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Very Bad Trick
2nd PlaceVery Bad Trick
gyaban


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: You're Doing It Wrong (Expert Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
Date: Nov 22, 2012
Date Uploaded: Nov 22, 2012

[Nov. 29th, 2012 06:32:37 PM]

For some reason, it seems to be much harder to get positive feedback from the art community when you are into humor. I am not talking about my little self, but in general: for example, comedies are generally not much rewarded at the Oscars ceremony, or humorists are often considered as worthless actors by their peers. It is a bit like if humor was too popular, too accessible, to get recognition from the intellectual sphere. This is a bit sad, since creating a really funny work of art is not easy at all, and certainly requires specific talent (Monty Pythons, Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, just to name a few classics).

Anyway, I personally always enjoy when a challenge calls for humorous entries. It is a very good occasion to try silly things in order to be funny - of course it often fails, but who cares. So when the challenge appeared, I tried to imagine a situation where of course, someone was doing something the wrong way, but also where some fantasy was going on, so that I could take advantage of the editing rules. This is how I arrived at that magical side, and this poor magician having troubles with the usual "rabbit-in-the-hat" trick.

From a technical point of view, I did my best to come up with a dynamic composition: the tilted hat looked quite good in the foreground, creating a diagonal with the magician in the background. However, at this stage the 2 main components where too dissociated, so I worked hard to make them appear more "linked", if that makes sense. In order to do that, I used some smoke, but mainly the wand: its direction and the blue light coming out of it was the best "tricks" I found for that purpose.

Regarding my face, I tried a lot of possibilities, but they were all just bad (yes, even more than this one). In order to look really grumpy, I decided to take this self portrait just after waking up: one always look totally off in the morning, at least for a few minutes ;-) So all the lighting was set the evening before, and when I left the bed I directly went to the studio and took a few photos during 5 minutes. My wife laughed when she saw the result, this is how I knew it worked as intended ;-)

Thank you all for the nice votes and comments!

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 46
Avg (all users): 7.6111
Avg (commenters): 9.0625
Avg (participants): 7.1250
Avg (non-participants): 7.7766
Views since voting: 4660
Views during voting: 417
Votes: 126
Comments: 32
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
Samsung GX-10
Pentax SMC-F 50mm f/1.7
 12/11/2012 03:28:50 PM
That's really excellent processing, very aware of light.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 12/05/2012 10:28:59 PM
love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony DSLR-A100
Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED
 12/02/2012 02:41:45 PM
Congratulations! perfect!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 12/01/2012 02:25:15 PM
Always a pleasure to see what you'll come up with next! Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 11/30/2012 03:35:27 PM
Harpo marx was the darling of artists and writers. Then again, he was the quiet one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a77
Sony DT 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM
11/30/2012 03:21:45 PM
Congrats on the red!! :) I love this one because the look on your face makes me smile. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
 11/30/2012 10:29:56 AM
Lovely stuff, Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF
 11/30/2012 09:50:00 AM
another one that really cracked me up!..congrats on the red Christophe!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
 11/30/2012 08:13:15 AM
I LOL'd! Great humor. I have a friend and Neighbor who is a professional magician. Definitely showing this to him. Great Job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7100
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 11/30/2012 07:08:21 AM
Love the pre-coffee face, Christophe! Excellent execution and idea as always. I do agree with you on your notes about humour, itès so much harder to do comedy well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/30/2012 01:16:57 AM
That makes me smile! Great image...congratulations! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R
Pentax SMC Pentax-M 50mm 1/1.4 Asahi
 11/30/2012 12:46:20 AM
I look forward to Expert Editing challenges not to enter but just to see your work. This has to be one of my favorites of yours. Awesome stuff. 10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 11/30/2012 12:33:04 AM
That's what your hair looks like when you get up in the morning...? Congrats on the ribbon, Christophe. You're cute even when you're grumpy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 11/30/2012 12:25:03 AM
I think I must have been asleep when I viewed this and thought you weren't inside the hat.

It's not perfectly done, but you're DEFINITELY INSIDE THE HAT.

I'm sorry. *meek apology*

Congrats to you!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
 11/30/2012 12:16:37 AM
Congratulations - well deserved and I love reading your notes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
 11/29/2012 11:35:12 PM
I am in awe of your talents - I keep trying to find places where things aren't seamless and I always fail. Fun interpretation of the challenge but it would make an awesome trick if some magician could pull it off :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z7II
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 11/29/2012 10:00:28 PM
Another Magical image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8
 11/29/2012 09:31:46 PM
Another very creative image, well executed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm X30
Custom Made Pinhole
 11/29/2012 04:30:23 PM
Ha!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z6II
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S
 11/29/2012 09:40:56 AM
Awe-inspiring image, love the details like the light in the wand and the bunny ears and collar. VWD!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm X-T1
Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS
 11/28/2012 10:24:45 AM
haha where's the bunny?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D5000
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G
11/28/2012 10:01:56 AM
Great job on this it looks like you did alot of work on it.
I hope it does well. I scored it well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R6
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 11/27/2012 04:42:44 PM
Ha, Nice idea. Well executed all around.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony DSLR-A100
Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED
 11/27/2012 03:40:43 AM
fantastic 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 11/25/2012 01:40:09 AM
You make a very cute bunny :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 11/24/2012 10:40:20 PM
You're a riot, Christophe! :D 9

I wish that... Bunny You were INSIDE the hat... instead of on the other side, since that make it appear that you could be crouching down beside it.

Still... fabulously mad PS skills... and a great imagination, as usual.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
 11/24/2012 12:35:09 PM
Has to be in the top three , super processing as always. Really enjoying the light and shade in this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D500
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 11/23/2012 10:44:18 PM
Love it!! Great dramatic effect with the smoke and lighting (magic wand/flashlight).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 11/23/2012 08:32:00 PM
Best in show award, congrats, great expression on your face
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7100
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 11/23/2012 01:00:58 PM
nice try but I think I recognize that hair anywhere, Christophe! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS
 11/23/2012 04:23:38 AM
Can't see anything wrong here (except for the moustache) :)

Very well done and congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
 11/23/2012 03:35:02 AM
Excellent as usual, I had to smile as I see the expression in your face. The magician must be very disappointed about the failed trick
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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