I'm thinking about this...

Elaine

Silent Night



This says "thoughts" to me, but maybe just because I was there (Christmas Eve service at church). I would appreciate hearing your thoughts!

Moogle Pepper

Welll you kinda hold those kind of candles for thoughts or prayers! Looks like thoughts to me!

Of course.. if it was a candle holding contest....

Greensquared

Hi Elaine,

I think this is a wonderful image and definitely says thoughts. However, whether the judges will relate is anyone's guess.

Emily

Shamguess

I love it. I hope you will do it because it's the right message to proclaim especially at this time of year. Do it for Jesus, not the judges.

urbanaries

Lovely image Elaine! Definitely hits the theme. Looks like you're pushing that low light and the new camera/lens combo delivering!!! I wonder if you cloned out the upper right corner orbs of light if the composition would be stronger. Just a thought. Happy New Year to you!!!

HoofClix

Saw it earlier and came back to it as I couldn't figure what it was that was bothering me. Great expsure and framing, and the DOF works nicely. What is unnatural to me is the way the focused hand is holding the candle. I guess I just figure it wouldn't be in the "palm-up" position, which makes it look more posed. I'd figure it would be held the same way that the hand behind is holding it.

Just a minor thing, really...

Elaine

Thanks for the thoughts, all! I had wondered, too, about removing the lights in the upper right. Maybe I'll try it and see. Yes, the hand position is different, but it wasn't posed. My husband was actually holding both of the candles nearest to the camera (as my hands were occupied) and he had just used that candle to light my mother's candle, just to his left, and for whatever reason, his hand was in that position.
Thanks again!

Edit: And yes, the 40D with the 17-55 2.8 does great in low light!

Elaine

Allrighty...

Here are a couple options. What do you think?
I would call either one Silent Night.

#1 reworked -




#2 - another view of the same thing

HoofClix

I do like what you did to the initial idea. Removing the lights from the upper right gige it a more definite direction and flow. The second one is equally good, but adds the human element.

Now you have two very different photos and must make a decision! Good position to be in.

photocat

I like photo 1 a lot more then photograph two. The cloned out lights make it just a bit more refined, but I did not even need that.
I considered the first posted photo perfect for the theme...

Elaine

Thanks for the input, folks! I've decided on entering the reworked version of #1, at least for now.

Happy New Year!