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Slaves
1st PlaceSlaves
gyaban


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Technology Underwraps (Expert Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Date: Feb 7, 2013
Date Uploaded: Feb 7, 2013

 In our modern lives, with tools for almost any task, it is quite easy to forget how things are actually done. After all, if the hard work is always handled by something or someone else, it is easy to become lazy, or to live with the illusion that everything is easy and doesn't require some investment.

This is a little observation I wanted to express through my image: the cook in that case is in a sense the slave of her mixer, and from another point of view, the mixer is also a bit her slave.

Technically, I had to create this giant mixer so that the scene would fit inside it. The real one is much smaller: I duplicated parts as needed to extend its volume. The castle photos come from a ruin (Ivry-la-Bataille) that was totally buried in the 15th century, and discovered about 50 years ago: it made for an interesting visit.

Last but not least, the eggs have not been wasted: the cake my wife cooked after that photo was yummy!

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 30
Avg (all users): 7.6581
Avg (commenters): 8.6250
Avg (participants): 7.7000
Avg (non-participants): 7.6495
Views since voting: 4097
Views during voting: 369
Votes: 117
Comments: 40
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 02/19/2013 04:49:36 AM
As always, another fabulous winning entry from the master.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/18/2013 09:21:15 PM
Have I ever told you, you are a Photoshop genius and your imagination is amazing? I guess I did now :) Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/17/2013 12:17:52 PM
In LA we have, within about an hour's drive, the mountains, the ocean, the desert. You have buried castles and magic forests... Hmmmmmmmm. Congrats on the blue, Christophe. Though I don't feel this flows as smoothly as most of your efforts, it is a treat to see your mind at work. And in this case, your mixer! Congrats on the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/17/2013 10:19:53 AM
Looks like the mixer has a burned bearing on the main shaft... ;-)

Very creative and well done! Congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/16/2013 02:52:04 PM
Originally posted by MNet:
Congrats, it was 10 from me as always. Very clever with the double meaning of slave :)


There's actually a triple meaning here if you look deeper and consider the full body of work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 05:32:12 PM
congrats! well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 04:54:46 PM
Congrats on the Blue! It blows me away just how much effort you go through. As usual, excellent image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 01:02:30 PM
I shall never look at my mixer the same way again! Congrats in the ribbon, truly well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 11:41:30 AM
Congratulations,great work as always. Love to see what you come up with.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 09:25:48 AM
Congratulations! I am a big fan of your work and appreciate that you share many of the ways you accomplish these incredible works. Look forward to seeing more in the future.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 07:56:46 AM
Well dang... if you BUILT that mixer in editing, then WOW! I just figured it was some super deluxe European model -- the work you did on that was THAT GOOD.

Sorry I cannot up my vote now for that.

Still don't like the flames (they serve no purpose at all in the story, since the slaves turn the gears turning the mixer blade), but kudos on the overall win.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 06:57:27 AM
Having worked in a professional kitchen or two, yep I can definitely relate to all the hard work that goes into making something that looks so effortless. I can see what some commenters mean about this maybe not being your best work ever, but it's hardly let the team down. It's a fun, memorable shot that drives the point home.

So congrats once again on the blue, and I love your wife's blouse! I bet the chiffonade she made with those eggwhites was lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 04:41:04 AM
congrats! well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 04:33:34 AM
YEP MY PICK FOR THE BLUE YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH XOX
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 03:29:07 AM
Originally posted by h2:
I like the idea, it's one of the most creative entries - but IMHO not quite up to your usual standard.
Congrats, BTW :)


Thanks Oliver. I did my best though!

Message edited by author 2013-02-15 06:25:18.
 02/15/2013 02:47:41 AM
congrats christophe - this offically makes you the most RIBBONED photographer here at DPC! congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 02:42:59 AM
I like the idea, it's one of the most creative entries - but IMHO not quite up to your usual standard.
Congrats, BTW :)

Message edited by author 2013-02-15 06:20:34.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 02:10:52 AM
Originally posted by Venser:
[...] I've seen much better. [...]


It is not my favorite piece ever, if that is what you want me to say. I usually am not fond of pictures that try to mix 2 different atmospheres, it rarely works very well. Since it kind of was the purpose of that challenge, I tried to do so nonetheless, and I believe it is a decent attempt.
 02/15/2013 12:53:14 AM
I'm normally not a fan of your expert editing work, but usually they have a finesse about them this one is definitely lacking. I really think this is one of your weakest expert entries in a long while. Usually they're flawless in execution, this one seems somewhat haphazard in that category.

I'm not trying to be Negative Nancy over here, but I've seen much better. Really curious to know what you think.

edit - The shadows from the fire are off on the green dudes and whatnot. These are things you normally nail. I guess that what I'm trying to say in the above.

Message edited by author 2013-02-15 01:01:13.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 12:27:48 AM
Not only beautifully crafted but so much fun! I will never look at my kitchen appliances in the same way again. Congratulations and thanks for the chuckles.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 12:26:35 AM
Congrats, it was 10 from me as always. Very clever with the double meaning of slave :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2013 12:03:29 AM
Congratulations on your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/14/2013 05:51:20 PM
Cool!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/13/2013 08:31:56 PM
Awesome editing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/13/2013 03:29:52 AM
Kind of the opposite of the theme...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/12/2013 07:05:34 PM
Superb. Just a great composition. Expertly done! So far, my first 9 of the challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/11/2013 05:41:08 PM
Yes! lol. I was waiting for an image that really pulled off the theme. Cool.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/10/2013 06:46:26 PM
Well done as usual, earns a 10 from me. No wonder these things are so expensive.

Nitpicking just a bit I think I would have like to see a bit of motion blur in the whisk.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/10/2013 04:25:38 PM
So I think I know who this photographer is and if I'm right, I'm sad because it's nowhere near their best work.

It does meet the challenge however, so that's good. Barely 50% if that many actually did. The "technology" part (woman using the mixer -- and what an odd mixer it is too!) is more overpowering in the photo than the behind the scenes part. The idea of slaves turning the gears is a very clever idea, however the castle walls as well as the fire tend to kill it.

As Simon Cowell would have said, they were "indulgent" and make little sense to the effect. They were overkill and show-offy. Just having the guy whip the slaves to the turn the gears would have been enough. I'd have like to have seen them a little more prominent too, but I can see that would be hard given the size of that beast of a mixer.

In all a decent attempt, but falls way short. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/10/2013 12:19:23 PM
You know,I like the outside much better than the underwrap,but there yer go.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/10/2013 01:22:38 AM
Pure madness - the true sign of brilliance. I love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2013 11:47:15 PM
Best in show award, congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2013 10:33:52 PM
Took me a sec to see the handles the slaves were pushing but this is terrific. I love the outfit and the balance if reality and myth.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2013 03:41:54 PM
Great idea. One of my favorites of the challenge for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2013 12:01:02 PM
Very well done! Every last detail works here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2013 11:48:28 AM
Fabulous, Christophe! One of my faves of yours of all time.

Your wife is a martyr, you know... :D 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2013 11:14:38 AM
it is always fun to pay attention to the details in your images, Christophe.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2013 08:02:41 AM
well.. here there is the Blue on this challenge, for me... great idea, but awesome realization!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2013 02:48:23 AM
Gyaban, I guess.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2013 01:49:37 AM
awsesome
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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