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Swallow Tale
2nd PlaceSwallow Tale
scalvert


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Pasta (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Favorites - Ribbons
Camera: Canon EOS-50D
Lens: Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
Location: Easton, CT
Date: Aug 30, 2009
Aperture: f/5.0
ISO: 160
Shutter: 1/160
Date Uploaded: Aug 30, 2009

 Despite suggesting the challenge topic, I wasn't going to enter at all… until Idnic dared me to beat her. ;-P

So a couple of hours before the deadline, I cooked some farfalle, elbow macaroni and angel hair pasta to make this: a mediocre composition riding on the shoulders of a good concept. It speaks well of the voters that so many were able to see past the weak communication and figure out the story. I tried several different arrangements, but simply ran out of time and submitted two minutes before midnight.

The background is a muslin backdrop with a honeycomb grid spotlight on it. The plate is placed on a stack of boxes in a dish rack with the fork clamped to the side of the rack, and the farfalle is hanging from my fingers on thin fishing line (you can still see it tied to the narrow part of the pasta). Getting the macaroni and angel hair "cocoon" to stay in place was frustratingly difficult. I thought it would be sticky enough as it cooled, but ultimately resorted to hot glue, and of course the "butterflies" were spinning uncontrollably. I did get some shots with all three butterflies straight on, but showing different angles seemed more natural.

Processing: Racing against the deadline… Crop, Levels, USM, Channel Mixer conversion to B&W with a slight Colorize tint, cloned out the thin fishing lines, a blurry crease in the background, and a few spots on the pasta and fork, then some quick dodge and burn on the pasta and existing vignette.

Wow— I certainly didn't expect a score like this. Thanks, gang! Now if only I had thought of this clever idea for the caterpillars.

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 70
Avg (all users): 7.0775
Avg (commenters): 8.5714
Avg (participants): 6.6500
Avg (non-participants): 7.2451
Views since voting: 5325
Views during voting: 334
Votes: 142
Comments: 50
Favorites: 13 (view)

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AuthorThread
 09/12/2009 02:35:45 AM
This was one of my favotires in this challenge, glad it ribboned,
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/11/2009 06:03:10 AM
Shannon you are a freak! Love your new website too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/09/2009 09:04:21 PM
I just don't get this. What did I miss?
Debbi
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/09/2009 06:35:52 PM
Originally posted by scalvert:
Originally posted by JulietNN:
People should double dog dare you more often!

No thanks. Whenever I'm "expected" to come through, I pull out all the stops. So tournaments, DPL, direct competitions and topics that I suggest account for the vast majority of my higher scores. I don't have IreneM's grasp of color and composition, the models of Kiwiness or Librodo, or the landscapes of Iceland or Cannon Beach, so I have to lean heavily on concepts. It's tough to do that on every single challenge, so I've generally avoided the DPC Olympics, Formula competition and side challenges. Plus, I'm down to one camera with a sticky shutter button. :-(


You should avoid free studies too. :P
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2009 04:27:58 PM
so fun and whimsical - love it! (technically excellent to boot!)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2009 04:03:23 PM
Very cool, I love butterflies, congrats on your red ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2009 03:00:34 PM
I love this.. very creative.. I think it's much better than the blue and yellow winners.. : )
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/08/2009 12:13:49 PM
Wonderful shot, everything is as sharp as it should be, congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 10:25:57 PM
You've done it again, Shannon. That's pretty flippin' creative. :~) Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 02:45:36 PM
Cool! Hehe, when I first saw it on the front page, I thought the title was "shallow tale". I thought, hmmmm, deep and meaningful image, I suppose. Hehe. But it is what it is. I love the way you think!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 02:45:07 PM
Very, very creative Mr Scalvert.....it is a pleasure to share the front page with you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 01:39:52 PM
Great idea and imagination. Love the story in the photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 01:17:23 PM
One more for the king of set-ups,congrats Shannon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 11:42:33 AM
I had a feeling this was yours, you are the most creative person I know! Congrats on the ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 11:21:53 AM
Originally posted by JulietNN:
People should double dog dare you more often!

No thanks. Whenever I'm "expected" to come through, I pull out all the stops. So tournaments, DPL, direct competitions and topics that I suggest account for the vast majority of my higher scores. I don't have IreneM's grasp of color and composition, the models of Kiwiness or Librodo, or the landscapes of Iceland or Cannon Beach, so I have to lean heavily on concepts. It's tough to do that on every single challenge, so I've generally avoided the DPC Olympics, Formula competition and side challenges. Plus, I'm down to one camera with a sticky shutter button. :-(

Message edited by author 2009-09-07 11:54:42.
 09/07/2009 11:15:30 AM
sweet shot, well done!! People should double dog dare you more often!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 10:49:41 AM
Originally posted by liberty:
Great set up and idea..Congrats on the yellow

Dark yellow?
 09/07/2009 10:47:05 AM
Great set up and idea..Congrats on the yellow
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 10:19:17 AM
Genius and adorable as always :) A perfect choice for a ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 09:57:55 AM
Great idea and such a brilliant execution. Photos like these are so inspiring! Simply awesome !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 09:17:12 AM
Very avant-garde.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 08:54:35 AM
Great idea. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 07:33:03 AM
Nice work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 04:22:57 AM
WOW, what a creative work. Excellent finish.
Congrates.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 02:24:53 AM
One of 3 tens I dished out - I think you actually put the concept across incredibly well and not much thinking was really required on the voters behalf. Good job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 01:37:25 AM
Creative, original, superb! Congrats on your well deserved ribbon Shannon!! It's so good to see you on the front page again.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 12:48:45 AM
Very creative, excellent work. Love the tones. Congrats on the ribbon Shannon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 12:33:33 AM
Brilliant and delightful concept. I would say something about the execution except the execution IS the concept.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 12:24:14 AM
Good one Shannon. Well thought out and executed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 12:20:03 AM
this was one of my favs.....great story here......love the title.....Congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 12:11:16 AM
Amazing as usual Shannon...congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 12:05:12 AM
WOW .. incredibly imaginative and brilliant .. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 12:04:27 AM
Congratulations! Very well deserving image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/07/2009 12:02:03 AM
I love this one. It's one of those shots that really grows on you until you find it fascinating. Well done, yet again!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
09/06/2009 06:43:36 PM
Very cool, works in B&W. Not sure what the plate represents. Oh wait ... caterpillar to cocoon and then wings, I get it. Bump 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/06/2009 02:50:41 PM
Cute scene! I love the background. Great clarity and detail on everything too. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/05/2009 03:55:38 PM
I love how it tells a story.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/04/2009 11:38:54 PM
Very creative!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/04/2009 10:15:21 PM
Brought a smile to my face and very creatively done. Well photographed!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/04/2009 10:55:08 AM
nice, don't quite like the pasta on the plate.....ooooohhh I seeee ... clever really clever and beautifully shot too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/03/2009 01:50:14 PM
Oh my, how creative!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/03/2009 11:14:37 AM
what a great idea...I hope you include your PP notes as to "how" you made the swallow tales...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/02/2009 07:58:18 PM
very creative......nice touch of B&W.....you may have a ribbon tale here!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/02/2009 01:47:11 PM
Took a few seconds to figure it out. Nice idea and excellent execution.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/31/2009 06:14:18 PM
love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/31/2009 03:23:43 PM
Clever, and beautifully executed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/31/2009 05:53:30 AM
i love this amazing my first 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/31/2009 02:01:18 AM
It wasn't until I took a story in your picture. My interpretation is of caterpillars becoming cocoons and then butterflies.

Great job, this is one of my favorite photos in the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/31/2009 01:21:07 AM
I like the concept & it's simple but appealing treatment!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/31/2009 12:11:17 AM
Such a genius idea! 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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