If Looks Could Kill
by scalvert

Comment by RACosta:
Thanks for explaining how you got the shadow. I was wondering! Great shot.

If Looks Could Kill
by scalvert

Comment by Madukes:
Great job, again!! I love the sepia tones and the overall clarity and idea for this photo is just off the hook!!

Crystalline
by scalvert

Comment by ScubaSteve13:
snow flakes are really cool and no two are the same nice contrast in the pic

If Looks Could Kill
by scalvert

Comment by scalvert:

Originally posted by Greetmir: ... cropping the waist up image out of that photo would make a super shot IMO!

A cropped version would NOT have worked IMO. It's important to see the continuity of the shadow from the feet up or there is no trick. If you separate the shadow from the body by cropping, then the viewer may assume it's a painted or printed shadow on the wall, a backlit scrim, or coming from another model outside the frame. The full shadow is a tougher visual puzzle, and I'm sure a cropped version would not have made the top 20.

If Looks Could Kill
by scalvert

Comment by scalvert:

Originally posted by Greetmir: I would guess that if you did it again you would cock the elbow tighter to the shoulder or head to help with perspective...

Yes, and I'd try to find a wall without an outlet, too. I was planning to shoot this in front of a particular wall at my office, but my model bailed out on me and I had to improvise at home a few hours before the deadline. There isn't much room to the right or left of her, and there was no way to hide that outlet in Basic. If I shot from the opposite side, I couldn't get the light far enough back to produce a good shadow. The cardboard cutout could certainly be better, but I wasn't going to keep my daughter up past her bedtime while I made another one.

As I said in the notes, though, I was satisfied enough with this one to enter it (with obviously good results). DPCers are generally more sophisticated than they get credit for, and if the concept is good enough, the voters overlook a couple of flaws.

P.S.- no apology necessary. Constructive criticism is a rare gift on this site. ;-)

Message edited by author 2007-03-02 10:15:40.

If Looks Could Kill
by scalvert

Comment by Greetmir:
Yeah well ... so shoot me ... because I love MOST of what you have EVER produced ... but this one left me HUGELY flat. While the technicals are awesome as usual ... the cardboard cutout looks just like what it is and WAY out of perspective. WAY WAY out.

A more tightly bent "elbow" that brought the hand (and knife) in the shadow closer to the shoulder or head for an apparent downward thrust would have made this image deserve the third place it garnered.

I also think that the electrical outlet parked in the anal canal of the shadow of the child is not up to your usual standards any more than the shadow of the cutout can have satisfied you. I cannot believe you saw this and did not reshoot.

IMO ... only mine ... Lighting super. PP super ... cutout ghastly bad in perspective, wall plug ... gimme a break ... unless you were trying to make a statement with this electrical outlet, could you not have moved her down the wall a tad or even covered it with a post-it note? Your son in the outake doesn't have this outlet there.

(OK ... I just read your entire photographer's comments and see you said it was unavoidable ... but I think this should have taken this image out of the running for a ribbon ... but obviously that is not the majority opinion)

Only you will know if you are happy with this shot but I would guess that if you did it again you would cock the elbow tighter to the shoulder or head to help with perspective AND (a little bit) with the sharpness problem.

Sorry, Shannon ... this is the only one of your ribbons that I do not think you deserved to get and I hope you agree with me that it did not.

Having said all that ... cropping the waist up image out of that photo would make a super shot IMO! ... fantastic lighting and expression.

Oh dayam ... having read that again ... I just KNOW I am gonna be tarred and feathered as a rude, inconsiderate, jealous, and rotten Scalvert basher ... but that is really my opinion on this ONE image. Forgive me. I really do love your work.

Message edited by author 2007-03-02 09:49:34.

If Looks Could Kill
by scalvert

Comment by kelbelle:
My shadow tried to do that to me just the other day! Amazing creativity and just an incredible work of photographic art Shannon. I will now get to work building an altar in my living room where I will worship you daily. Halla halla halla...

If Looks Could Kill
by scalvert

Comment by kje83:
What an idea. I adore this. And looks really do kill...especially from the little ones.

If Looks Could Kill
by scalvert

Comment by charmayne:
Shannon, you do amaze me! Congratulations on another Ribbon and a very well planned and executed realization of yet another brilliant idea!

If Looks Could Kill
by scalvert

Comment by strangeghost:
LOL. Shannon, how many ribbon "assists" does your family possess now?? This is excellent. I could shoot this, I just can't come up with your ideas!!