toothpasteby
aplomb76Comment: When approaching this picture, I asked myself, is there any 'technology' in toothpaste? Of course, there's tartar control, whitening, advanced care, breath freshening, etc. packaged in ever advanced delivery systems: from tubes, to pumps, to squeeze bottles. Judging by this model's pearly white teeth, I am assuming that the whitening variety is currently being used.
What did people use before the dawn of Toothpaste?
"Toothpaste is not a relatively modern phenomena. In fact, as long ago as 3000-5000 BC Egyptians made a dental cream by mixing powdered ashes of oxen hooves with myrrh, burned egg shells, pumice, and water. Unfortunately, these early Egyptians didn't have toothbrushes but used chew sticks to apply their dental cream.
In 1000 AD Persians added burnt shells of snails and oysters along with gypsum. Unfortunately, at this point, toothpaste was still reserved for the rich. In 18th century England a tooth cleaning "powder" containing borax was sold in ceramic pots. One of the problems, which lasted well into the twentieth century, was that they were often very abrasive, causing damage to teeth.
Prior to WWII, toothpaste was packaged in small lead/tin alloy tubes. The inside of the tube was coated with wax, however, once it was discovered that lead from the tubes leached into the product. It was the shortage of lead and tin during WWII that led to the use of laminated (aluminum, paper, and plastic combination) tubes. At the end of the twentieth century pure plastic tubes were used.
The breakthrough that transformed toothpaste into the crucial weapon against tooth decay was the finding that fluoride could dramatically reduce cavities. Dr. William Engler tested 400 preschool children and discovered a dramatic reduction in dental cavities among children treated with fluoride. This study, along with many others done around the world, led to the widespread introduction of fluoride in the 1950s." (www.saveyoursmile.com)
So there's definitely technology in the paste and gel we apply to our teeth everyday. Unfortunately, you don't really show us with this picture the old-school toothpaste, the kind made from powdered ashes of oxen hooves and burnt shells of snails. This is most likely the modern stuff we take for granted. I believe therefore that this picture does not adequately meet the challenge theme.
Concerning the technical and artistic aspects. Wow. Aside from a slight lack in saturation, the sharpness, focus, and DOF is remarkable. Even the model's freshly shaved stubble is clearly evident. The flow of drool running down his face shows a lot of detail and minimal overexposure. I can't find much here to criticize, perhaps maybe to slightly increase color saturation.
Artistically, you adequately show toothpaste in action. Sure, a close-up shot of toothpaste being squeezed out of a bottle would be more palatable to the masses, but I can't think of a more "in your face", up close and personal way to present this subject. Well done.
Photographer found comment helpful.
