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Swimming with Koi
Swimming with Koi
lovethelight


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Asia (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-40D
Lens: Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM
Location: Houston, my pond
Date: Dec 26, 2008
Aperture: f/5
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/200
Galleries: Portraiture, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Dec 26, 2008

 The other day I did a shoot with Tiffany and she shouted "We have to do a shoot in the pond!" I thought she meant on/around the pond, but she definitely meant IN the pond. I thought that would be awesome but it was so cold that I didn't really give it a second thought. Then the Asia challenge came up and I thought that asian girl in a Koi pond might make a good concept for that, so I called her over. This was one of very few shots that really worked with the relationship between her and the fish. The blackness of the water around her is natural, as the water was dark and there wasn't anything in it. I got another shot that I just love, but I thought this one might meet the challenge better.

Outtake:



No koi were hurt and after Tiffany was in the water for a bit they weren't even that scared. We got lucky with the weather because it was in the 70s, but the water was still pretty cold and Tiffany had to take a hot shower and I fed her hot chocolate and then hot tea as she snuggled in a blanket while we looked through the photos. Despite freezing her it was really fun.


In response to one of the comments, I did not post process the darkness in the background. The pond was black and did not reach the bottom to create any detail. I processed the photo making the fish much brighter and it actually looked really awkward because the fish looked like it should have been at the same level as her face, when it was really deeper in the water.

Statistics
Place: 8 out of 106
Avg (all users): 6.5904
Avg (commenters): 8.2000
Avg (participants): 6.5556
Avg (non-participants): 6.6033
Views since voting: 3460
Views during voting: 395
Votes: 166
Comments: 28
Favorites: 8 (view)

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AuthorThread
 01/09/2009 09:46:03 PM
This is Kari Ann, greetings from the Critique Club:

composition: Tiffany is placed very well in the frame, her face falls on the Rule of thirds line wonderfully. The fish is also helping to decrease the awkwardness of the negative space on the left side. The negative space accents the white of her face, in the photo, almost appearing as if she's floating in space.

color: Always a b/w lover, Its simply stunning in Black and white.

contrast: the contrast of her face is beautiful, it accents all her major features, and makes them pop off her porcelain skin. very well controlled too, its not overpowering.

focus: dead on. her eyes are so sharp and deep

depth of field: perfect so that her and the fish appear to be on the same level.

lighting: just the right amount of light, making the bottom seem to run on forever, and her face to light up like an angel. Also enough to reflect off the fish. perfect lighting

other: I thought this would have went a little higher, but the placing is awesome non-the-less. I hope you and Tiffany are both as happy with this shot as I was, i love it. I also enjoyed your transparency shot too, very well done. Keep up the awesome work, and I'll be looking for these Koi fish more often now!
-Kari Ann
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/06/2009 02:49:55 PM
Very nice but not as good as the one you have posted at 1x.com.
 01/05/2009 06:02:37 PM
Congratulations on your finish! It's a great shot.
 01/05/2009 03:06:40 PM
WOW... I love the difference in the light on her face & on the fish.. I think that's what makes this so special... Just love it !!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2009 08:45:37 AM
I think this is my favourite of the "faces" entry; love the concept but I also think I agree with posthumous about the lighting: would love to see more of a blend of face with koi. Kudos to Tiffany.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2009 08:24:25 AM
PostLuminous Award WINNER!
Luminous, lovely, intriguing, great composition, wonderful deep black negative space, original and creative, just superb. This image stands on its own outside of any challenge theme.

(got the only 10 vote I gave in this challenge)

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2009 04:27:49 AM
An amazing shot, I am stunned this is not in first place. Amazing clarity , well done stunning shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2009 12:34:41 AM
Nice to see this was popular after all :) It's a great photo! Congrats! Gave it a 9.
 01/04/2009 09:39:03 PM
When I saw this during voting I was sure it would ribbon, it's so beautiful. Great work, Claire.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2009 08:12:20 PM
wonderful image, and thank God for Tiffany and her willingness to get IN the pool! Congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2009 07:40:17 PM
absolutely stunning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/03/2009 01:25:59 PM
This is exquisite. Art.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2009 10:46:16 AM
Front page material. Beautiful model.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/02/2009 03:04:11 PM
Intriguing. 7.
 01/01/2009 05:11:43 PM
Very nice image that's worth a second, closer look
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2008 08:03:21 PM
miraculous shot. I'm wondering if it was really necessary to darken it so much with the processing. The fish is so dim that the photo seems off-balance to me. I could easily be wrong because I can't see the original, but I think with the right processing this could have been Best In Show. It still gets an 8 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2008 03:02:02 PM
good idea...
 12/31/2008 12:22:27 PM
I'm struggling to score this. Great portrait. The hair rather cuts off the hand which makes it and the fish look a little out of place. But then I like the composition because it's more than just the portrait and the negative space works for me. 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2008 09:45:58 AM
intriguing
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2008 07:12:05 AM
A beautiful effect. I do wish the koi's was caught curved rather than straight.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2008 02:50:11 AM
I'm afraid this won't be very popular, but I love it!
 12/30/2008 08:50:25 PM
striking composition I really like the angles with the koi and her hands plus the exotic eyes - nice job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2008 07:55:41 PM
(!)
 12/30/2008 06:41:54 PM
Excellent lighting, expression, composition! Love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2008 01:34:02 PM
great portrait.
 12/29/2008 05:38:37 AM
Wow, this is wonderfully creative..... I love it. Ribbon winner in my eyes.

She's beautiful, she has wonderful eyes - with a hint of sadness. And the composition is excellent too. The Koi is a tough of genius.

Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2008 03:27:03 AM
Very artful.
 12/29/2008 01:56:04 AM
After my image, of course (LOL) this might be the only interesting shot in the entire Challenge. I wonder how it will do, not being a food shot and all. Cheers!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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