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Shades
3rd PlaceShades
dsa157


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Self-Portrait III (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 4500
Location: Lake Zurich, IL
Date: Feb 9, 2005
Aperture: f/6.9
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/8 sec
Galleries: Emotive, Portraiture
Date Uploaded: Feb 9, 2005

As much as I love my Canon 10D, images like this remind me why I also love my Nikon Coolpix 4500. The Coolpix is so great for self portraits because it is so easy to rotate the twist body around 180 degrees so you can view yourself in the LCD while taking the shot. I also set the camera to macro mode and use the slow focusing time to my advantage by being able to get into position before the shutter clicks.

I hung black velvet behind me as a background and lit this using a set of home depot shop lights, positioned behind a set of Hunter Douglas blinds which provided the striped reflections in the glasses. I was sitting just a few inches from the blinds. I was worried about the hot spots on my forehead and cheek, but only a few commenters mentioned this, so I guess it wasn't too much of a distraction. Post processing was cropping, sharpening via the LAB mode lightness channel, some spot editing and sepia toning.

Thanks for all the kind comments!

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 247
Avg (all users): 7.3789
Avg (commenters): 8.8810
Avg (participants): 7.1565
Avg (non-participants): 7.5657
Views since voting: 9963
Views during voting: 592
Votes: 322
Comments: 72
Favorites: 25 (view)


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AuthorThread
07/30/2008 11:10:51 PM
Love how you got your glasses to look like that. Great work man
07/31/2005 12:26:47 PM
you have a great face! I love this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/18/2005 06:59:32 PM
Oh this is just toooo wonderful. I like that there isn't a reflection in the glasses other than the horizontal lines. Great image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/25/2005 08:07:15 PM
Dave, awesome. The stripes make this soooo different from everyone else's.

Message edited by author 2005-02-25 20:07:32.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/25/2005 07:10:47 PM
This is really super work. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/25/2005 12:14:27 AM
Originally posted by Keys:

Going for the Leon the proffesional look? hehe This is awsome!


HEY, I was just going to type that ... Reminds me off that movie cover, excelLANT!!!! :)
love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/23/2005 11:28:51 AM
congratulations, excellent portrait. where can i buy some of
them shades? :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/23/2005 07:37:26 AM
Going for the Leon the proffesional look? hehe This is awsome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/22/2005 04:52:36 PM
A very powerful image and worthy ribbon winner.
Great work David,
Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/22/2005 12:24:17 AM
Even though I now know it's you, I almost don't know it's you. :)

Great portrait, lighting, everything. The reflection of the blinds in the glasses just tops it all off. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/22/2005 12:10:39 AM
Wonderfully composed self-portrait.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 06:58:09 PM
Congratulations on your ribbon, one of my favorites this challenge. Great Work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 04:24:15 PM
Wow David - such a lighting masterpiece!
Congrats on the Yellow and such a fine submission.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 02:27:11 PM
Great Image and congrats on your ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 02:07:50 PM
Such a cool entry. It just had to win. The reflections in the glasses and the attitude are perfect! Congratulations, David!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 08:42:44 AM
I am so glad this one ribboned. This is my favorite, congartulations !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 08:15:57 AM
Not only are you a hottie the photo is one of my favs. This is awesome !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 07:05:46 AM
Great one David!! Well deserved ribbon!!

Message edited by author 2005-02-21 07:06:09.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 05:25:13 AM
This is an outstanding portrait in every way, congratulations ! I also have a nikon coolpix 2500 only 2 megapixel but the macros are outstanding. I have to agree with you about these great little cameras !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 04:49:44 AM
Brilliant shot! Congrats on the ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 04:44:20 AM
great use of glass reflexions, contrast nicely with the pilous and organic. congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 03:19:31 AM
Brilliant shot, the quality is amazing. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 02:19:26 AM
Reminds me of "Leon the Professional" too. Well deserved ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 01:18:54 AM
Reminds me of "The Professional"

What a great flick.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 12:27:14 AM
Great reflections and nice even lighting! Congratulations!
I didn't notice any hotspots at all, too busy looking at the awesome reflections.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 12:25:58 AM
David this is awesome with great power. Congratulations on your Yellow.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/21/2005 12:18:40 AM
Had me fooled, David! Didn't have a clue it was you. Congrats! RoB
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/20/2005 10:04:54 PM
this should be the winner
perfect use of light, i hope you give details on how you shot this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/20/2005 09:32:16 PM
fabulous! the lighting here is awesome! well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/20/2005 09:18:29 PM
Great reflections. I like the overall feel of this shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/20/2005 06:33:54 PM
Guessing: BradP? I'm probably wrong, but still worth a try =).

I like the reflections. Sharpness is right on. The hat framing it in add alot too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/20/2005 01:14:40 PM
unbelievable! cool
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/20/2005 11:44:32 AM
You nailed it here. Great job. This should be a ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/19/2005 07:32:54 PM
My eyes are a bit more drawn to the glasses than your face, but nonetheless this is a very cool picture. The lighting seems to be just about right, and the clarity is excellent. The toning really works for the photograph; overall nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/19/2005 03:22:09 PM
You remind me a little of George Clooney in this photo.
Very interesting. I love those reflections in the glasses, the lighting is good and I like the texture and details of the face.
Good portrait.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/19/2005 01:06:31 PM
Very nice! LOVE the glasses, and the execution is flawless! Top 5 from what I have voted on. Nice work! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/18/2005 10:52:10 PM
reminds me of my" windows to the soul " shot ...nice portrait
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/18/2005 10:34:43 PM
This is the BLUE if I ever saw one
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/18/2005 12:51:54 PM
Wonderful. 10+
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/18/2005 05:37:07 AM
awesome entry, those glasses work, great detail
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/18/2005 04:51:00 AM
Jean Reno or George Clooney. Another famous DPCer. :) Excellent shot. Great concept and excecution. 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/18/2005 03:23:27 AM
this is one of the best, its so cool! :D
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/17/2005 12:00:33 PM
love the blinds in the shades - an excellent capture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/17/2005 09:38:55 AM
A cool gristly portrayal that makes the urchin like beard project a rustic sense of determination and self confidence. While the eyes are critical in portraits, their absence here is very well accented with the shades. The overall effect is that of mystery. A very good capture with good lighting and great matching background. Bumping up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/16/2005 11:24:43 PM
The reflection in the glasses just blow me away, fantastic idea. Nice tones and contrast. Good Luck. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/16/2005 09:37:54 PM
Nice title! I love the double entendre! (Not a bad photo either. At least, it works for me!) Excellent composition, very sharp focus.... nice work! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/16/2005 07:45:50 PM
Excellent clarity, excellent composition. Black and white was a good choice here. Overall, fantastic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/16/2005 07:42:08 PM
very nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/16/2005 02:39:20 PM
awesome. the reflection in the glasses are parfait (blinds?) great tones, sharp focus...all in all a great image. one of my top votes.

P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/16/2005 10:43:38 AM
Great textures and lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/15/2005 08:58:40 PM
Crisp and Clear...good job on the shades...this should score high
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/15/2005 02:41:45 PM
This is one I kept coming back to and - you'll be happy to know - bumping up on the score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/15/2005 02:35:51 PM
Bumping to 9, the focus and sharpness is right on. Love the texture feel of the sweater and stubble :) The glasses looks nice on you, although I think that it might look even better if they came down just a tiny bit on your right side.The highlights on the forehead are a tad blown out.. not bad at all :) GJ!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/15/2005 01:59:07 PM
Very, very nice. I really like this. You must be a professional!!! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/15/2005 11:45:54 AM
Awesome. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/15/2005 06:08:42 AM
Amazing effect on the glasses - really makes this shot work. 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/15/2005 02:06:38 AM
Exceptional!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/15/2005 01:08:07 AM
This is my favorite shot in the challenge. Fantastic detail and great reflection in the glasses.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/15/2005 12:21:19 AM
The glasses make it, the reast of the picture can go. Really great job love that reflection.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 10:23:29 PM
Nice textures, good composition, the glasses work for me, outer cheek/forehead got a tad hot (slightly blown out). Super job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 07:01:50 PM
I like this. Good lighting and good focus. The glasses are a plus. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 04:40:42 PM
Really excellent. I think top 3.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 04:06:43 PM
Cool reflection.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 03:27:09 PM
killer shades.
i strongly suggest you grab the nearest wooden bat and make tracks to enforce some vigilante justice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 03:09:38 PM
This is a fantastic picture. Well done (10)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 01:18:49 PM
Perfect concept and lighting. Probably a ribbon. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 11:17:12 AM
Wow! This image is fantastic. The reflections in the glasses really add a unique feel. Exposure and detail is excellent as well. I hope you place well!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 08:19:55 AM
Very sharp and proffesional photo. Great work
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 07:52:45 AM
I REALLY love this. It doesn't have that posed feeling. The glasses really add to this ! The composition, tone and clarity are perfect. This goes into my favs so I can look at it often :) 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 06:26:02 AM
Cool photo ... I like it a lot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 05:15:35 AM
This has gotta ribbon, it's fantastic. Amazing detail and spot on lighting! (10).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/14/2005 12:48:25 AM
Brilliant idea. I like what you have portrayed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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