DSS 54 - Cliche

WhatSheSaw

So my models were not cooperating, but somehow we muddled through.

#1 Faster Than Glacial


#2 By a Whisker


#3 Going Postal


#4 Going Postal Again


Reshoots are possible. I have not released my models yet.

In preparing for this challenge, I have been reading up on the care and feeding of snails. There are actually people that keep them as pets. There are some people who race them. They can live up to 30 years in captivity. Some African land species can get up to 2 pounds. There are sea snails that can weigh up to 40 pounds. All land snails are hermaphrodites. They have both eggs and sperm and exchange sperm. Some of them can self fertilize. My models are garden snails (Cepaea nemoralis).

DsrtVW

So cool, I really like the comp in 2, but number 1 has the finish visible. I like your models. Very beautiful. Of the postal I like the B&W though the letters do not come to mind right away like the mailbox. Mailbox comp does not hold my attention.

ilbcnu

These are really fun! 1 and 3 for me - if i could change anything it would be different lighting on the snails in 1 ( snail on right kind of gets lost) and in 3 maybe move snail down a little and add a little fill.
Really think this tops in creativity and use of available models!!

oldtown_dreamer

#1 and 4 for me.

somehow the stray rays of light in #3 pull my eye away from the snail (by the way, snails freak me out whenever i encounter them in real life)

Flyinggina

These have made my day and it is only just started!!

Wonderful ideas and fab use of your models. I don't think you are quite there yet, but you will get there.

Re titles, I like the first and "going postal" the best.

All I can say is WOW. So talented you are! bow

Virginia

kdotaylor

I like #1 because you can see the finish line....great shot! Creepy models.

SeascapeS

Very different and fun! I like two the best.

WhatSheSaw

Thanks for the comments, DsrtVW, ilbcnu, oldtown_dreamer, Flyinggina, kdotaylor, and SeascapeS!

I had another session this morning and will try again this afternoon. My models are now resting peacefully in their temporary home.

oldtown_dreamer and kdotaylor, I have come to appreciate snails. They are really gentle and they never complain. They move much faster than I expected. By the time I get the 3rd one in position, I have to reposition the 1st. And it is difficult to convince them that they need to head TOWARD the finish line. In my morning session, one of the cats got interested in them. I had to chase her off.

Virgina, thanks for the encouragement! I also feel that I still have some work to do.

WhatSheSaw

More of the Faster Than Glacial variety. These are from the morning shoot. I waited too long this evening and the light wasn't very good. I'll give it one more shot tomorrow morning and then let my models go estivate.

So what do you think? Are these better?

#5


#6


#7



#8



#9

heatherfeather

Those are the coolest snails I have ever seen! Love #1 best of all.

Don't like your ps vignettes on the last ones... too fakey.

AndMan

heatherfeather wrote: »

Those are the coolest snails I have ever seen! Love #1 best of all.

Don't like your ps vignettes on the last ones... too fakey.

kdotaylor

I also still like #1 the best

WhatSheSaw

heatherfeather wrote: »

Don't like your ps vignettes on the last ones... too fakey.

That vignette was condensation inside the lens.

Thanks for the feedback. I wasn't sure how it would be received.

dlscott56

I really like the black and white one in your original post. Makes me think of 'snail mail'. I think a better positioning of the letter could make it even better. Possibly with the stamp and some bogus addressing in site. They're all very nice though. Great job!

red_zone

I like it! #1 and 2 for me. the vignettes are a little extreme... although the concept could be good if you expand that circle a little and use a larger radius.

oh, is snail racing more fun than watching paint dry???

WhatSheSaw

Thanks for the comments, Andman, kdotayor, dlscott56, and red_zone!

I had another session this morning with the Postal concept.

#10


#11


#12


#13


#14



I also had another Glacial session this morning. I'll get those up in a bit.

WhatSheSaw

So here are the latest on the glacial theme. I think I like the cleanness of the most recent postal ones better. What do y'all think?

#15



#16


#17

ilbcnu

#12 for me. I wish I had snails around to try some of these - really fun and interesting!!

Flyinggina

Wonderful!!

#12 for me too.

Virginia

WhatSheSaw

ilbcnu wrote: »

#12 for me. I wish I had snails around to try some of these - really fun and interesting!!

Thanks for the comment!

I first saw my models while I was walking the dog. When I went back later, I couldn't find them. So I did some research on where and when to look. Early morning is best. And after a rain. They like damp weather. So if you live in a dry climate, you may be out of luck. They will estivate (like hibernation) during dry seasons.

WhatSheSaw

Flyinggina wrote: »

Wonderful!!

#12 for me too.

Virginia

Thanks, Virginia! He looks like he's reading in that one.

dnie

+1 for #12!!

The detail is great and I love the shadow!

oldtown_dreamer

i like the new postal series.

your subjects are cuter looking than the ones in my garden, their shells are much more colorful. (mine, well, i really can't describe them in detail, since i tend to give a high pitched squeel and then bolt as fast as possible as soon as i see one)

is one of them trying to get err... intimate... with another one in #16? or is it just trying to run it out of the road?

dlscott56

+1 for #12.

WhatSheSaw

oldtown_dreamer wrote: »

i like the new postal series.

your subjects are cuter looking than the ones in my garden, their shells are much more colorful. (mine, well, i really can't describe them in detail, since i tend to give a high pitched squeel and then bolt as fast as possible as soon as i see one)

is one of them trying to get err... intimate... with another one in #16? or is it just trying to run it out of the road?

Not intimate. Just hyperfocused ongoing where he wants to.

Take a picture of one of yours before you bolt. They are really quite harmless.

WhatSheSaw

Thanks, dnie and dlscott56, for the confirmation!