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The Captain and his Flying Machine
The Captain and his Flying Machine
wavelength


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study XIII (Advanced Editing IV*)
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Nikon
Location: Lake Shawnee, Topeka, KS
Date: Sep 9, 2006
Aperture: 7
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/30
Galleries: Transportation
Date Uploaded: Sep 11, 2006

 Taken on a planned (failed) GTG at the Huff n Puff baloon rally in topeka. I started fiddling with a b/w conversion, and I really liked the drama it added to the picture. I would have liked to get rid of the other baloon, but that would have been too much removal, I think. I couldn't move to the right because there was someone standing on that side of the basket. (you can see their hand down there).

Anyways, the high contrast was an attempt to add drama, not remove info in the shadows.

Statistics
Place: 90 out of 615
Avg (all users): 6.2114
Avg (commenters): 7.3889
Avg (participants): 6.1515
Avg (non-participants): 6.3953
Views since voting: 924
Views during voting: 236
Votes: 175
Comments: 22
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 10/14/2006 06:18:36 PM
I never saw this one...and really the thumbnail doesn't do it justice...
nor does a quick first impression...and I am a bit surprised this scored this high...and NOT because it isn't wonderful(confused yet?) because it is...it is low key...the real drama is in the bottom of the shot...the lighting makes the whole shot feel like a dangerous adventure, mised with excitement...it makes me want to go ballooning...and I love that you didn't get to clone out that other balloon, because that makes the adventure bigger...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2006 06:49:02 PM
wow, this should have scored much higher. some of the placings on this site really confuse me. this is just awesome
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/09/2006 01:43:09 PM
Dang, this is nice. Great photo. Should have scored higher.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/08/2006 08:54:22 AM
A well deserved 6+.
The technicals: Focus is sharp. Composition is excellent. Conversion to B&W is also very well done. 6+ scores rarely lack in technicals.

The feel: I think the B&W conversion is both gutsy and a good move. We would normally think of going with the brilliant orange of the flame, but it really works here. My wife mentioned it felt like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

The game: I'm not sure how to improve this one. 0 scores of 1-3, that's awesome. I know 90th doesn't feel right, but 6.2 is a great score and this is a great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/07/2006 07:32:23 AM
Very cool! I took a shot similar to this once, but it was on film and in color. Excellent capture! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/06/2006 08:18:39 AM
The heat vapors escaping from the side almost make it look as if this were some sort of balloon rising from beneath the water. I like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/06/2006 03:50:43 AM
this jumped right out at me, what a fantastic shot well done
10 for me
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2006 10:05:18 PM
I think colour would have worked better, picture just feels to black.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2006 05:10:57 PM
very dramatic angle - interesting to see a b/w of what is traditionally a colour subject - and I love it - 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/05/2006 03:32:15 PM
best balloon photo ever. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2006 08:09:25 PM
very nice, contrasty scene here
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2006 05:03:29 PM
I really want to see this in color, I think the balloon would look much better as well as the flame, but what̢۪s up with the sky? It looks brilliant in B&W.
The exposure is wonderful and I feel this was a bold move to submit in B&W, extra points 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2006 12:13:56 PM
nice b&w; so often you see hot air balloons shot in colour, but this works wonderfully!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/04/2006 10:11:35 AM
I like the choice of black and white for this firey image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/02/2006 10:53:02 AM
This would have been a fantastic shot, if not for the blob (the other baloon?) in the lower right corner.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/02/2006 03:32:52 AM
impactful as a strong contrasty b and w...well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/01/2006 02:54:37 PM
Why b/w???
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/01/2006 08:35:24 AM
I relly like the B&W here. Most of the time this is portrayed in color. Great tones and sharpness. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/01/2006 05:14:01 AM
Ah! I don't recall seeing one of these ever presented in B & W! Excellent story you've got here full of drama and adventure...thanks in part to that perfect title...nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/01/2006 05:12:45 AM
usually hot air ballons are represented better with colour. However you've done a good job here in b/w!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/01/2006 03:25:57 AM
good image. perhaps a bit too dark lose details in the shadows.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/01/2006 02:04:03 AM
Overall, just to dark.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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