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The A.M. Ritual
The A.M. Ritual
sherpet


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Morning (Advanced Editing IV)
Collection: Challengers
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Location: In my Bedroom, in bed with my sleep aponia machine
Date: Oct 15, 2006
Aperture: 5.0
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/13
Galleries: Emotive, Portraiture
Date Uploaded: Oct 15, 2006

Ok, this is me, each and every morning, re the past three years, as I have to use a "Sleep Anonia Machine" every night to sleep.
This is due to the fact, that I stop breathing constantly, and the machine kicks starts my breathing, and it also gives me a goodnights quality sleep.
I don't always have this sexy nightie on, but did so this one time, to show off a little bit.
I know my husband was thrilled, and it was a shame he had to go to and play bowls.
Well I guess I can dream, can't I.
Thank you for allowing me to be me, and thank you all for your much loved support.

Statistics
Place: 38 out of 188
Avg (all users): 6.1903
Avg (commenters): 7.8788
Avg (participants): 6.0690
Avg (non-participants): 6.2662
Views since voting: 2088
Views during voting: 556
Votes: 226
Comments: 54
Favorites: 8 (view)


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AuthorThread
04/19/2008 07:47:29 AM
Wow Sherryl. Your courage is outstanding.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/12/2006 10:10:59 PM
This is a great picture. Good choice for the color tone. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/27/2006 11:44:47 PM
I love images that tell stories.. I didnt vote on this challenge, and I only find this picture now, but I absolutely love it... Really, for some reason I can`t stop looking at it... Wich is the reason I will add it as a fav, so I can look at it more often :D Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/22/2006 07:41:24 AM
I love this picture. The cropping, the color tone, the softness. This is a classic. (Even without the story behind it.) Sherpet, this is a favorite.:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/08/2006 03:07:33 AM
this photo is so stunning! you are very brave just to submit this knowing it wouldn't be a dpc favorite. you could not have done a better job with this. very well done. there is so much more then just scores here on dpc and you should take the high volume of viewing numbers your getting as the real results for your photograph. everyone is looking. and that's what matters. no one would look if they didn't feel something from it. maybe they didn't like it, but they keep looking don't they? getting feeling from a photograph is exceptionally difficult to do. i could see this in a photography text book some day. keep up all your hard work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/31/2006 09:56:34 PM
Hey, I just saw this! I used one of those machines for several years. Dang, I hated it... You did real good with this one :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/27/2006 11:19:03 AM
This is a very nice idea and unique from the challenge but still fitting. It shows another side.

On the technical mumbo jumbo end, It seems a little pastally from the slower shutter then lots of sharpening.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/27/2006 11:02:11 AM
This image was my favorite in the morning challenge...it was so personal and well photographed...the tones are just perfect and I congratulate you on an image that belonged in the top ten for its sheer reality and stunning compositional clarity...you could not have done better.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/26/2006 06:40:59 AM
Hello from the Critique Club,

For the lighting setup you choose, the post processing of this image is perfect. The shadows on the face and the lack of color gives this image a very mechanical feel and it fits well with the everyday, day in day out interaction you have with this machine. The high lighting of your face draws my focus directly to your left eye, which has the effect of personalizing your daily routine for me. There is nothing I can suggest for improving this image. That in itself tells me that your score is directly linked to how the voters related to this image. When you produce an image that conveys this much emotion and is so personal, you are bound to make some people a bit uncomfortable and they will vote accordingly. Not being a member, I did vote on this challenge but I would have given it a 10, as few pictures at DPC convey the human side of photography like this. Mine included. Excuse me as I add this to my favorites.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding this critique.

Tim
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/23/2006 10:08:17 AM
Shez, you did GOOD!!!! Congratulations! To score over 6.1 in a challenge like this is quite an impressive accomplishment!

It still makes me sad tho to see you suffer so much! But you are a beautiful sufferer for sure! :)

  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/23/2006 07:48:53 AM
Heh girl! Top 40 with all of these high scores - pretty darn good. This truly is a terrific image. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/23/2006 06:55:51 AM
It's a great, honest image.
And being so honest is bound to garner a few 1'2 and 2's.
I certainly wouldn't worry about them.
Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/23/2006 04:15:56 AM
A powerful insight into the you behind the you.

Very well processed too I might add.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/23/2006 03:50:31 AM
You are a truely amazing woman Shez! This is a very powerful emotive image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/23/2006 02:14:47 AM
Strong Finish Shez, Karmabreeze only beat you by 2 places.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/23/2006 12:23:27 AM
Sherryl...I never knew this was you! and what a story! Thanks for being so honest with us, you are an amazing, amazing, amazing lady
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/22/2006 07:56:06 PM
This would be a difficult thing to have to deal with every day. God bless you if this is a self-portrait.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/22/2006 07:21:51 PM
very real life, and just love it and the nightie!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/22/2006 07:10:37 PM
:) :) :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/22/2006 05:17:07 PM
Sure am glad I gave up smoking.....Interesting outlook on morning, nice detail and I like the sepia.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/22/2006 04:24:44 PM
something about this photo really catches my eye ...... i like the graphic? look, the sepia and of course the subject ... emotive .....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/22/2006 04:11:57 PM
Hi Shez! Wonderful processing on this, and your gown is lovely!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/22/2006 02:42:19 AM
omg! is this sherpet??? wow.. this image is amazing!! 10+
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/21/2006 10:40:05 PM
I'm positive it wasn't intentional, but my first reaction upon looking at this photo was to recall some odd/surrealist movies I've seen. Possibly due to the facial distortion from the mask. I like this, it's fascinating. Good choice with the colouring. Perhaps looks a bit unbalanced or empty on the left side.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/21/2006 04:57:47 PM
This shot is tremendous. Kind of a documentary eh? So clean - love the color tones you chose...I even love your attire! Looks like a yucky ritual but one good thing comes of it...an 8 from me!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/21/2006 04:12:53 PM
I don't think many people would be able to relate to this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/20/2006 03:53:00 PM
oh wow....thats a fancy non rebreather mask.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/20/2006 01:29:32 PM
What makes this shot so intriguing is that we all know that this is not a setup shot - or at least not so much a setup shot as maybe Jutildas entry (which is also strong). Knowing you from your profile, forum threads and private messages I realize that this is real life for you which makes this an even stronger image. You rchoice to go colorless was perfect. The lack of color makes me feel more of a sense of matter of fact - nothing to lighten the point of view or to paint a happy glossy effect. From a technical point of view - good detail and nice simple editing. The composition is balanced well. But again - the impact, the first reaction, the gut feeling that this image delivers is from my relationship with you through this site and the intimate moment that you have willingly shared with all of the voters. Well done Shez!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/20/2006 11:35:36 AM
I love the tonal quality of this picture and the detail especially in the beautiful lace. Some halo appears around the bed post as a minor distraction to me. This portrait is a very intimate and brave look into the life of a tremendous, strong yet very feminine spirit! 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/20/2006 09:54:17 AM
Hi, sherpet. This picture has a lot of meaning for me. I use the exact same mask and tubing, though the machine is probably different. I have a CPAP machine, and for me it is the "P.M. Ritual". I keep this mask on all night so that I can breathe regularly (I have sleep apnea). I think it's a great idea to do a self-portrait with the mask on. A big part of who we are is what we go through.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/20/2006 09:53:33 AM
saw another version of this one on your profile page -- powerful and true image (duo-tones were a good choice as it pulls attention to the emotional message) - one of my favorites this challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/20/2006 01:02:57 AM
Sherryl? Gutsy image, not every woman has the heart to show herself in the morning, with breathing equipment. Lovely tones. Love the flower lace on your gown.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/19/2006 11:41:49 PM
This is well done! I really like the sepia tones, and the soft feel to it, inspite of the harsh reality.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/19/2006 09:25:17 PM
This is perfect true to life I like life shots the color is good and it is very clear and crisp Good job
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/18/2006 11:08:55 PM
well done shez, i'm so glad you did this one. well exposed, very good composition. good tonal range and sepia.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/18/2006 09:47:06 PM
Wow! I am not brave enough to take a picture with mine on.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/17/2006 07:32:05 PM
Bizarre and very different. Really, one of the most odd pics I've seen on the site - quite unforgettable.

But, I really wish you hadn't treated this so much with NeatImage and Shad/Highlite, etc. This would be a classic if it was left desaturated slightly with strong contrast (and definitely no sepia). This is real life I assume, so why the nostalgic treatment? It should be gritty, grainy and left to tell its own story without fear of 'downgrading' by shallow voters.

I'll vote high for choice of subject regardless of my dislike of the processing.
: J
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/17/2006 01:57:55 PM
Am I wrong for loving this? Am I wrong for thinking Grandma's cleavage makes the photo?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/17/2006 10:43:22 AM
The composition, tones and stunning reality of this image are excellent..very moving image...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/17/2006 10:40:05 AM
Meets Challenge - 2
Lighting/Processing - 2
Composition - 2
Overall Impression - 1
"WOW" factor - 0
Score: 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/17/2006 03:33:27 AM
Good, you left the shot in - though you shouldn't have posted a similar one in the forums first. Perfectly meets the challenge, well executed except for the cropped hand and shoulder.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 07:18:17 PM
This photo makes me very sad, but its very powerful and emotive! I love your use of sepia tones! Great job friend!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 06:11:29 PM
Exquisite lighting. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 05:50:10 PM
Disturbing, and powerful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 03:20:04 PM
Great tones, well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 06:12:32 AM
My wife uses a CPAP as well and used to have the same contraption. Now she just has a nasal canula that just seals off the nostrils and is much more comfortable for her to wear. I just can't call her 'Darth Vader" anymore.

Spooky up-lighting but it works well for this shot. Good tonality
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 02:14:45 AM
What a morning ritual, this image deserves a top mark for G&D....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 02:07:41 AM
6: This image has a sad feel to it with the chosen subject. The image itself has been processed nicely (I like the look of it). It neither shouts "wow" or has enough emotional feel to go over the 6 though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 01:52:30 AM
We call that my husbands space face!! love the lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 01:28:45 AM
hey sherpet! nice treatment, might be a little risky after disussing your similar photo in that thread, but I like it. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 01:21:34 AM
Technically good, but WTF?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 12:49:39 AM
I expect this to ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 12:37:09 AM
I think this is wonderfully done. Love the overall tones from a soft beige to a rich dark brown. Well lit and focused. Bravo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2006 12:37:05 AM
wow...this has a real 1950's feel...and, I feel sorry for the subject if that's what she has to go through every morning...great image, great editing
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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