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The Mysterious Cult
2nd PlaceThe Mysterious Cult
gyaban


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Extreme Supermoon (Expert Editing*)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Date: Mar 20, 2011
Date Uploaded: Mar 20, 2011

 [Mar. 26th, 2011 02:43:01 PM]

I really enjoyed entering this challenge, although it was a bit of a Marathon.

My entry has been done in 2 big days:
- Saturday morning: I woke up at 8.30am, then started to brainstorm in order to find an idea. Around 12.00, everything was set in my head, and I wrote a list of all the shots I was going to need: flowers, leaves, man in a suit (all of these in different positions), lake, horizon of trees, clouds, fog, birds... and of course, the moon! Bad news, the sky was really crowded, only clouds everywhere :-(

- Saturday afternoon: weather forecasts were optimistic, so I tried my luck and started the project. Traveled to the lake near my house, took some shots of it, as well as the cloudy sky and the horizon of trees. Back home, I set my home studio to simulate light coming from the behind, and took many photos of me in a suit, of leaves from my garden, and flowers. When all of this was finished, it was 8.00pm.

- Saturday evening: the moon! I took my tripod, my 600mm + 1.4x extender, went to a good viewpoint, and crossed fingers... This is where I got lucky, I got a clear shot around 10pm. One hour later, the whole area was submerged in fog! This was a short window, but sufficient. Back home again... now, processing! I worked until 4.00am. At this stage, the lake, trees, moon, 2 'flowermen' and all their reflections were done.

- Sunday morning: more processing! I worked from 8.00am to 3.00pm, at which point most of the picture was finalized. I was still lacking some birds, so I went out again, and shot some during 2 hours. Then I spent the evening trying many color adjustments, tones, and polishing the whole. The final entry was uploaded 2 hours before the deadline (i.e. 3.00am french time).

This is the most ambitious montage I worked on so far. Some technical considerations:
- 36 individual photos are used in the entry
- The final file is quite big: 2.22Gb
- It contains 140 layers

I realize my processing skills are very far from real wizards' ones, but I am happy about my progression.

Moreover, as I write this, the votes and comments have been absolutely fantastic: I am so delighted! Thank you all!

_____________

Post challenge edit:

I am not going to lie, I was expecting the blue on this one. However, this is still a new PB, and with a very personal piece of work, so I am quite happy and proud nonetheless ;-)

Thank you all!

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 85
Avg (all users): 7.8389
Avg (commenters): 9.0541
Avg (participants): 7.5714
Avg (non-participants): 7.9389
Views since voting: 9677
Views during voting: 777
Votes: 180
Comments: 68
Favorites: 43 (view)

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AuthorThread
 04/23/2011 04:04:33 PM
Excellent creativity and delivery.

Tremendous shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/23/2011 11:08:22 AM
Very cool picture! Congrats on the ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/18/2011 10:15:43 AM
what a cool shot!!! congrats on your ribbon...well deserved!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/03/2011 02:32:45 PM
WOW!! Very Nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/31/2011 02:54:15 PM
I want to hang this on my wall. WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/31/2011 10:01:56 AM
You have 140 layers in this image, and you do not think you are a wizard?!!! Holy jumping pinto beans! I can't imagine the amount of work that went into this, even when I read about it. Wow!!!! Congratulations on a very well deserved red...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/29/2011 04:50:17 PM
You got 50 votes of 10. That's quite phenomenal (and more than the blue ribbon winner got!). I was one of those... I also thought you would get the blue. Once again I am in awe of your creativity.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 12:05:03 PM
Splendid image! Creativity at its peak! Great imagination! Congrats on the ribbon.

Raj
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 11:22:43 AM
Nice and imaginative! 10...Congrats on the Red!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 10:59:12 AM
I love it when creativity is unbridled and you are awarded for it. WAY TO GO
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 09:32:33 AM
Congratulations on the red! Perfection as usual!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 06:21:52 AM
Very well done and congrats on the placement. I am not really a fan of the more 'graphic artist' approach to photography, but of those in the challenge, yours is clearly the most creative and engaging.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 06:11:38 AM
I have to commend you on your imagination firstly, your photography skills secondly, thirdly on your passion to photography and finally on your editing skills. A wonderful shot(s) and an end result that truly makes an observer look deeply at the picture and think of many (strange) things! Congrats on the PB - after all the work you deserve it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 04:43:14 AM
Congrats on the red and new PB. You must be out of your mind to do a composing like that, though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 02:46:58 AM
A fantastic job and I gave you a 10 I dont know how you have the patience or the time to sit and do all that
You deserve a medal and a wonderful result
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 01:48:06 AM
This is brilliant. Your creativity continues to astound me. 36 photos and 140 Layers??? Now that is dedication to your art. Huge congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 01:07:05 AM
this is incredible!!! knew it was gonna be top three.

I also knew it was yours because I recognized the background from your balcony photo.
excellent job.

p.s. saw your work on 1x the other day and was like "I compete against that guy!!!" lol
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 01:06:10 AM
Huge congrats on another brilliant work and new PB Christophe!!

Hard to believe those six 2- votes. Your image says Gyaban all over the place, and you are a ribbon hog, maybe that affected a bit.

I have calculated what your score would have been w/o any 2- vote (as in the blue ribbon winner histogram) and the result is 8.0517, that's closer to what this fantastic work deserves.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 12:54:34 AM
Oh what fiiine FINE ART! Who would EVER think that a 7.8 would not win blue! What an amazing challenge! And an even more amazing photo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 12:50:14 AM
I am stunned this did not win blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 12:35:21 AM
CHRISTOPHE!!!!! You are one seriously gifted artist with an extraordinary imagination. Congrats on the inevitable ribbon :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 12:33:21 AM
wow , I just read that 140 layers, sounds like a date I had once.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 12:31:51 AM
Christophe, man I'm getting tired of congratulating you on a ribbon, lol. Well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 12:15:17 AM
140 Layers?!?! Oh my!!! spectacular! awesome!! A new classic!! Congrats!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 12:12:49 AM
I have a hard time believing this didn't win, actually. Heck of an accomplishment!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/28/2011 12:11:30 AM
Quirky and fun! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/27/2011 11:35:56 PM
sooo weird. but a really cool use of expert editing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/27/2011 05:53:29 PM
Fantastic- Extreme super ten!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/27/2011 04:38:33 PM
campy, fun image. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/27/2011 09:47:41 AM
Winner. Love it. So out there.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/26/2011 02:08:56 PM
Ha, nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/24/2011 12:43:50 PM
Amazing art!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2011 07:44:31 PM
Very nice job with the reflection. Not sure I understand the "people" but it looks neat.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2011 04:22:33 PM
The killing detail IMHO is the flock of birds :-). Great job !!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2011 12:32:16 PM
oh my word this is phenomenal. SO creative. You could do Cirque du Soleil sets or something good like that. WOW.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2011 09:18:16 AM
Expertly done and with thought :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/23/2011 02:32:01 AM
Aiming to be different and succeeding. A wonderful concept.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2011 11:52:21 PM
Do these guys have a problem with bees? Surreal
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2011 11:33:03 PM
"The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds"
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2011 09:03:32 PM
When I see "Expert Editing" as an option, this is the kind of work I expect to have to compete against. This is beautifully composed, very well executed and worthy of the ribbon page. Flawless.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2011 02:50:44 PM
congrats in advance! 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2011 06:36:58 AM
At first glance of this photo, I was stunned silent. But I had to come back and say this is absolutely incredible. My first favorite on this site. Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2011 12:23:09 AM
I am going to call it in the first hour: Blue Ribbon for gyaban (I recognize the trees)
This is absolutely fantastic in concept and execution. A 10 and a fav, and I would give you an even higher score if only the scale went higher. You have really outdone yourself this time.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 10:55:55 PM
The postures, the lake setting (I've seen that before in another image that won blue), the creativity, the high quality of this work has be Gyaban. I like everything except the fog that should be seen in front of the figures, in other words the mist should have been painted out of the figures. Maybe it was by design? Either way, there are so many awesome elements I have to give it my 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 10:38:29 PM
Cool other worldly feel.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 08:47:32 PM
Most original and unique of the challenge. To image for sure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 08:16:55 PM
my guess is Gyaban - if I am wrong you know I meant it as a compliment! Beautifully done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 04:54:07 PM
FANTASTIC...SORRY I CAN ONLY GIVE YOU A 10!! GOOD LUCK
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 04:47:30 PM
Simply astounding, I'll be shocked if it doesn't ribbon! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 04:13:12 PM
Blue. No doubt.

Fabulous.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 01:19:21 PM
I absolutely LOVE this, my favorite of the challenge! This should ribbon and if it doesn't you were robbed. Already voted (10) coming back to comment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 12:51:50 PM
Totally weird. Totally entertaining. Well done. (not voting)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 12:11:18 PM
Awesome work! Very creative.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 12:08:45 PM
Excellent! My second 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 10:40:20 AM
One of the very best imaginative works. Very nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 10:39:14 AM
Oh this is terrific. Nice to see some good use for the Expert Editing rules. This is great. Something you'd see on 1X for sure. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 09:05:30 AM
Nice, very nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 08:36:31 AM
Excellent work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 07:03:11 AM
Amazing! Blue by a long shot!10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 04:13:06 AM
Very creative!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 02:40:17 AM
Very very good photo manipulation skill!!!! great job!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 01:47:37 AM
Fantastic, my top for this challenge, 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 01:21:36 AM
Utterly surreal and splendid. This level of detail and exceptional execution and imagination reminds me of gyaban's work. I'm predicting top 5, if not a ribbon. (Not voting)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 01:18:08 AM
What an amazing imagination you have. My favorite of a very creative challenge. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 01:11:40 AM
very creative
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 12:59:03 AM
I already said gratz on your ribbon on one image but I think this one will steal the blue. Gratz in advance.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 12:58:51 AM
Wow, what an inspiring imagination you have... I seriously love this! The creativity and execution are flawless. I really hope this ribbons.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2011 12:11:43 AM
winner
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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