mostly 'armless
by Manic

Comment by Manic:
Wow, my highest rated photo so far! Thanks for all the comments! (and votes!) :o)

The hand here was my own, which is why its not been manicured or anything (I still bite my nails sometimes, which is why they don't look so good), and the shot was taken using a complex system of a tripod balanced on a windowsil at night, using the reflection of the LCD screen in the window to position my hand, and lit using a desklamp.

The original shot, pre B&W and cropping, can be seen at //www.manic.nu/hand1a-orig.jpg

The lamp was in shot in order to get the camera's light sensors to darken the rest of the background. I then cropped the lamp out of shot, converted the image to B&W, then played with the colour balance and contrast, so that the glow off the top of my hand was reduced. I didn't crop any closer as I wanted a good amount of black around the hand, to make it look more like it was floating in nothing.

I wasn't intentionally going for an Addams Family theme - I merely saw the reflection of my hand in the window and tried to replicate it, ending up with an image I was very happy with. The only things I feel I could have improve were pointed out in your comments - the lighting on the top of the hand, and on the thumb, plus a bit more focus tweaking.

Thanks again!

Message edited by author 2002-12-14 14:18:13.

mostly 'armless
by Manic

Comment by Gordon:
love that cousin It look! Nails could do with some care. Good picture, like the DOF fading away into the background. Could be cropped tighter ?

mostly 'armless
by Manic

Comment by Reuben:
Perfect title. My only complaint is the partly visible bits of the hand near the top. I think the photo might be more bold if the cutoff was more pronounced (though it is quite pronounced as it is!)

mostly 'armless
by Manic

Comment by Remie:
Looks like "thing" from the Adams Family (I'm probably not the first one saying that). Anyhow, I think the picture will have had more impact if there is less black below the hand.

mostly 'armless
by Manic

Comment by irae:
Good, creative (low budget?) lighting, and well composed.

mostly 'armless
by Manic

Comment by Gracious:
A very simple, uncomplicated photograph. Could be a little clearer perhaps, But I like it very much. Husband called it intriguing.

mostly 'armless
by Manic

Comment by Swashbuckler:
Cool effect. I think lighting from the side more (or added lighting) might have exposed the finger tips better, but might have ruined the illusion, just a thought. Photo 9 Creativity 9 B&W 9 total 9

mostly 'armless
by Manic

Comment by mnewman:
nice mouse posture! :)

mostly 'armless
by Manic

Comment by Kimbly:
Interesting. I don't think I'd know how to do that.

mostly 'armless
by Manic

Comment by Dangerous_blues:
Unique photograph. I think it might have been a little better is the focus was a little stronger, but still an interesting shot.