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In the Bowels of the City
In the Bowels of the City
timfythetoo


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Harsh Environments (Expert Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Lens: Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon
Location: COlumbus OH
Date: Dec 23, 2006
Aperture: various
ISO: 400
Shutter: various
Galleries: Cityscape, Diptych / Triptych
Date Uploaded: Dec 23, 2006

 Well - I dont expect anyone to think this is a Joey L piece but it was influenced by his style. I have never really tried any editing along these lines so this was a fun experiment.

This is Paul. He has been in Columbus for 5 months after coming from San Deigo when a friend told him he would like it better here. This is where Paul has been living these past months. They moved up from under the bridge when that part of the sidewalk flooded last week. We talked for a while (how he can't complain about where he is because it was the choices he made that got him there and also that he doesn't hang out at the local shelter because he doesn't care to hang out with the drug users). He was a really nice guy and seemed to have his head about him despite his circumstances. I shot this the Saturday before Christmas. I gave him $20 to share with the other guys with him to get some hot coffee. Not sure what else I could do. I told him I would come back to visit him again and that I hoped he wasn't going to be there. You might see him again in future challenges as he was more than happy to let me take his picture. He even asked if I wanted him to hang out with his stuff so I could get a shot of him there. Really nice guy.

I had this idea that I figure will be contrary to all of the landscape images I expect to see in this challenge. Harsh environments don't necessarily have to be icelands or deserts. Surprisingly these environments are way too close to home for many of us. The three shots were meant to show three aspects of Pauls environment. The close up of his face is to show the impact it has had on him. He looked battered and bruised by the elements for sure. The second image is to show his "home". A couple of sleeping bags and various articles of clothing plus a gallon of OJ someone had just dropped off. The last image is to show the actual location. Down below the city buildings in the lower areas hidden away from most people walking the streets. This is where the people that are forgotten can be found.

The triptych aspect and the layer of a cracked sidewalk place this well into expert editing without it being non photographic. The rest of the editing was alot of dodging and burning, layer masks with various color and blur adjustments, USM, NI and resize for web after combining the three images. I hope this does well but you just never know. It is not a pretty image. It was fun to edit and the actual taking of the images was a proper wake up call at this important time of year. Merry Christmas.

Statistics
Place: 4 out of 116
Avg (all users): 6.9640
Avg (commenters): 7.8333
Avg (participants): 6.8906
Avg (non-participants): 6.9937
Views since voting: 3599
Views during voting: 613
Votes: 222
Comments: 66
Favorites: 10 (view)

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AuthorThread
 01/11/2007 09:22:25 PM
I really like this because it shows this man as a person instead of just a photo opportunity - you preserve his dignity very well, I think. I also think the effect of the cracked sky is very strong.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 11:58:43 PM
Tim, you have Joey Lawrenced to a T...this is superb. I like the cracked concrete, but I particularly like the close up portrait on the top right, it really pops...another top finish from you and another bump up on your average...you just missed out and I hope you get that desire of having all 7's on your front page soon...the way you are going, you are on a roll

I am going to grow some more eyebrows now and see if that helps me get the mojo back...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 11:01:21 PM
I think your take on 'harsh envirionments' is right on! Congrats!

Message edited by author 2007-01-05 23:02:11.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 08:48:06 PM
Thank you for such honest heartmoving photos and I truly hope he had a merry christmas and a much better new year!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 04:58:23 PM
Interesting that I did not notice the sidewalk image as a seperate image/texture until reading the comments. A great example of using editing to enhance but not to draw attention to itself.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 03:13:50 PM
Nice finish Tim. Good to see a classic juxtaposition score well amongst the digital merges :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 01:08:30 PM
Timfy, great story in image and word, interesting texture to tie the images together. Nicely done, and congratulations on another honorable mention.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 11:40:26 AM
Awesome job Tim!! I thought this was a Joey picture! Conratulations on the 4th place!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 11:06:47 AM
Love this. Great shots, great editing and great subject. Really well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 10:50:47 AM
This is one of my favorites!! Congrats on 4th place!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 09:11:44 AM
Way to go Tim! I loved this shot. You were one of my 10's.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 07:26:02 AM
Tim, Mega congratulations that so many other people "got it" too! You did this so well! It's so amazing. . .and a little convicting, to see how people with nothing still have a happy heart and a smile on their face. You have illustrated that to perfection!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 03:59:40 AM
Fantastic work Tim!! Congrats on your well deserved top 10 finish!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 03:37:58 AM
The story is inspirational, the image very emotive and moving,
The photo is brilliant, and yes it does have a "Joey L" grunge style. I think it is definately a genuine, timfythetoo image IMO.

You are moving mountains at a rate of knots at the moment, with your photography, and your scores, which you so deserve.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 03:12:29 AM
Congrats Tim, excellent work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 02:02:46 AM
Tim, this is truly inspiring work. Inspiring on a spiritual level because you've brought home several important lessons. Inspiring on a photographic level because you've found a new way to use the expert rules to very good effect - you're 2 for 2 on the expert challenges so far in that respect. I really, really like how you carried the crack motif into the sky in the two shots that didn't have them initially.

Congrats on your effort and on your placement!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 01:37:16 AM
Congrats Timfy. You seem to capture his essense pretty well. He seems like such a nice person.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 01:19:31 AM
ooh you're good. i thought this was joeys
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 12:37:11 AM
tt - Combined with your commentary, this is your best work yet. Very good....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 12:33:53 AM
Woo Hoo! JLTOO! :-P

Congrats Tim!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 12:22:28 AM
Wow....what a story....! Congrats Timmy....and guess what? Untouchables rule.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 12:18:56 AM
"Well - I dont expect anyone to think this is a Joey L piece but it was influenced by his style"

Great shot, the first thing I thought when I saw this photo was Joey L. so you def. accomplished that :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/05/2007 12:09:00 AM
Well!

I have a little egg on my face here "Joey", but REALLY......I meant it as a compliment!!!!

Congrats on your terrific finish and it is a great shot no matter who you are! 8>)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
01/04/2007 08:23:11 PM
Very nice triptych. The scene is very gloomy on many levels, but the brightness of selected color gives hope. Nicely done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2007 05:32:07 PM
This has gotta be some Joey work. I love your work man. You are an inspiration to all of us younger guys. 10!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/04/2007 10:56:36 AM
Very obvious who took this rocking photo! :) Good luck Joey!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2007 11:25:36 PM
you'll be lucky if this style will be accepted. thanks for starting it tho. nice images btw. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2007 09:46:58 PM
Enter your comment here, and //www.dpchallenge.com/challenge_vote_image.php?IMAGE_ID=441839#
6 then cast your vote...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2007 05:08:37 PM
has an interesting storytelling progression, but the final headshot is much the strongest image, yet only covers a quarter of your entry. Seems like an opportunity wasted
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2007 02:50:28 PM
Multiple photos, that`s a good idea. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2007 12:59:33 PM
Nice. JL?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2007 12:56:31 PM
Interesting presentation. I think I like it! Conveys a lot about the man in one quick look.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/03/2007 01:30:31 AM
Very nice emotive triptych! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/02/2007 04:37:18 PM
I like the way this is put together, I also like the grung teck. nice color and I think the grouping is much stronger than the single shot of this man would be. I love the colors, I think you did a good job of using the expert editing with keeping to the subject and trouth of your work. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/02/2007 12:51:33 PM
This is what I immediately thought of when I saw the topic - this is very nice depiction of the very harsh reality of homelessness - 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/02/2007 06:37:57 AM
Certainly epitomises a 'harsh environment'.
I've been wanting some help on trying this technique for ages but with no luck.
Hopefully i'll be able to perster you after the challenge to get some help.
It looks great.
Nice choice to triptech it aswell, tells a story.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/01/2007 04:04:24 PM
I think this is already a great picture.. however, I think it would look even better if the BG behind the man was the same (as if it was the same picture with three different zoom levels).. like: CITY>>closer>WALL>>closer>MAN
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/01/2007 09:45:05 AM
Excellent for meeting the challenge - glad to see you followed through on your concept. I like how you take us from a distance all the way in - put a face on the situation, so to speak.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2006 06:37:38 PM
Maybe allowed, but I have to put up my vote against the new rules...
TC
 12/31/2006 11:43:41 AM
Love the cracked masking as a background - Works really well. Did you get it from a shot of the walls?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/31/2006 12:19:42 AM
Great sense of a variety of perspectives...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2006 10:05:17 PM
when i hear expert editing i expect lots of masks, layers... in short lots of photoshop. in this one with minimal use of photoediting and combining three shots, you describe one of the harshest environment around , the city!
great job 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2006 07:28:01 PM
Great picture Joey! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/30/2006 02:09:51 AM
Well, this is certainly unique. I don't recall seeing anything like this in a challenge before. I like it, especially the edits to the sky. Nice work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 11:56:27 PM
Mr. Lawrence i supose?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 10:35:27 PM
I really like the use of the expert editing on this picture(s). Good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 08:50:55 PM
one was enough
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 05:30:12 PM
this stand out as one of my favorites for the challenge, which it fits well. looks like a great man. the grungy looks fits the picture well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 04:24:01 PM
There were some really beautiful entries in this challenge, but I think yours should take the prize. You really met the challenge with some really quality work. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 04:05:59 PM
a more interesting frame (maybe lighter color) might make this more dramatic
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 03:43:29 PM
Wonderful composition! Very touching.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 01:56:44 PM
Happy New Year! - 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 01:26:23 PM
great processing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 10:40:15 AM
Excellent - beautifully done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 10:06:49 AM
One of my favorites in the challenge although I must admit that I might prefer the shot on the left alone even though I do appreciate the presentation.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 08:58:21 AM
Nice work, Joey!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 08:35:30 AM
i have this one tied w/ my other top pick. one of two 10s i gave out. have an idea who this belongs too :D great photo journalistic work here, buddy. very nice job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 07:38:22 AM
Fantastic subject and I like the way you've collaged the images to create a real story/full picture of the guy's life. Great idea to use the crumpled paper technique too...like a tatty piece of newspaper litter. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 06:12:57 AM
this is brilliant! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 02:36:48 AM
i was hoping to this come in the challenge
great job
9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 01:29:55 AM
I like this, but I think the left side would have been enough. That is really harsh and shows more of the environment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 01:22:27 AM
Cracks in the sky,little overboard,but a good story..6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 12:51:04 AM
I really like this, the compilation of the 3 shots really makes this! That is truely a harsh way to live. He looks like a nice guy too, or was this staged
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 12:25:41 AM
Excellent tryptich.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 12:19:43 AM
I am getting a kindof "Joey" vibe off this shot, take that as a compliment if it isn´t but if it is you, not as good as your usual work but good enough for a 7 from me and you know I am particular.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/29/2006 12:12:23 AM
This is very well done! The processing is so fantastic! I love how the environment does in fact look very harsh -- yet -- he looks so at peace and content.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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