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Currency of Love and War
3rd PlaceCurrency of Love and War
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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Periodic Table (Advanced Editing VII*)
Collection: Favorites - Ribbons
Camera: Canon EOS-40D
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS
Location: Easton, CT
Date: Nov 9, 2008
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/250
Date Uploaded: Nov 9, 2008

 I haven't submitted many entries this year, but when I saw there were less than 30 entries on deadline day, I figured I'd think up a quickie (I didn't know about the server problem yet). I started setting up the lights about 90 minutes before the deadline. Nothing like a little pressure. ;-)

It's a simple shot: the stones are actually Herkimer diamonds (natural quartz crystals), and those are my hands covered in dirt and face paint. I would have used larger "diamonds," but quartz crystals are six-sided and real diamonds are octahedral. This was the biggest one I had that I could pass off as diamond shaped from a certain angle.

A twist of irony... here I am shooting an image that evokes a miner supposedly scratching in the dirt to eke out a living, and the paint is stinging my hand because I cut my fingers on lobster shells at lunch. whistles...

Setup: I had softbox strip lights on either side and held my arms around the tripod while looking down through the viewfinder for composition. My wife tripped the shutter with a wired remote. Processing– convert from RAW, Levels, USM, Channel Mixer and slight tinting for B&W, Curves for contrast, Noise Ninja, added vignette and assorted dodge & burn.

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 102
Avg (all users): 6.8679
Avg (commenters): 8.5294
Avg (participants): 6.4889
Avg (non-participants): 7.0175
Views since voting: 6571
Views during voting: 356
Votes: 159
Comments: 34
Favorites: 9 (view)

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AuthorThread
 11/23/2008 05:35:02 AM
Pretty much what Judy said, only add that I LOVE the tones achieved here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2008 05:02:27 AM
I think what I like most about this is the almost metallic feel to the entire tonal range. Intense texture and detail. Wonderful. The message is loud and clear as well. This would work well in a nat'l campaign by a non-profit organization for peace. I can see it as a full page ad in a magazine. Well done and congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/21/2008 04:32:10 AM
great sharpness, light and detail! good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/19/2008 06:54:28 AM
Beautiful shot. Love the harshness of skin against the jewels.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/18/2008 06:55:12 AM
Wonderful shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/18/2008 04:55:18 AM
See what happens? I take most of the year off and now Nobody likes my photos. *sniff*
 11/18/2008 03:53:36 AM
This from the person who gave us the Cat in the Hat and Snow White and the Apple?

Very well done. Love the DOF and lighting. The irony of the title is deep.

Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/18/2008 03:20:19 AM
Well done. Congrats on your third place finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/18/2008 02:44:52 AM
Hey Shannon, congrats on another ribbon...
I wondered when I'd see a Herkimer Diamond in one of your shots! Although your hands didn't get THAT dirty! heheheheh

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/17/2008 10:21:33 PM
Superb shot! Congrats Shannon .... it's so good seeing you back on the front page again!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/17/2008 09:44:11 PM
Good to see you back on the front page! Excellent work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/17/2008 08:36:04 PM
Excellent work, beautiful light.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/17/2008 08:11:17 PM
Great image - love the high contrast.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/17/2008 07:59:50 PM
i had this picked for the blue. gorgeous tones! congrats on the ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/17/2008 07:46:08 PM
I love this. Great DOF, those gritty fingers, the b/w.... Wonderful shot! Congrats on the ribbon, Shannon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/17/2008 12:27:51 PM
This is my favorite.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/16/2008 06:28:47 PM
10. love the shot and the textures
the use of DOF and composition is truly what makes this impressive.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/16/2008 04:12:54 PM
extremely well done - love the palm of the other hand in the background
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/16/2008 06:19:50 AM
Really creative way to shoot this subject! Love the dust in the whorls of his fingerprints
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/15/2008 04:19:48 PM
Nice title. It suits this gritty depiction of an often glorified gem. Well composed, well executed and thought provoking.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/14/2008 03:52:59 PM
Perfect exposure and focus!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2008 09:45:34 PM
This is my favorite in the challenge. I love the detail in the fingers and the blurry background. This image just stood out for me and had emotional impact!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2008 11:32:50 AM
perfect conversion, perfect composition, I like everything about this picture. It makes me explore and stay and look around.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/13/2008 07:12:46 AM
Wow! What a powerful commentary and brilliant image. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/12/2008 12:00:47 PM
So very true! Great texture on the hands and a nice composition. The shallow DOF looks good to me.

But I really wish that the finger sticking out under the thumb, towards the bottom of the picture wasn't there. It kind of sticks out like sore thumb - although it's not a thumb :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/12/2008 07:47:05 AM
lovely idea. great photo, dof is perfect-9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/11/2008 02:28:00 PM
Great image, I love the DOF and the detail.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/11/2008 01:14:27 PM
Fantastic texture and sharpness of detail, great tight-in composition, nice use of shallow DOF, lovely contrasty black and white. ALL GOOD!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/11/2008 11:47:09 AM
Love the detail to bring out the texture of the hands!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/11/2008 07:42:20 AM
Excellent image and title, perfect focus and DOF. The first image I look at and already the winner :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/11/2008 07:20:21 AM
Not only is your image very emotional, but you are sending a very strong message. 10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/11/2008 03:40:02 AM
Beautiful photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/10/2008 07:17:36 PM
Great image, love the composition and tone. Too many sharpening artifacts for my taste. Still, probably top 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/10/2008 07:11:34 PM
fantastic image...love the conversion...8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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