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Refuge from the Storm
3rd PlaceRefuge from the Storm
timfythetoo


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Fireworks V (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
Date: Jul 4, 2011
Date Uploaded: Jul 4, 2011

 22 votes in and I am sitting on a 7.6+. Didn't see that coming.

As for originality, it is not. I saw a guy do a very similar picture over on Flickr. He used two images. His setup had a bounce umbrella on a stand and his flash was hidden by himself crouched around the brolly. That shot had him lit up from the top as the light bounced down on top of him. With the brolly on the stand he was able to take a second shot and do the sparklers to give the rain and then he blended them together adding more sparkle streams to fill in his empty spots. He posted up a tutorial on it (though I just explained it right there).

When this challenge came up we had already gotten past both of our main fireworks sessions here in town (fri and sat nights). And even if we hadn't I probably wouldn't have gone down to shoot the fireworks. Did that one year and it was fun but not fun enough to go again and focus on shooting for a challenge to get a shot that ultimately I didn't really care about. But remembered this idea and went ahead to figure out how to do it on my own in our studio as the kids and Aimee are in bed by the time it gets that dark out.

Got the studio light free, plugged up all the gaps in the windows so that the exposure wouldnt be tainted with extraneous light. Started with Aidan (both of my kids are vicious fidgeters and figured he would be able to stay put the longest). Did a couple of test shots to get him lit properly - which is basically just a handheld 430ex popped manually bouncing off the floor in front to the right. Once that was done I lit a candle and hid that behind the backdrop to prevent light seepage and used it to light the sparkler. Once the sparkler was lit I just walked behind waving it up and down to make the rain effect. I was dressed all in black so you can;t see me in the exposure. After the first sparkler I realized I needed something to put it out with otherwise I had a sparkler going off long after I made my pass. The second sparkler I didn't make a full pass before the shutter closed (had to use a 30 second speed as my plunger is broken). Third sparkler I adjusted where it was bouncing off the umbrella as the first two were too far in back and the bounce was hidden by the brolly. Fourth sparkler did pretty good. Then Rowan wanted her turn. I was sweating pretty bad and really wanted to be done but i went ahead and did two shots with her. I angled the sparkle to give a bit more dynamic to the rain and she gave me two really good poses. Aidans were kind of silly but hers were more contemplative. They both did awesome in not moving as I figured once the sparkler was coming through they would be flinching but neither moved. The only issues with any of the images were mine and not getting a good rain pattern.

This was the last shot of the 6 and was my fave. Editing was pretty straightforward. Couldnt have done it in basic but nothing serious done in advanced. Aimee preferred it in b&w and gave me the title. My title was Cloudy with a Chance of Sparkles - which would have been good for Aidan's expressions. Aimee's title suited Rowan much better.

I have had a desire to do a family portrait of the same idea - Aidan under one brolly, rowan under one and then me and Aimee under one - multiple shots all fused together for one big panorama. Right now though that is too much work to figure out, plan and execute. So I went for this for this challenge. Expected it to score well - mid 6's. But it seems it will do a bit better than that. After voting I see that it certainly stands out.

Look out Oliver. I am coming to get ya! but probably not really. ;)

PC - 7.55 and only the yellow. But man those other two ribbon shots were stellar. Glad to be hanging with them with a weird take on the challenge. Thank you for the votes and comments.

Couple of unedited outtakes

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 62
Avg (all users): 7.5591
Avg (commenters): 8.9375
Avg (participants): 7.1714
Avg (non-participants): 7.7065
Views since voting: 7032
Views during voting: 447
Votes: 127
Comments: 45
Favorites: 6 (view)

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AuthorThread
 07/16/2011 12:41:43 PM
Great story and great shot, Tim :-) Sorry I'm late with my comment. I gave this a 9, and figured it'd be ribboning for sure. WTG!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/15/2011 10:29:08 AM
Whimsical, charming, endearing...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2011 02:39:47 AM
Cool shot Tim.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2011 01:36:54 AM
Congrats, a great super smashin' image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2011 01:04:04 AM
Congrats on your 3rd and high scoring, Timfy, great shot and definitely the most creative entry.

Timfy: 8 - Ollie: 21
Take the chance to catch up while I still feel uninspired :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 04:52:00 PM
Third place with a 7.55 - YIKES !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 03:23:45 PM
Great to see your fabulous work again. Congrats on the ribbon! Nicely played.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 01:34:40 PM
I don't care if this isn't an original, it's still my favorite.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 10:16:15 AM
Well done with thinking outside the box and the execution. This year was my first attempt at photographing fireworks, so I can really appreciate this image with the creativity.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 08:41:53 AM
Fabulous, so fabulous I am going to try to do it myself with the kids. Well done mate!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 06:46:23 AM
Amazing! Amazing work and an amazing result! Your kids are such pros at posing. I think they could pull anything off, but they outdid themselves on this one! WOW!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 06:04:09 AM
Great idea and perfect execution, as usual. Congrats on the ribbon !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 05:15:45 AM
Rowan - such a pretty girl. I'd know her anywhere. Great stuff, Tim.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 04:24:34 AM
What an out-of-box thinking to meet the challenge! Awesome title too. Congrats Tim!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 12:15:38 AM
The Too man. Back in the game. Kickin some butt. :) Glad to see you on the front page again, Tim.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 12:14:25 AM
Shocked this is only yellow. Excellent image. Well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/13/2011 12:01:45 AM
Very nice mate
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2011 10:36:55 PM
Congrats Tim, glad it ribboned.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2011 10:07:17 PM
Congratulations! Great shot, and quite different from the rest.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2011 09:22:07 PM
Timmy, this is fabulous and very creative! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2011 08:51:11 PM
My only 10 in the challenge, Tim. I love this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2011 08:24:14 PM
Love the story! Post the Aidan one, too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2011 08:12:41 PM
Very nice! congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/12/2011 08:11:51 PM
Wonderful concept and execution, Tim. Another special family shot to hold onto.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/11/2011 12:50:57 PM
Good one, Tim. This should do well. (Unless people are voting specifically on public fireworks displays ;-P)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/11/2011 07:19:46 AM
That's thinking outside the box. Great image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/11/2011 07:11:56 AM
You did it again. :) Fabulous.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/11/2011 05:59:25 AM
nice idea
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/10/2011 05:27:37 AM
Blue ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/09/2011 05:57:14 AM
or the winner could be this one, well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/08/2011 10:52:43 PM
beautiful photography!! she is very sweet and pretty. Excellent idea, and great composition..Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/08/2011 03:36:32 PM
Brilliant idea, stands out from others 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/07/2011 06:26:06 PM
Beautifully set up, lovely lighting and great idea. This is my pick of the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/07/2011 01:19:41 PM
This is AWESOME!!! did u really shoot fireworks over her? So origional and well done!! Ribbon comming this way!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/07/2011 08:59:57 AM
Should be near the top in my eyes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/07/2011 08:04:46 AM
Fabulous entry. I don't know if it will be considered a "fireworks" image, but it is exceptional.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/07/2011 04:50:44 AM
very interesting take
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2011 05:14:57 PM
Oh golly! Magnificent! Actually, I think this is almost perfect. (the light reflections of the umbrella are my only nitpick)





I may or may not be voting, so please do not equate my comment with any score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2011 04:26:16 PM
Edited to a point that no longer makes me think of fireworks.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2011 04:24:54 PM
Love it. Never would have thought of something like this. Good job. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2011 10:31:11 AM
Stunning image. Best in challenge.10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2011 09:50:15 AM
nice idea - 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2011 09:20:31 AM
shows that out of the box thinking and skillful creativity that will get you a medal. nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/05/2011 11:55:49 PM
Wow, this is my fave by far, such a wonderful composition, and so original, 10. See you on the front page.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/05/2011 09:18:12 PM
Looks like Tim is outside the box yet again, well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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