The idea of this image comes from an illustration. I really loved the concept, and decided to recreate it. On a side note, I believe this is a good example of why editing restrictions are not compatible with what I like to do (and the reason why I don't enter such challenges a lot): this image is still very far from the result I had in mind, despite my countless hours of work. Creating what I want is often simply impossible with "Basic (or even sometimes Advanced) editing": it's not that I particularly love editing, it's simply that there is no other way to get there.
Sculpting the dancing candles was a bit messy, but I like the result. I had to put the candles in hot water to melt the wax a bit, bend them carefully (I broke like 8 of them before succeeding), then my wife created the legs and arms with metal wires and paper. Of course, the whole thing was covered with wax, using other candles as a source.
For the photo itself, it was done using a long exposure (87 seconds) in a dark room:
1) Cover the lens (with a dark sheet of paper). Open shutter (bulb mode of course).
2) Position a flashlight behind the candle on the left, remove the cover from the lens, then create a trail in a smooth gesture (The flashlight was covered with several diffusing sheets and a yellow gelatine.)
3) Cover the lens again.
4) Position the flashlight behind the other candle, remove the cover, then similarly, create the other light-painted trail.
5) Trigger flashes, to create the main lighting of the scene.
6) Put the cover on the lens again, and light the wicks of the candles.
7) Remove the cover and put it again very fast, to not overexpose the fire (handheld shutter ;-) ) Close shutter. That's it!
For the fully edited version of it, I added some flying wax bits, some flames in the light-painted trails, and corrected many little things here and there. I like it much more than the DPC version, the difference is really huge in my eye.
Thanks for all the kind comments and votes!
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 46 Avg (all users): 7.5893 Avg (commenters): 8.9130 Avg (participants): 7.3214 Avg (non-participants): 7.6786 Views since voting: 5169 Views during voting: 322 Votes: 112 Comments: 63 Favorites: 24 (view)
This image immediately conjures to my mind childhood's four magic words, "once upon a time..."
The magical castle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast springs to life and perhaps Lumière finally gets his own intimate and romantic dance scene in the ballroom when a beautiful candle casts a spell over his heart. The match sticks provide elegant supportive characters. (I'm skipping the "expert" version of this image and waiting for your 3-D special edition...;-)...). I like the sense of adventure and fun.
This image is spectacular in my book. The effort to create this image astounds me and it's nice to know that it was appreciated and recognized with Blue! Congratulations!
Words fail me how you go about and work creatively and overcome every challenge in editing, photography and themes/ideas for challenges. Great work. Always inspirational to look at and enjoy your work
btw, this is a rare case for me, because i love your edits in general, but the Basic edit version is my more favored between the two. I feel the fully edited has more "fire" so to speak and it looks brilliant. I just like the whisky-ness of its less edited brother
You are a true artist, I love the creativity you always come up with. Looking at the fully edited version I see why you would rather be able to complete the image you start. Great image/
Most excellent job. What a team you and your wife are. Instant fave, as I highly admire what can be done in basic editing with lots of creativity and this is super!
I like the red tips of the unused matches and the bits of smoke from the used ones in the flickr version. The flame effects are cool there but I like the softer look of this. Just a little windsept effect would be perfect to get sense of movement. A more natural look, without the flaming trails. Not too much of a good thing ;)
First, I dance tango, so this image really touched a chord. Second, this is BASIC?????? My awe of your vision and dedication continues to grow. Congrats on the blue, Christophe
Congratulations, Christophe. Lovely work that you and your wife produce, you make a great team. Thanks for sharing the link, I can see that the expert one has a bit more vigour and that it is frustrating to have limitations. However your entry had what it took to finish on top.
Hmmmm, I like the color of the light on the basic editing shot better than the expert one. But I love the smoke from the matches in the expert. The rest, well I feel strongly both ways. :)
I'm so glad you posted both, however. Whenever I'm working in basic editing, I get annoyed and wish it was advanced. However, I never bother going back and reworking it to see what I could have done. So it was great fun to see the difference and what touches you added.
I think you need to clone your wife, however. She has such talent!! I love the props she makes for you!
as a tango dancer (amateur) myself I can testify that this is a pretty good pose! :) Congrats, Christophe, having done this within basic rules is pretty darn impressive.
Excellently imagined and executed. With a minimal amount of wax you have captured the angle and position of the arms and legs so well it is easy to imagine the movement as they glide across the floor.
I completely agree with this. I've seen your fully edited version and it loses the magic. The basic editing ruleset might annoy you, but you are the poster child for basic editing, imho. Those limits make you shine.
Congrats on the blue! I just have to ask, do you have a job? Because the amount of time you put into your art must be phenomenal. Unless you work at hyperspeed, I could not imagine you have much time to get the house work done! Cheers to your wife for putting up with your commitment to your art!
Thanks a lot! You are right, this required a fair amount of time (4 evening of about 5h each). So it can be done if you can afford to not do anything else than work/photography/sleep ;-) Also, 2 pairs of hands (and eyes) is a great advantage.
Excellently imagined and executed. With a minimal amount of wax you have captured the angle and position of the arms and legs so well it is easy to imagine the movement as they glide across the floor.
Congrats on the blue! I just have to ask, do you have a job? Because the amount of time you put into your art must be phenomenal. Unless you work at hyperspeed, I could not imagine you have much time to get the house work done! Cheers to your wife for putting up with your commitment to your art!
The pathos! I can hear the music! Totally adorable.
The edited version is trying to say too much and takes away the candor sliding the image into illustration mode (that you always prefer).
The dancing light above their "heads" is so delicate and still subordinate to the action making the photo to look so real!
Wonderful playing of the matches in their attempt to dance also.
Two fingers up to the nay sayers who detract from your work saying its Only because of ps, not photography. Well (expletive deleted) me even in basic Christophe is out doing you :). Top work and a glorious image, but damn another technique I'm going to have to study. 10 :)
I'm in awe of your talent, Christophe. Glorious image, must say I prefer this one to the fully edited version. It's so much more gentle and romantic... The fully edited version has a more aggresive touch.
Many congrats on your blue.
To me it's just amazing to see this kind of proficiency and dedication. It was my highest scoring image and i'm happy it's yours christophe congratulations!!!
Such dedication. I think this rather makes a case for 'Basic' - it sets the bar rather high in terms of technical proficiency and achievement of vision.
I love this photo. Its so creative. I like the fire and smoke from the matches in the fully edited version but I gotta say I like it better without the bits of flying wax. Maybe its because I already know what it looks like without it. Anyway nice job....another blue for the collection!
This is a very artistic and original idea. It gives me a happy feeling looking at it. I am not sure how to comment on the technical aspects, but i love really like it.
#1
The only creative shot in the challenge. Don't know how you got the awesome light trails in basic (they look too perfect), so hopefully it doesn't get DQ'ed.
Candlelight Tango
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