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Ready For A Shave (Morning #36,167, Shave #29,601)
Ready For A Shave (Morning #36,167, Shave #29,601)
choltmeier


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Morning II (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical(IF)Macro
Location: Minneapolis, MN USA
Date: Aug 2, 2008
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/60
Galleries: Family, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Aug 4, 2008

 These are the hands of my great uncle Warren. He's 99 years old. Assuming he's shaved pretty much every day since he was 18 years old, he's done it 29,601 times. He's an amazing guy, sharp as can be at 99. He was happy to model for me with an old antique straight-edge he had.

Warren's wife just passed away at 91 after 68 years of marriage. They were my subjects for the Intimacy challenge a few months back.

They were an amazing couple. He's devastated after losing his sweetheart of 80+ years, but holding up okay considering.

Post Processing
Camera Raw - white balance, clarity, contrast
Sharpen
Curves
Contrast
Black & White
Save for web

Updated 9/12/08:
A fitting end to an 85 year love story...

Warren passed away on 9/10/08, less than 2 months after Dorothy. He was as healthy as can be when she died. He spent the next month and a half getting all of their affairs in order, passing on prized possessions to family members and "wrapping up" all the details of their lives. He then got pneumonia and his 99 year old body that had been so healthy just couldn't hold up.

I think he was just heartbroken, missed the love of his life and his body decided it best if they were together.

Statistics
Place: 11 out of 155
Avg (all users): 6.5381
Avg (commenters): 8.3529
Avg (participants): 6.3830
Avg (non-participants): 6.5867
Views since voting: 1839
Views during voting: 354
Votes: 197
Comments: 23
Favorites: 4 (view)

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AuthorThread
 10/25/2008 03:35:34 PM
Ohhh Ohhhh THANK YOU for sharing this whole story. I had noticed the beautiful Intimcacy photo first, then was heartbroken to read that he was facing life without her. I guess some love really does become "one", and when you sever half of it, it's like cutting a rose off the vine. I trust they are dancing in Heaven together with all of eternity to look forward to.

Oh, and the photo of his hands is just fabulous!

Boy. . . that'll teach you to win a ribbon and show the world your beautiful portfolio. :) Ok, I'll shut up now.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/18/2008 06:59:33 PM
quite the story...amazing hands...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/15/2008 01:09:21 AM
WONDERFUL Image - so glad to read the story and so sad to read the story - SMILE!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/13/2008 05:40:50 PM
link to Intimacy image //dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=661390

Message edited by author 2008-10-16 06:21:14.
 08/13/2008 12:40:11 PM
Congratulations on a lovely shot.

Please offer my sincerest condolences to Warren and wish him the best of health from me and my sweetheart Sara. It can only be devastating to lose your partner of so many years even at that age. But she'll always be alive in his thoughts and in his heart.

I wish I hadn't been quite so flippant with the comment I left during voting. Obviously I couldn't know what he'd recently been through. I apologise to you and to Warren.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/12/2008 08:18:41 PM
A very nice shot! I was confused by the placement of the razor, though. It looks like he's about to cut himself.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/12/2008 07:41:23 PM
this is weird 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/12/2008 02:09:05 PM
I hope you put details in the description 'cause I look forward to reading the story behind the 99 year old that can still use a straight razor! Great shot, catchy title!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/12/2008 12:43:46 PM
The picture has "something" but I personally don't like it as I have the feeling Golum is committing suicide. sorry
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/10/2008 10:56:50 PM
this is a cool shot. It seems a bit "edited" for "basic editing" to me though. Also, I kind of dont get the shot. It looks like the razor is going to slice his hand. What were you going for here? Wiping off the blade? "Ready for a shave" doesnt exactly help give anything away for the shot either. Don't get me wrong, it's a great photo and I do like it. i just dont truly "get" it. Good luck to you!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/10/2008 04:49:10 PM
Wow That's a lot of shaves!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/09/2008 06:42:05 PM
Love the photo, but I must confess that I would have liked a better title. But a great study. Excellent tone and composition. Good luck. 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/09/2008 04:59:40 AM
Great shot! excellent job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2008 07:18:02 PM
WOW, what an amazingly deep and dark photograph. Great balance of light and shadow. With lots of tone and texture. Without the title I don't think I see Morning but an awesome pic 8. Best of luck. Scott
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2008 08:26:08 AM
Cool image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2008 08:08:25 AM
Very emotive, brings tears to my eyes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/08/2008 06:35:07 AM
It's so freakin' bizarre I can't rate it as anything less then 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/07/2008 05:30:04 PM
Wow! Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/07/2008 05:28:02 PM
Awesome shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/07/2008 12:34:24 PM
Excellent interpretation, didn't even need the title.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/07/2008 12:09:35 PM
it's just as well too as I'd want to have 29,600 practice shaves before I contemplate using that razor ;-)

The detail on his hands is excellent.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/06/2008 08:01:02 AM
strong composition
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/06/2008 02:29:45 AM
awesome tones and image...scary blade, great hands 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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