’m not impressed…your cruelty does not dazzle me…you are wretched.

On the word “bling”…I despise this word…let me explain why…

There was a girl I used to work with…her boyfriend was not kind to her…at first it was the verbal abuse, then eventually he started hitting her. We begged her to leave, but as they say…you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make them drink. She would cry and carry on at work about it, eventually almost everyone quit listening to her…even her own family.

I will never forget when she came to me one day…freshly bruised. I of course asked about her well being, and her new little boy… but she wanted to show me her new diamond encrusted heart pendant…and said:

“Well…he was really sorry this time…see…he finally got me some decent bling.”

I was speechless…blood for bling…another soul sold.

Greed is not good…

It is cruel, hollow and most of all…unholy.

{{{ end of soapbox }}}

About the processing: Image was cropped, minor levels adjustment for contrast and to add grit and harshness, slight desaturation and color adjustments to make skin look “dead” or at least portray bad circulation, resized, borders added, USM and save for web.


Statistics
Place: 13 out of 232
Avg (all users): 5.9675
Avg (commenters): 6.7200
Avg (participants): 5.7957
Avg (non-participants): 6.0419
Views since voting: 1873
Views during voting: 498
Votes: 308
Comments: 33
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
 06/02/2007 06:24:01 AM
i love your opins and the picture is amazing as well, great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/23/2006 09:57:05 AM
Wow... nice photo. I like your story behind it too. I also like the fact that your kitty is still living and no other fur was used in the making of your image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/10/2006 12:48:20 AM
it seems I have failed thus far to mention how much I like this picture - you've managed to create something both dark and delicate, which I find very hard to do.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/09/2006 12:29:23 PM
well done on this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/14/2005 04:59:15 AM
I expected this is ribbon. I think that it is so creative and in a class all on its own. I love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/13/2005 08:23:16 PM
I knew this was you as soon as I saw it. It portrays exactly what you wanted it to. Your explanation deepens the meaning of the image to the point where it moves from a photographic image to a powerful conceptual piece of art.

Message edited by author 2005-08-14 00:52:04.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/09/2005 05:49:14 PM
You nailed this! Even without the title, the sickening excess of consumerism comes through loud & clear. One can't help but cringe while looking at it. The low-key treatment makes the fur difficult to detect, but even so, you've done an excellent job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/09/2005 05:37:41 PM
What a collection!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/09/2005 10:32:42 AM
Outstand image. Did you desaturate or just light it very well?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/09/2005 09:27:37 AM
Like it but the hairs a bit distracting, it is like she has hairy fingers! Maybe the chin would have been better?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2005 11:29:41 AM
Kinda creepy...but I get the message Very good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/07/2005 05:39:57 PM
Wow the desat works very well.. I smell a rat...or ribbon :) HOw'd you do it
(note to self: "Wretched Excess"- ring picture)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/07/2005 01:36:13 PM
Nicely done. he black nail polish is a great touch good job on keeping the reflections off the rings
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/07/2005 01:31:53 PM
i really like it. brings the phrase "gold digger" into the material prespective, lol. Great job~!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/06/2005 09:27:13 PM
not sure about the fur (coat?) it kind of looks like she is running her hand through a mans hair, and the pinky is kind of lost. Maybe with a little more light or a different colour fur (because im sure you have a whole closet worth haha) Other than that though, great depiction of "material wealth". I enjoy the desaturation.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/06/2005 07:36:49 PM
Bling, bling!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/06/2005 07:22:30 AM
Good idea, but I don't care for the hair too much.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 11:09:07 PM
I like this but the overall colouring doesn't suit my taste! Something not quite right! Good effort though!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 07:35:48 PM
BEST I HAVE SEEN SO FAR-10!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 06:42:18 PM
That's a lot of rocks. Great idea. The diamonds seem a little blown-out
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 02:05:24 PM
Might be too over-the-top-exaggerated. decent photo though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 12:57:49 PM
wow, are those all real?! are you a jeweler or just very luck?! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 12:52:28 PM
mmm this is affluence alright. Good use of black and white and I love the simplicity of theshot. Good luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 09:24:06 AM
Creative! Skin tone looks a little too ashy IMO. All she needs are bright red fingernails!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 09:23:47 AM
Good job, dark and IMHO a very cool pic. Hope it dose well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 07:57:19 AM
LOVE the title! And the dark mood you've got going on, really works. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 05:46:33 AM
a little on the dark side, doesnt give the diamonds a chance to sparkle.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 05:24:20 AM
The title alone won it for me. The dark editing supports it. Great! 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2005 05:17:22 AM
I like the textures, the b/w and the general feel of the photo. Very sharp, too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2005 11:21:37 PM
i love this picture. i like the contrast of the dark hair/nail polish and the bling of the diamonds. great lighting and detail!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2005 09:13:39 PM
the bling looks like glass...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2005 09:13:16 PM
Your title says it all! Great image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2005 08:17:59 PM
Interesting filter. Unfortunately the "bling" is a bit blown, which isn't uncommon when shooting diamonds. The stones are a bit blurred, but the fingers and detail of them are quite focused.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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