DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Placid
2nd PlacePlacid
lovethelight


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Backsides (Advanced Editing V)
Camera: Sony DSLR-A100
Lens: Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha
Location: Lake off of highway 53 in cooperstown ny
Date: Jun 15, 2007
Aperture: f/25
ISO: 100
Shutter: .6s
Galleries: Nature, Self Portrait
Date Uploaded: Jun 16, 2007

 © Claire McAdams
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This was sooooo frustrating. I was so excited because I borrowed the lighting system at my work to go out to this spot and use this thing i have that plugs into the cigarette lighter in my car to power the lights....only to find out it doesn't have enough power! AAHHHH! So I had to completely change what I was going to do with this challenge. I was REALLY lucky to get this when the sun was showing because tihs took about 30-45 minutes of experimenting with how to light it and how to compose it before I got my 8 minute window between when the sun came out from behind the clouds and went behind the trees. It was REALLY difficult to get it so where my head was bellow the reflection of the mountain in the water so that i would have the orange hallow around my head....I actually had to balance my tripod on three round rocks to get my camera high enough to get it positioned that way. (this is a self portrait) Then I would CAREFULLY set the timer on the camera so as not to knock my camera into the water....really nerve wracking...and then run to the rock and pose myself. I basically had 5 tries at this and was really lucky to get it. I really like this photo, and its nice to finally do a self portrait again.

Post processing:
I originally shot the picture with a much less contrast and brighter in order to preserve the color and detail in my shirt and to avoid noise. I then when in and upped the contrast where I wanted it and used burning and dodging the sky. I also did selective color to bring out the reds in the sky. The wet spot on my shirt is from falling in the water about 10 minutes before so i used the brush tool to brush it out and i cloned out minor stuff in the water. I also cloned out my foot because I thought only being able to see one of my feet was too unbalanced

If anyone is wondering about the giant yellow burst to the left is, it is not another sun ( my parents thought i photoshopped in an extra sun) i am thinking that the darker part between the two bright spots is where it was raining so you couldnt see through the rain, but it wasnt raining on the left so it gets bright there....


POST CHALLENGE

YAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

:-D

Thanks so much for all the great comments. About the ripples, when I showed my dad this photo it drove him CRAZY that there weren't ripples like he was convinced that I cloned them out, but in reality there are some ripples but the water was only about 4 inches deep there so I guess they dispersed easily. Also, my timer was 10 seconds and so that was just enough time to RUN to the rock and then spend the rest of my time adjusting myself so that gave time for the ripples to go away. It was funny because even though the water was so shallow I still had to balance the tripod on rocks to give me that extra 2-3 inches that completely made the difference with the composition of the photograph because it made the curve of the reflection of the mountain reach above my head, well anyways. I knew I wanted to do a self portrait for a change because my parents were tired of me sending them beautiful pictures of people they don't know and wanted to see a picture of me. I am glad it turned out so well :-D thanks so much everyone!



Here is the original:

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 381
Avg (all users): 7.2617
Avg (commenters): 8.5600
Avg (participants): 7.1860
Avg (non-participants): 7.3651
Views since voting: 25040
Views during voting: 666
Votes: 149
Comments: 91
Favorites: 63 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 01/04/2009 04:06:21 AM
This is absolutely beatiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/17/2008 01:27:12 AM
What a FANTASTIC shot and so much effort to get it. I love the feeling this image gives, the peace, the sun, the water and the composition. You deserve that ribbon.

Message edited by author 2008-07-17 05:27:33.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/30/2008 09:11:21 PM
Not only is this an awesome shot, just purely beautiful, but I read every single word of your trials and tribulations of taking this. You did an amazing job and dare i say deserve probably even better than a red? At age 19, you are already a genius with a camera, very very talented!! You paid so much attention to getting this shot and getting it right, you've impressed me for sure!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/01/2007 03:29:13 PM
Got boots? lol...this photo is hot ! Almost looks like there is two suns in the sky, and its very surreal, almost un-earthlike.

Message edited by author 2007-12-01 20:30:03.
 10/13/2007 03:14:25 PM
Very nice, I like.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/12/2007 05:13:39 AM
amazing, very amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/06/2007 08:13:14 PM
Beautiful Shot!!! Well worth the effort!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/06/2007 07:04:10 PM
stunning absolutly stunning photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2007 05:08:08 PM
stunning beauty!
 07/07/2007 06:43:36 PM
This is an amazing photograph! I love how the sun is shining though the rain. Just an amazing setting with wonderful lighting.
 06/30/2007 08:34:35 AM
Greetings from the Critique Club

Great shot! Well deserving of a ribbon. I love the way the shape of the hills is reflected in the water, then echoed once again in your arms. It makes a nice rhythm that combines with the warm colors of the sunset to create a photo with a nice peaceful feeling.

The cloudy sky is anything but placid! And bright cool colors normally attract attention away from dark warm ones. But for some reason that doesn't happen here; I don't find my gaze distracted by the sky. Interesting. I speculate that two factors combine to make this work: First, the clouds take almost exactly half of the photo, splitting the photo in two. This should normally be avoided, but breaking that "rule" of composition is very effective here. The bottom half is the more interesting, so the eye just ignores the top half. Second, your outfit is bright and cool, in constrast to the rest of the bottom half of the photo. This pulls attention right to you, which is where it should be.

I downloaded the photo and tried a couple of alternative crops just to see what would happen. First, I cropped enough off the top to put you on a "thirds" intersection. That doesn't work well at all; the clouds that remain at the top then grab attention and really ruins the balance. Then I tried cropping off all of the clouds and part of the bottom to balance it out and, again, put you on a thirds intersection. That gives it a horizontal format and makes for a very pleasant and placid image. Too placid! Almost boring.

So I really appreciate the composition you chose here. The bright, dynamic sky provides an exciting contrast to the tranquility of the bottom half, enhancing the overall feeling. The photo gives a message of placid in the face of chaos. Very nice! And though I appreciated this message at first glance (as did most voters), it took some analysis to understand just why this works so well.

Great work technically. The sky is slightly overexposed, but it isn't serious and I don't know if it could even have been avoided. Perfect focus and a good job of postprocessing. The trouble you had getting your camera to the right height really paid off. Wonderful pose. And you got the sun just right. Again, a wonderful photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/28/2007 01:35:33 PM
great work, excellent read in photogs comments :-)

congratz !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/28/2007 04:58:18 AM
Stunning shot!! Congratulations on the Ribbom with this gorgeous capture!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2007 12:42:26 PM
Very nice shot, I would have cropped out more of the sky, but that is just my opinion. Overall, very nice photo! Great Job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2007 04:07:09 AM
Very nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2007 12:56:38 AM
Absolutely beautiful. Almost too perfect, you better frame that picture or put it somewhere around your house, it would be a shame to have it in some hidden folder on your computer.
About the non-matching clothes.. I think it kinda does match with the cloud tones, in a way, but no worries, it's not like it spoils the picture. I personally think if you had chosen another colour for the outfit, your back (which is the main subject) wouldn't have been so eye-catching.
Shame I didn't vote, I would have given it another 10/10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2007 04:04:44 PM
This is a beautiful shot, and excellent work on the post-process. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2007 08:27:41 AM
beautiful shot...VERY nice :D gave it a 10.

gooood luck with the camera i know you're heartbroken :(
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2007 07:40:28 AM
Absolutely beautiful photo! Congrats on your much deserved ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2007 06:54:28 AM
Killer sweet job! I like this very much.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2007 04:21:03 AM
Yay for another Alpha owner! Hoping yours comes right again.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2007 03:28:43 AM
beautiful, well deserved ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 08:05:35 PM
Hi, JClaire!
I really loved your photos.Words would simply spoil what I felt. Wonderful! Marvellous! It's impossible to describe with fidelity the inner feelings they arise in us. WOW! Please, go on rewardind us with many more, will you? Regards,
Luiz
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 07:30:39 PM
Wow, I just saw that this was "your" entry! Great Job my (DNMC) friend!

Nice shot in all aspects and a beautiful model also! ;-)

Good luck with your camera!

Ken
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 03:52:13 PM
Very nice job in setup and execution. You captured a beautiful scene combined with the human form. Congrats on the first of many!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 03:08:06 PM
Congratulations Claire. I have this picked for a ribbon. Amazig colours. This get me interested to the rest of your work and I can see a lot of potential. You are very talented. I can see you winning more ribbons. Clap clap clap....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 01:42:41 PM
Congrats kiddo, have a feeling this won´t be the last ribbon you get here at DPC ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 11:49:10 AM
What a great photo. The light is balanced perfectly. Your shape is excellent. I noticed your right arm being a little lower than your left, but to me that makes this image even stronger. Excellent photo! Congrats BTW.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 09:53:00 AM
Congrats on your ribbon! This is so beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 09:51:03 AM
What a story! Thanks for sharing it. great shot, Congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 09:41:12 AM
Claire, great result - I guess this is some sort of compensation for your camera problems : )
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 09:29:15 AM
yoohooo! congrats Claire, this is such a beautiful photo! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 07:47:06 AM
This really is a very unique and beautiful shot. The contrast between the sky and the water to your very outfit all fits together rather nicely. I love the colors and the compositon is right on. A def. well deserved ribbon, especially after reading all the work that was involved. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 05:08:23 AM
A self portrait? My God this so amazing. Your description takes me there and I feel that pain you had. I was also looking for the ripples. Good luck with your camera.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 05:04:40 AM
I can't believe you accomplished this after reading your description -- the fact that it is a self-portrait amazes me. Congratulations on your well-deserved ribbon. I hope your camera recovers!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 04:46:01 AM
Very striking photograph, looks as though your hard work paid off...congratulations on winning the red ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 03:47:30 AM
Great finish. You did a wonderful capture. Creative and beautiful. Congrats on your 2n'd ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 03:43:34 AM
Stunning shot, nicely composed, thanks for sharing that with us. Congrats on your ribbon, well deserved.
Jack
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 03:39:20 AM
Congrats on your first ribbon, fantastic shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 01:36:57 AM
Congratulations! What a beautiful photo! Reading through how you did it gives me a real appreciation for the work involved. Good job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 01:03:02 AM
What a stunning image and what effort you put into geting it! Congrats on your well deserved ribbon, Claire.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 12:53:08 AM
Wowee Zowee !
I like it.
I even like it more after having read it was a self portrait.
Brilliantly executed.
I wonder what unknowing passers-by would have thought ;-)
Must have been an exciting picture to do.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 12:26:53 AM
Simply Brilliant!!Congratulations!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/25/2007 12:17:01 AM
Claire having read about you trials and tribulations over the weekend how fantastic that you got the consolation of a ribbon for this wonderful shot. I just hope that you are managing to find the inner calm per the image!!!!

Wonderful picture and well deserved ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 11:34:37 PM
Originally posted by claire:
Then I would CAREFULLY set the timer on the camera so as not to knock my camera into the water....really nerve wracking...

Glad you got this one before you actually did end up dropping the camera in the drink. :( You see what happens when you tempt fate too many times. ;-) This is awesome though - congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 10:52:51 PM
Lovely Claire...congrats on your first ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 10:29:46 PM
gorgeous shot, fantastic pose, tremendous effort. No doubt this is a shot you will be proud of for a long time to come. I hope this goes up on your wall.

if i were to change the color of the shirt, I would go with changing the cyan to a nice blue to match the water.

how's this?

Details on pic.

Message edited by author 2007-06-25 02:53:06.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 10:16:41 PM
Bummer about the camera - but big congrats on the ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 09:50:17 PM
great work...congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 09:39:15 PM
Congrats on a stunning image - I like it even more now I know it's a self portrait - Incredible.
Very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:36:22 PM
Fantastic image! Really love the color contrasts of the sky and the image is so well balanced too. Congrats on your ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:33:18 PM
yay! congrats, I like your stuff. Really nice shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:32:13 PM
Beautiful!! I love the story behind this and am SO glad that it paid off for you with your first ribbon and a new personal best! I'm sure it's not the last ribbon we'll see from you. Hopefully it takes a bit of the sting out of your camera falling in the water - you're very brave to do such a thing, but it sure worked nicely!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:31:16 PM
Congratulations on a well deserved ribbon. This is definately a photo worthy of it. Glad you shared the details of how it was done as well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:26:15 PM
Now that's what one can do with Sony's kit lens! Absolutely great!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:23:24 PM
Did you leap from shore to rock? With a 0.6sec shutter it's amazing you didn't splash up enough ripples to disturb your reflection while walking from camera to perch. Very nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:17:40 PM
So is this where you dropped your camera in?

Congrats on a great finish - I knew this was front page material as soon as I saw it...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:15:38 PM
Congrats on your first ribbon and new personal best! It's a great shot, and thanks for your story about it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:09:20 PM
Congrats Claire- for the ribbon. Its a wonderful image and certainly a well deserved ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:05:57 PM
Amazing Picture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:04:58 PM
Grats on a wonderful image and a pretty red ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:04:51 PM
Congrats on your first ribbon...a truly beautiful image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 08:04:07 PM
Lovely colors, a serene backdrop and so, so soothing! Congratulations on your RED!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
06/24/2007 05:52:07 PM
Amazing lighting, composition and tones. Have to give this nothing less than 10. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 04:54:58 PM
magical. The lighting on subject and background all exposed perfectly, the colors are great, you should win from what I see in this contest! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 11:24:11 AM
Excellent if a touch oversaturated.
TC
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 07:36:19 AM
Gorgeous setting, colors and composition. Looks almost like two suns!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/24/2007 07:19:28 AM
Very beautiful. Judi?
 06/23/2007 06:50:01 PM
Wow! Nice shot! The colors are stunning and the composition is awesome. 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/23/2007 05:39:43 PM
What an amazing backdrop! Great composition and colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/23/2007 06:55:53 AM
Excellent picture! Creative, good technically, meets challenge and has the wow factor. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/22/2007 05:55:42 PM
nice
 06/22/2007 10:18:53 AM
WOW! Beautiful! Love the colors and composition!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/21/2007 03:39:35 PM
The color, lighting and composition of this are just amazing. It is almost like her meditation is chasing off the clouds and bringing out the beautiful sunset.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/21/2007 06:05:17 AM
stunning. The 1st 10
 06/21/2007 05:29:18 AM
Wow really like this
 06/21/2007 04:41:54 AM
excellent shot,love the colours
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2007 09:12:21 PM
WOW! Gorgeous colors, compostion and model. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2007 07:42:56 PM
winner of the challenge rightttt here. if not then ill be seriously shocked and disappointed! gorgeous lighting, i hope you explain the editing or setup on this one, its trully breathtaking!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2007 12:12:26 PM
Nice and serene. I really like it. The processing is beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/20/2007 10:46:07 AM
She is very lucky
 06/19/2007 05:03:33 PM
I would love to capture a photo like this. Great colors. Really a neat idea.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/19/2007 11:15:07 AM
Good composition and I like the lights/colors in this
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/18/2007 06:46:12 PM
Simply beautiful! Gorgeous colors & Composition! *10*
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/18/2007 05:21:28 PM
excellent sky capture here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/18/2007 11:32:32 AM
Excellent reflection in the water, and coloring.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/18/2007 07:30:02 AM
gorgeous scene /8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/18/2007 05:34:36 AM
Wonderful shot.. Should see this on the frontpage.

10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/18/2007 01:07:10 AM
awsome landscape, shame ist not in landscape mode, nice placement of the model as well, good luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/17/2007 11:09:18 PM
Excellent control of light
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/17/2007 08:55:11 PM
wow! breathtaking sky and image 9
  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: 04/06/2025 03:19:34 AM EDT.