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Lung Pollution
3rd PlaceLung Pollution
timfythetoo


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Pollution (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Date: Mar 6, 2008
Date Uploaded: Mar 6, 2008

 This is hopefully the image that will score me some cash from the Enzo tournament. This was really the only idea I had for this challenge. I pounded 3 cigars within an trying to get a good shot. This one was gotten after the first 10 puffs or so off the first cigar. Wish I had stopped then.

It took me a while to figure out how to light this. The smoke needs the bulk of the flash so I set up my 420 to camera right and behind me. Hard flash with no brolly or snoots or anything. I put a collar around my lens to prevent glare. I lost my plunger so I had to hit the shutter by hand by myself. Took a deep mouthful of smoke, waited for the ambient smoke to dissapate and then slowly pushed it out and took the shot. I found I had to tilt my head or the smoke just rolled up into my face. Every shot looked different. I was in my garage shooting this to keep the smoke smell out of the house.

Some of the outatkes had better looking smoke but then the light on my face was wrong (I tried a couple of different setups). This one was the most balanced. Editing was tough within basic guidelines. Trying to bring out the brightness of the smoke without bringing out the brightness of my skin was tricky. Multiple selective color and hue/sat followed by some shadow/highlight work and then a ton of NI to reduce the color grain on my face. I so wish I could have spot edited. THere is a white spot on my background and a little tiny booger in my nose that just blazes white after processing. I would have liked to have been able to pimp this out further for sure.

Probably too dark for most monitors, maybe offensive to smokers (I dont smoke), maybe not exciting enough to get a high score. I dont need to beat everyone. I just need to beat two people (as of right now I dont know who they are yet). In the end though hotpasta gets a new camera out of the deal and I am just glad I could be a part of that.

Post challenge - Finally got my yellow. Glad to see this score so well against all the landscape shots. I knew this may be a bit out there for the challenge.

Let me just add that DPC has been so great to me and my family. We have learned so much and grown so much over the past 2 years its just insane. Thank you to all the voters, commentors and each and every person who submits pics to this site. If it werent for you I surely wouldnt be doing what I am now.

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 127
Avg (all users): 6.9693
Avg (commenters): 7.9583
Avg (participants): 6.6346
Avg (non-participants): 7.0526
Views since voting: 7410
Views during voting: 475
Votes: 261
Comments: 67
Favorites: 9 (view)

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AuthorThread
 04/01/2008 01:50:41 AM
this is very nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/24/2008 05:20:06 AM
just looks bloody good...:-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2008 03:21:29 AM
Hey Tim - congrats on finally getting your Yellow! (and for taking the Enzo tournament).
Love the image - great lighting & setup!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2008 12:00:16 AM
Enslaves the eyes! Congratulations

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/20/2008 07:54:38 PM
Great shot - love the lighting and setup. Congrat's!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/20/2008 01:28:15 PM
The lighting on this is wildly brilliant. Excellent photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/20/2008 05:24:18 AM
Nice picture, looks a lot like Peete's awesome image called "Portrait of a Taurus" except a bit brighter.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/20/2008 02:14:12 AM
does anyone else see the grim reaper in the smoke?
the wispy parts reaching out over the forehead is an arm
a profile of a skeleton head looking down is the highest part over the nose
the hooked highest part of the smoke is the scythe
he's all bent over with a bit of a hunch in his back

or is it just me?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 07:55:02 PM
Congrats on your yellar!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 01:34:42 PM
Cigarettes are easier to puff , great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 01:18:10 PM
Tim - I didn't vote in this challenge, but what a great shot. The lighting is spot on and for those of us with calibrated monitors so is the balance of light and dark :- )

Help me understand though - you got through 3 Cigars as a non-smoker ?? I think you might qualify as a smoker now . . you foul polluter you :- )
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 01:15:51 PM
3 cigars???! Surely you jest. ;) Glad to see you added a yellow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 01:10:39 PM
Great use of light! I love it! well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 11:13:31 AM
Congrats Tim! Are we having fun yet?! I personally love photos where there is "play" involved -- even when forced into the garage :)
I'm glad an image with a somewhat different message about pollution made it to the front page. The beard makes cigar smoking convincing for some reason - but I bet it holds the smell a bit too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 11:03:57 AM
Cool idea. Congrats on the Ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 10:49:21 AM
Tim, this photo TOTALLY rocks!!! Perfection!!! Congratulations on top honors for your efforts. I would have been throwing up puffing that much smoke from a cigar :) You did GOOD!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 10:45:47 AM
Congrats on the ribbon! Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 09:24:24 AM
Great shot. I am honoured to be on the same page!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 07:04:35 AM
Excellent work, congrats on the third place!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 06:53:43 AM
great picture,well done/congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 06:33:46 AM
Great image. Congrats on the yellow (at last) as well as the win in the Enzo tournament.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 04:45:42 AM
Finally a yellow! Congrats! Glad this worked out for you on all counts!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 04:41:43 AM
Someone has to stop that guy, I wonder how you always manage to ribbon even when you're in the shot :-P
Seriously, very well done, congrats on the yellow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 03:27:17 AM
Having a coffee now and this photo is really making me crave a ciggie like you wouldn't believe....(I quit in September)

: (
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 02:33:14 AM
ATG Tim!!! Congrats on the ribbon, this is a fantastic shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 02:23:49 AM
Don't you know smoking kills? But, hey, it also gets you a ribbon. ;-) Congratulations, Tim - you just keep on steamingsmoking along.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 01:49:39 AM
WTG, Tim!! Huge congrats on winning the Enzo Tourny, the cash AND a ribbon. That's what I call good work. Oh, nearly forgot, the shot is great, too ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:59:28 AM
Congrats man!
Finally a Yellow!!!!!!!! No Blue....No red...

Great!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:58:19 AM
cool shot Tim , well done !!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:28:32 AM
I find that tiny booger distracting. :P

Congrats Tim!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:21:23 AM
Congrats!! Told ya it was a winner. :D

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:20:01 AM
Grats on the Ribbon!! sweet but creepy photo in I swear I can see a little grim reaper in the smoke, the sickle is up top center and the head is just to the lower right of it... creepy

Grats buddy :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:19:43 AM
Fine concept, and excellent photography. Congrats on the new ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:18:17 AM
Congrats Tim!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:16:34 AM
This is an AMAZING shot!! Great job Tim!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:11:15 AM
Sweet yellow for you Tim! F I N A L L Y !!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:06:17 AM
Congrats on a sweet image and winning the Enzo tournament!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2008 12:05:48 AM
Congrats, Tim! Not only on the ribbon, but on winning the Hotpasta benefit tourney!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/18/2008 11:11:03 PM
Great Image. Love the way the light brings out the smoke so much.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/18/2008 10:42:14 PM
Excellent smoke and excellent light.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/18/2008 04:26:29 AM
smooky...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2008 03:23:04 PM
Awesome capture of the smoke!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2008 01:51:59 PM
I could not agree more with the title. Nice stop motion of the smoke. I don't care for the square crop on this, but that's just me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2008 06:03:42 AM
Cool image, works well for this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2008 01:31:50 PM
Love how you've captured the wispiness of the smoke.. and great lighting. another winner mr. toole..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2008 12:40:56 PM
Stunning shot there, I love the swirling smoke, the lighting really highlights it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2008 12:56:14 AM
Great lighting!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2008 12:38:41 AM
zat you tim? Nighz!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2008 12:30:04 PM
A very well done photo, and the smoke stands out.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2008 11:18:21 AM
nice capture and very interesting smoke pattern.8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2008 09:42:55 AM
great shot..the lighting is perfect
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2008 09:41:56 AM
Great photo. The composition and lighting creates a perfect emphasis on the smoke.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2008 03:07:41 AM
What a great shot. Would love to give you some criticism - but I can't. LOL A perfect shot, well executed, well exposed and a creative view of the theme. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2008 01:09:38 AM
Cool. The smoke reminds me of the big ghost from "Poltergeist". Good job blocking out all the surrounding light.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2008 10:50:07 PM
My Pick for ribbon. Very good lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2008 10:26:09 PM
Striking
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2008 02:01:24 PM
nice lighting job to catch the smoke. even the beard adds an interesting "texture" element in the shot. i like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2008 10:35:20 AM
The form of the smoke is beautiful. Also the contr5asting white realy bring emphaiss to it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2008 10:00:38 AM
The smoke makes a great photo with amazing shape and form. Good detail and focus too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2008 09:40:14 AM
i like the smoke.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2008 09:11:28 PM
This is a fantastic capture! Excellent timing, very good light, and a very individual interpretation of the subject. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2008 04:28:05 PM
Superb control of light! Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2008 02:30:56 PM
I like how the face fades out to blackness... nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2008 11:47:57 AM
First i saw a well shot photo,but then you think wheres that smoke been and wheres it going,i'm glad that smoking has been banned in public places in the UK.
 03/12/2008 09:23:44 AM
Nice lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2008 06:32:46 AM
Like the lighting, personally would have preferred a less square crop, but takes nothing away from the image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2008 01:48:13 AM
the best of the cigarette takes, nice, 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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