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#78 - Light at the end of my hand

CambysesCambyses Registered Users Posts: 141 Major grins
edited June 12, 2011 in The Dgrin Challenges
Well, that is not exactly the title I will use (I'll come up with a better title later) but it does convey one of the ideas I am playing with for this challenge:

DSC2608Edited2-M.jpg

This is straight out of camera with some basic crop/color correction for now. I think it does still need a bit of work but I thought I should share it and hopefully get some early feedback. What do you think about this? Does it fit the theme? Any suggestions on improving it? Would welcome any c&c. Thanks a lot...

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    travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    Incredible!!!
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
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    CHANDLERJACHANDLERJA Registered Users Posts: 400 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    I have to say that's pretty damn good :)
    The only comment I would have is there is to me there is something not right about the face light compared to the arm light. Face seems a little to bright.

    Great shot!
    Jeromy
    http://snaptx.smugmug.com/
    Light is everything in life and photography.
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    MammaPaparazzaMammaPaparazza Registered Users Posts: 221 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    Very Vishnu like!
    Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively. - Dalai Lama XIV
    It is vain to do with more what can be done with less. - William of Occam (c. 1288-1348)
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    rbustraenrbustraen Registered Users Posts: 127 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    Great image and I have to agree with Chandlerja, and maybe try and tone down the center / face to match the rest of the mood of the image?
    - Randy

    Photo Of The Day & My SmugMug Gallery
    Canon 7D and not enough L glass....
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    sapphire73sapphire73 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 1,948 moderator
    edited June 8, 2011
    I agree that this a great idea and a cool shot. It does have me wondering what the source of the light on the face is and what happens if candlelight is the only illumination? No need to answer, just sharing what comes to my mind when looking at this. One more question: Would using candles that are a lighter color (white or cream) or a warmer color (orange or red) improve this or is there a reason why green is used here? Looks like you are having fun with this challenge!

    My SmugMug Galleries

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    MammaPaparazzaMammaPaparazza Registered Users Posts: 221 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    sapphire73 wrote: »
    I agree that this a great idea and a cool shot. It does have me wondering what the source of the light on the face is and what happens if candlelight is the only illumination? No need to answer, just sharing what comes to my mind when looking at this. One more question: Would using candles that are a lighter color (white or cream) or a warmer color (orange or red) improve this or is there a reason why green is used here? Looks like you are having fun with this challenge!

    I just thought it was a mixture of the available light and the reflections off the light of the fire on the candle...headscratch.gif
    Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively. - Dalai Lama XIV
    It is vain to do with more what can be done with less. - William of Occam (c. 1288-1348)
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    CambysesCambyses Registered Users Posts: 141 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    Thanks everyone for the comments... The reason my face is brighter than my arms is just because it has gotten a lot more light. I have taken this shot simply using the repeating flash mode, and as such, my face has gotten 10 times more flash power than each individual pair of arms during the exposure time. As I'd indicated, I have not done much post-processing yet. But, based on your advice, I'll tone down the light on my face.

    Thanks...
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    CambysesCambyses Registered Users Posts: 141 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    sapphire73 wrote: »
    Would using candles that are a lighter color (white or cream) or a warmer color (orange or red) improve this or is there a reason why green is used here? Looks like you are having fun with this challenge!

    Yes, if I get some time, I do plan to try with a different color too. Also, just for this challenge, I placed an order for a fabric steamer so that I can hopefully get rid of some of the wrinkles in our muslin backdrop! It is a bit hard and time-consuming for me to try and fix the background for this shot in post processing.
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    sapphire73sapphire73 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 1,948 moderator
    edited June 8, 2011
    Cambyses wrote: »
    Yes, if I get some time, I do plan to try with a different color too. Also, just for this challenge, I placed an order for a fabric steamer so that I can hopefully get rid of some of the wrinkles in our muslin backdrop! It is a bit hard and time-consuming for me to try and fix the background for this shot in post processing.

    Look forward to seeing what you come up with! I figured you had lots of lighting options based on your shot of the bottles, and that's partly why I was curious (about the lighting). I know next to nothing about strobes, etc. but am vaguely aware of the possibilities because of my youngest son's photography. He liked your shot of the bottles. :D

    My SmugMug Galleries

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    WhatSheSawWhatSheSaw Registered Users Posts: 2,221 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    Cool!

    It is slightly unsymmetrical. If you reshoot, try placing a mirror on the other side of the camera so you can see that your hands are at the same level.
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    CambysesCambyses Registered Users Posts: 141 Major grins
    edited June 8, 2011
    WhatSheSaw wrote: »
    Cool!

    It is slightly unsymmetrical. If you reshoot, try placing a mirror on the other side of the camera so you can see that your hands are at the same level.

    Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I'm afraid it will be a bit difficult for me for multiple reasons: (a) we don't have a big enough portable mirror, and I rather not order yet another household item just for this challenge :D (b) I don't have enough space behind the camera in the room I am using (c) For this shot I need minimal ambient light, and thus my exposure time would have to be rather short during which it would be hard for me to coordinate my arms while rotating them headscratch.gif
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    MammaPaparazzaMammaPaparazza Registered Users Posts: 221 Major grins
    edited June 9, 2011
    I think its fine the way it is...if you wanted to darken ur face a little could you do it in PS? I use some actions that allow you to darken certain spots...thank God for actions or I'd be lost...lol
    Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively. - Dalai Lama XIV
    It is vain to do with more what can be done with less. - William of Occam (c. 1288-1348)
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    WhatSheSawWhatSheSaw Registered Users Posts: 2,221 Major grins
    edited June 9, 2011
    Cambyses wrote: »
    Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I'm afraid it will be a bit difficult for me for multiple reasons: (a) we don't have a big enough portable mirror, and I rather not order yet another household item just for this challenge :D (b) I don't have enough space behind the camera in the room I am using (c) For this shot I need minimal ambient light, and thus my exposure time would have to be rather short during which it would be hard for me to coordinate my arms while rotating them headscratch.gif

    Just a suggestion. :D It works as is. You might also try playing with the lighting - make it more dramtic. I really like it!
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    CambysesCambyses Registered Users Posts: 141 Major grins
    edited June 10, 2011
    Ok, here is the first one with the face toned down a bit, and a couple more attempts while replacing the candle with small LED lights... Would appreciate feedback as to which one you think I should submit.

    1.
    <a href="http://cambyses.smugmug.com/ChallengesandAssignments/Kambiz/Light-at-the-End/17445852_MZtLCR#1327510631_H5dzSN2-A-LB&quot; title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://cambyses.smugmug.com/ChallengesandAssignments/Kambiz/Light-at-the-End/i-H5dzSN2/2/M/DSC2608Edited2-M.jpg&quot; title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a>

    2.
    DSC2750Edited-M.jpg

    3.
    DSC2762Edited-M.jpg
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    CHANDLERJACHANDLERJA Registered Users Posts: 400 Major grins
    edited June 10, 2011
    I like the first one myself. I would just darken up the neck like you did the face. Other than that I think its great!
    thumb.gif
    Jeromy
    http://snaptx.smugmug.com/
    Light is everything in life and photography.
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    MammaPaparazzaMammaPaparazza Registered Users Posts: 221 Major grins
    edited June 10, 2011
    HA! they are all great...dunno, I'm a girl so I like 3 now :)
    lol
    I like how I can see your hands still and it looks like you are handing someone a heart...very cool
    Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively. - Dalai Lama XIV
    It is vain to do with more what can be done with less. - William of Occam (c. 1288-1348)
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    sweetharmonysweetharmony Registered Users Posts: 405 Major grins
    edited June 10, 2011
    I think this second #1 is greatly improved over the first one.....I think this is a fantastic idea! I wonder if you can digitally "paint" a bit of black over the front of your jeans to blend them into the background? For me, the light on the fabric of the jeans is a bit distracting.
    Leah

    My Smugmug Photos
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    billseyebillseye Registered Users Posts: 847 Major grins
    edited June 11, 2011
    Just adding my 2 cents worth... They're all really interesting and reveal a great command of lighting technique. For me, any one of them would work well for this theme.

    My only comment would have been about adjusting the blacks in your pants and shirt to take emphasis away from all but the lights and face. I see you've done that with the gallery entry.

    Cool shots... thumb.gif
    Bill Banning

    Check out billseye photos on SmugMug
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    CambysesCambyses Registered Users Posts: 141 Major grins
    edited June 11, 2011
    billseye wrote: »
    Just adding my 2 cents worth... There all really interesting and reveal a great command of lighting technique. For me, any one of them would work well for this theme.

    My only comment would have been about adjusting the blacks in your pants and shirt to take emphasis away from all but the lights and face. I see you've done that with the gallery entry.

    Cool shots... thumb.gif

    Thanks a lot Bill for the comment...

    Yes, I did adjust the blacks a bit more in my final entry. This included my jeans too thanks to what Leah pointed out in the comment above. I also re-adjusted a bit the colors and the relative exposure of my face and arms.

    I am grateful for all the comments and the good advice I got in this thread. Thank you all...
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    travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited June 11, 2011
    It looks good and very cool :)

    The only think I noticed is that your face looks like the image has been too much jpg compressed - somehow...

    I'm wondering if it's only my screen headscratch.gif
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
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    CambysesCambyses Registered Users Posts: 141 Major grins
    edited June 12, 2011
    photo-funtasia wrote: »
    It looks good and very cool :)

    The only think I noticed is that your face looks like the image has been too much jpg compressed - somehow...

    I'm wondering if it's only my screen headscratch.gif

    Not sure.... Overall, it looks OK on my screen. Though it is not perfect, and it may have to do with multiple flash fires on my face over one second exposure time. I shot RAW and converted to JPEG in ACR. To minimize motion blur on my face, I had to try very hard to keep my face still while rotating my hands, and out of my many shots only a few came out OK, and still I had to apply a bit of unsharp mask.
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    travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited June 12, 2011
    Cambyses wrote: »
    Not sure.... Overall, it looks OK on my screen. Though it is not perfect, and it may have to do with multiple flash fires on my face over one second exposure time. I shot RAW and converted to JPEG in ACR. To minimize motion blur on my face, I had to try very hard to keep my face still while rotating my hands, and out of my many shots only a few came out OK, and still I had to apply a bit of unsharp mask.

    I can guess it was very difficult to do this - what about trying instead of unsharp mask, some simple blur - sometimes
    it gets better results.
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
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