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The Dark Side of the Financial Crisis
2nd PlaceThe Dark Side of the Financial Crisis
gyaban


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Cardboard Box II (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Date: May 12, 2013
Aperture: f/14
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/40 sec
Date Uploaded: May 12, 2013

 [May. 13th, 2013 08:41:50 PM]

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

It is a period of financial crisis. Due to budget cuts, the evil Galactic Empire is getting weaker, day after day. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, are regularly winning battles.

The evil lord Darth Vader, seeing his end getting close, gathers his strengths, for the last battle. As the exceptional podracer pilot he always was, he decides to ride the very last experimental machine constructed by the Empire's best engineers. However, the insidious recession got there too, and things are not going as expected....

Yes, I am shamelessly having too much fun. I really hope I will manage to put some smiles on some faces with that photo.

Technically, it was a pain to obtain that result in one shot. In a nutshell, I constructed a structure around Vader, so that I could hang him to it using fishing lines. Of course, the whole thing had to be relatively light, so that it could be installed anywhere. Here is a little list (probably non comprehensive) of items used in that shot:
- 4 long metallic bars (measuring 2 meters each)
- Screws and bolts, in order to attach bars together two by two and construct two 4 meters long bars
- A rope, to link the two 4 meters bars at their top, and create an horizontal line over the scene
- Some fishing line, strong enough to resist the weight of Vader and his podracer
- A Darth Vader suit, that I stuffed with random fabric I had around (I had to buy the disguise for the occasion)
- Planks of wood, to construct the oars
- Some paint for the oars
- Motorbike gloves for Vader's hands
- Of course, a large cardboard box
- Lots of duct tape and various wood pieces, in order to fix Vader and the oars in the box

A first try was made by my wife and me. It failed miserably: holding everything in place was too hard for the two of us. Fortunately, we were supposed to visit my parents this week, so I charged the car with all that stuff and took everything there.

My parents were very kind, and accepted to help us. In fact, I believe they found it quite funny too ;) That second try went much better: my dad was holding one of the 4 meter vertical bar (left side), while my wife and my mum were holding the other one (right side). I believe I had the easiest task with my camera taking photos: the structure proved to be heavy, as the podracer was pulling it towards the middle. The wind was also an enemy, but in the end we managed to get a few good shots. Back at home, I quickly processed one of them (by cloning out the fishing lines and adjusting the colors a bit), and that was it. I won't hide that I am very happy about the result.

A big special thanks to my wife and my parents for their great help.
Of course, thanks a lot for the nice votes and comments, they are are really motivating :)

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 41
Avg (all users): 7.2710
Avg (commenters): 8.3125
Avg (participants): 7.0690
Avg (non-participants): 7.3462
Views since voting: 3627
Views during voting: 366
Votes: 107
Comments: 44
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
 05/21/2013 11:50:15 AM
It took me forever to realize that the contraption you built was large enough to suspend this and be off-camera! I'm always overwhelmed by the amount of thought and work you put into your images. And it clearly shows. Charming, whimsical image, too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 10:42:22 PM
this one made me laugh a bit- well done sir.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 07:45:57 PM
I wish for just a little of your imagination! Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 06:08:07 PM
LOL! Congrats on the red
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 04:26:42 PM
Originally posted by Ammie:
Well done, please show us the original. Congrats


Thank you. As for the originals, sorry, I never share them (except with the SC when asked for it).
 05/20/2013 04:19:14 PM
Well done, please show us the original. Congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 12:23:38 PM
You my friend have far far far too much time on your hands ;-) and this site is all the richer for it.

.... serioulsy are you on a different planet that has more hours per day and days per week?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 12:10:00 PM
Clap Clap Clap ....thanks!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 11:18:54 AM
They asked for a creative use of a cardboard box, and you came through with flying colors. How did this not win? A visual delight.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 10:33:16 AM
You're AMAZING, Christophe!

Congrats on your ribbon for this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 10:01:22 AM
Good stuff. The tilted horizon is the icing on this cake for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 08:22:55 AM
This is brilliant. Wonderfully conceived and executed. Entertaining to both look at and to read how it was done. Great job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 08:02:19 AM
Congratulations,another cracker.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 06:42:53 AM
Even the story is terrific!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 05:13:46 AM
Oh yeah!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 05:07:37 AM
Glad to see you back much more frequently - hilarious shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 04:40:10 AM
Congrats Christophe, another hilarious idea excellently executed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 04:37:00 AM
congrats christophe continuously a joy to watch your images
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 04:18:59 AM
Ha! Reminded me of your skating snail :-). Brilliant image, congrats!
Anyway... my story was that he went back to Tatooine only to find how everything has changed... pod racers sold for scrap metal, the track used for agriculture. A cardboard box and a touch of the Force did the job, for old times' sake :).
Here's a video I think you will like.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 03:48:16 AM
Originally posted by IAmEliKatz:
I always love reading your "how to's".

Fantastic. Congrats!


+2

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 01:52:48 AM
Congrats! My entire family is starting to look forward to seeing your art in a photograph - and this one did bring a smile to all. It's fab!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 01:35:21 AM
As usual... Earned.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 12:41:18 AM
Congrats on the red. Wow, you do put a lot of work into your creations. Fantastic job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 12:10:43 AM
LOL. Only from the mind of Christophe :-) Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/20/2013 12:04:48 AM
I always love reading your "how to's".

Fantastic. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/19/2013 11:33:54 PM
ha 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2013 11:26:51 PM
what a shame you didn't get a validation sticker
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2013 10:47:22 PM
OTT but strikes a nerve . Normally I don't like bands but here is works to give it a cinematic quality. bump
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2013 09:56:23 PM
you should go work for Lucas.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2013 03:18:02 PM
Cool, humorous, made me laugh.
Bumping up. Me thinks this will be the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/19/2013 12:50:44 PM
yes!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2013 10:42:25 AM
crazy but good!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/15/2013 09:12:17 AM
8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2013 11:21:36 AM
Top 3
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2013 10:40:29 AM
Love the thinking, the design and the overall image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/14/2013 05:28:25 AM
Very creative and humerous. Top 3. Good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2013 11:50:21 PM
Love the shot. Can't wait to read how you accomplished this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2013 10:19:23 PM
Oh golly!

HOW did you DO this!?


It's amazing! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2013 03:52:51 PM
Superb image. Well done in the advanced rule set.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2013 01:21:35 PM
9 for public LOL
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2013 01:02:28 PM
This one made me laugh :) Nicely done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2013 11:52:09 AM
Hilarious!! Love this so much!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2013 08:36:10 AM
Great (I hope it is within the rules).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/13/2013 12:23:54 AM
Don't know how to vote on this one at the moment (though I am very much a Stars Wars Fan and find this well done). I find my time is occupied more with the mechanics of the shot in that I am trying to figure out how you managed to pull it off in Advanced. Hmmm. O.k. perspective and angle is working for you here on this one. My best educated guess is that there is a contraption hidden behind the box & in the field; a platform that allows Vader to sit in that box making it look like it is floating above the fields. I'd go further in that the cardboard box is attached to that seat platform but maybe a few inches below it so that it can more effectively hide the contraption that allows Vader to paddle in the box. Angle helps to hide and give this illusion:-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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