Melting Away - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

01/21/2006 02:00:35 AM · #1

Our annual "IceFest" is this weekend....only problem is that it's a balmy 57 degrees outside right now and it's almost 2am. It was even a bit warmer earlier.

The last two years have been bitterly cold, however it does help the sculptures stay nice. I wouldn't mind a compromise somewhere between the negative wind chill and the balmy breezes. Oh well.

Went downtown tonight because there is a photo contest every year. Last year I placed first in the B/W catagory ($100) The ice sculptures looked pitiful and many were not there or broken off in places.

Here are three I think people can at least recognize. At least all the photographers will have the same challenges.

"Moonlight Sail"

"Running Out of Time"

"Blue Whale"

The entries are to be 8x10 size matted on 11x14. I'm pretty sure I'll enter the sailboat, but I'm undecided which of the other two to do. Probably leaning more toward the whale, although the judges have in the past seemed to like somewhat edited, graphic looking stuff - more like the dolphin - so I'm not sure. The clock in the dolphins shot is our county court house, which adds a bit of local flavor to the shot.

Really too bad about the weather, but wish me luck! Which two would you choose?

Skyarcher

Canon EOS-5D

01/21/2006 02:09:02 AM · #2

First off.... good luck! :)

Second, if it were me entering, I would do the sailboat and the whale.

In the dolphin shot I wasn't thrilled with the lights in the background and honestly, the clock either. Sorry.

For the whale.. the background lights are not obtrusive in the image and the coloring of the whale is just beautiful. (Was it a blue spotlight on it?)

The sailboat, not thrilled with the light off to the right, are you allowed to clone/heal that out by chance? I liked the stark darkness of the background with the sailboat. I also thought it was pretty cool that you can see toward the bottom where it is melting and you were able to capture it.

Just my opinion.......

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

01/21/2006 09:27:23 AM · #3

Yes, I can clone. I don't want to do too much, though. Last year my BW winner had the whole background blacked out and my goal was to not repeat that technique in full this year. That's why I left one light and some of the surrounding base grass, etc for the sailboat. The light is supposed to be the "moon" in "moonlight sail" Maybe it doesn't work, though.

Thanks for your comments. I do appreciate them!

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

01/21/2006 09:37:17 AM · #4

Did you try any backlighting? I think the brightness on the front of the sculptures sorta detracts from the presentation. I was looking at the sailboat and thought that the crack in the sail could be a unique feature. The dolphins are nice, I'd ni the heck out of them myself.
Good luck. I remember the one you did last year, so you have an idea of what the judges are looking for.

SandyP

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 USM

01/21/2006 09:42:19 AM · #5

Well. . .I think, since like you say, all the photographers are going to have the same issues, your Moonlight sail is a winner. Its beautiful. The "moon" adds a lot.

Where do you live? I live in Texas where 57 degrees is frigid winter. We get all excited when we have 57 degree weather :) I would love to see something like this. I'd love to see more of your shots. They are a real treat. How big were these sculptures?

Good luck!

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

01/21/2006 09:43:55 AM · #6

Originally posted by pcody:

These are all totally back-lit by colored spots. It's actually one of the challenges for the photography to try to work with the glare that those spots give off. Angles are everything, but because of the melting last night, angles were even harder. Many angles on many sculptures, you wouldn't even tell what it was!

I may try some heavier NI. I've already run them through once.

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

01/21/2006 10:06:07 AM · #7

oops. They are good then, considering the lighting you had to work with!