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Ballerina Dreams
1st PlaceBallerina Dreams
njsabs


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Soft Focus IV (Basic Editing)
Collection: Challenges
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS
Date: May 12, 2008
Date Uploaded: May 12, 2008

 Added a soft focus by putting clear chapstick on a piece of plexi-glass and holding it in front of the camera. The vingette is natural from the dark walls and the bright white is sheer white fabric draped in front of a large window. I also draped the sheer fabric on the window bench to give it more of a softer feel. Also, I had my daughter wear her most "fluffy" tutu to give an added softer appearance.


Post Processing:
conversion from RAW
crop
adjust curves
reduce noise
slight gaussian blur
adjust shadows/highlights
slight adjust brightness/shadows
save for web


WhooooHoooo....when I submitted this image I was thinking possibly a low 6 score. I am so happy to be defending my title in the soft focus challenge. This is the same set up as the last challenge, with the same window, and same sheer curtains. It works well for this type of image. Thanks again so much, Jennifer

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 203
Avg (all users): 7.2872
Avg (commenters): 7.9333
Avg (participants): 7.2381
Avg (non-participants): 7.3106
Views since voting: 7745
Views during voting: 387
Votes: 195
Comments: 33
Favorites: 19 (view)

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AuthorThread
 05/21/2008 04:55:34 PM
PostLuminous Award Nominee!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 10:46:43 AM
Congratulations on your win this is just beautiful. The soft focus work wonderful with this type of image. Great work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 09:31:09 AM
Aaaaauughh. . .JENNIFER!!! This is so flawlessly beautiful (of course)! If you would have gotten low 6's like you expected, this site would have totally lost all credibility! I love it when they get it so right! Congratulations!

Message edited by author 2008-05-21 13:32:18.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 07:43:36 AM
Beautifully done! I love seeing stuff like this that was done in camera instead of in photoshop.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 07:13:22 AM
Hey Jenn congrats on blue and representing Camas with this excellent shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 06:54:34 AM
Congrats. This is a beautiful picture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 06:29:52 AM
Very Nice!!! Congrats on the Blue!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 05:23:55 AM
brilliant congrats wonderful image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 05:12:45 AM
GORGEOUS! I hope this is framed and on her bedroom wall by now!
:)

CONGRATS
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 05:07:56 AM
Told you this was a real winner...well done Jen, congrats on the BLUE
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 04:43:49 AM
Congrats on the blue...I gave this a 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 04:12:25 AM
Exquisite shot! Congrats on your very well deserved blue Jennifer!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 04:06:15 AM
This looks so magical. Wonderful work, Jennifer, you are very talented. Congratulations on winning the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 03:02:49 AM
Excellent work you have here. You are definitely the one to gun for the next soft focus challenge. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/21/2008 02:49:35 AM
As soon as you posted your score I knew you had it. Congrats on a wonderful picture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2008 08:03:04 PM
very dream like.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/19/2008 04:24:39 PM
Lovely and luminous, well composed. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/18/2008 06:16:46 PM
Beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/18/2008 11:02:36 AM
Perfect!! This is now my top score!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2008 05:01:46 PM
Beautifully framed. Dreamy indeed.
 05/16/2008 11:24:58 AM
This is a beautiful photograph. Unlike many of the other entries in this challenge, with yours, the soft focus really makes the picture work, it adds to the story it's telling. I love the glow of light around her as well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/16/2008 01:45:16 AM
by far the best here, love it and hope to see it on the front page next weej
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2008 08:39:04 PM
this is a lovely soft focus child study
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2008 07:46:54 AM
one of the best entries I've seen so far, love the blurred effect on the sides
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2008 07:40:35 AM
Great shot but the sides grab my eyes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2008 04:39:27 AM
Wow, one of my favorites in the challenge should be in the top 10. Best of luck
 05/14/2008 06:50:06 PM
The center is wonderfully lit and the amount of soft focus is perfect. However, I am not too thrilled with the left and right edges. It doesn't seem to add anything to the photo to me. In fact, I see it more as a distraction rather than framing. Perhaps it is just too wide and needed more cropping. Then again, this is just one viewers opinion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2008 05:54:56 PM
nice shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2008 05:26:33 PM
Soft and alluring..... sweet..... I like this one......
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2008 04:58:30 AM
Beautiful shot. I am assuming that the blur around the image is either a filter or vaseline on your lens or something. The effect works well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2008 03:41:37 AM
a real winner...good luck 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2008 10:23:26 PM
This is simply beautiful, absolutely perfect for a soft focus challenge. Well done!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2008 09:37:44 PM
Awesome, love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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