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Falling Apart
1st PlaceFalling Apart
gyaban


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Falling Apart (Expert Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon TS-E 17mm f/4.0L MF
Date: Mar 14, 2013
Date Uploaded: Mar 14, 2013
[Mar. 18th, 2013 02:06:32 PM]

Why are we doing what we do, instead of not doing it? We all have habits, things that we do without really thinking about them. However, from time to time, we hesitate. Dilemmas, uncertainty, hard choices, doubts.

I do not know how everyone is handling such situation. As far as I'm concerned, I often try to weight pros and cons, as objectively as I can. Those two sides love to fight in my head: this is what I wanted to represent in my image. One side of my personality can be hard, disapproving any compromise (represented by the porcelain man, breaking instead of bending), while the other side can be much softer (the darkest man). Here, they are fighting over a decision, which is symbolized by the bird. I had a precise situation in my head when creating my picture, but in the end, it doesn't matter much, as any difficult decision could have been represented similarly.

Technically, here are the main photos that I took for this project:
- The background is completely real, I did not alter it at all. It is a crypt located in the upper part of the Mont Saint-Michel. Since the place is about 3h away from home, it took me a day to obtain it, but I think it was worth it. Incredible place.
- I posed for the 2 men photos. As you can imagine, the positions had to be well prepared, first as a drawing, then in reality. I used various tricks to help me hold the appropriate position; for example, when posing for the liquid man, I was holding a rope in my mouth that was attached to the wall behind me, to help me bend my neck and back.
- The bird photo required around 3 hours of hunting, as ravens love to flee when you want to photograph them.
- The splashes were realized by throwing items in a large bowl of milk.
- Finally, for the broken porcelain, I bought 4 white vases that I broke in my home studio. Photos were taken during the act, to obtain realistic projections, then also when the pieces were on the floor.

I am well aware that I am stepping into a style that could trigger rejection, as symbolism can be hard to understand at times, but I am very happy that some liked it anyway. Thank you.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 85
Avg (all users): 7.1652
Avg (commenters): 8.8235
Avg (participants): 6.7609
Avg (non-participants): 7.4348
Views since voting: 5854
Views during voting: 412
Votes: 115
Comments: 42
Favorites: 9 (view)

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AuthorThread
 05/09/2013 01:40:47 PM
Got the asigmatic for this'un!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/29/2013 06:38:54 PM
Fantastic art work and sheer brilliance in the creation of it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/26/2013 12:36:12 AM
i am constantly amazed by amount of creativity, time and effort you put into your work.
The outcomes are truly amazing. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 03:35:50 PM
big fan of this one. I felt a cringe when i saw the shatter on that rigid man. I wish his face would show the pain of breaking a bit more, but other than that- i really like this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 03:02:26 PM
Brilliant work and fantastic attention to detail like always. Huge congrats Christophe!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 02:18:11 PM
I wish I had a crypt near me to shoot in. ;)

Congrats friend! Love this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 12:53:43 PM
As always, absolutely brilliant. Congratulations.
What shocks me most when reading your descriptions is that I would be deliriously happy to get 1 of your individual shots. You seem to "casually" merge several stunning images to come up with your masterpieces. This is aweinspiring, truly.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 12:16:05 PM
Congratulations Christophe, your photo was simply the best. Thank you so much for this kind of picture. It really inspires me
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 10:36:52 AM
Fascinating, Christophe. Thank you for the photograper's notes. I love to read yours.

It's an amazing piece of art!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 08:01:31 AM
while i don't think this effort was one of your better entries (as far as the challenge topic goes) its amazes me the level of effort and time you put into your works.

amazing job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 06:59:11 AM
Originally posted by Loxodon:
Really? This looks so fake.
And now I know why I'm not a member.


This is an awesome shot and a well deserved Blue.

You appear to have missed the entire meaning of the shot and based on your comments, I'm kinda glad you aren't a member as well
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 04:40:09 AM
I don't want to imagine the state of your studio after "throwing items in a large bowl of milk" and breaking porcelain. Congrats on the blue this is a very very well cured image!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 02:25:59 AM
OH my but you take up hours of my life - shame on you - (smiles) I love to study your work - I love to try and interpret the meaning behind it - some are easy as you have a humorous side I enjoy - others, well, almost impossible to correctly discern what your meaning is if one has never lived your life - but it fits with my darker side so I lose time .. thank you for your notes and also a certain vulnerability (that might exist only in my mind)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 01:14:15 AM
Really? This looks so fake.
And now I know why I'm not a member.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 01:14:15 AM
Really? This looks so fake.
And now I know why I'm not a member.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 12:50:19 AM
Congrats, Christophe. I do understand that struggle very well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 12:38:02 AM
Congratulations, Christophe. As always, brilliant!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 12:32:43 AM
I never tire of saying this to you - Congratulations! You are an amazing artist.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 12:15:19 AM
Your dedication is Awesome!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 12:12:11 AM
I don't think there is anyone who can outdo you but yourself.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/22/2013 12:06:49 AM
Naturally, and it garnered a 7 from me for the editing expertise. WD.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/21/2013 11:52:45 PM
Most impressive hard to beat i,d say
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/21/2013 10:20:57 AM
Sometimes we are fragile.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/20/2013 11:55:28 PM
Reminds me of a Hieronymus Bosch painting. (One of my favorite painters!) A very creative image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2013 07:33:36 PM
My pick for 1st.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2013 12:45:31 PM
not really certain why they are fighting for the bird?? They seem to be made of porcelain but yet liquid at the same time.. Hopefully the description will shine some light on my confusion :) Good job on the editing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2013 01:34:51 PM
Christophe, this might be one of your stranger compositions! Love the splashes!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2013 09:41:47 AM
So strange, yet so awesome. Frail and empty men fighting over a last scrap of food. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2013 04:17:36 AM
Can't wait to read your notes on this one Christophe. Excellent work as usual. The main (and quite strong) light source seems to be coming from roughly the centre of the image behind the figures, with a secondary source from top right, so visually I don't understand where the similarly strong light is coming from on the top figure's chest. The column on the far left appears to be have a slightly skewed perspective and the floor appears to be going downhill towards bottom left. These are simply observations, not criticisms; you have still received the highest score I have given for this challenge. I sincerely hope you don't mind my comments because I do admire the vast majority of your work and can only dream that I would be capable of even half as much.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 09:33:06 PM
I love how one is brittle - the other fluid, struggling and falling apart in their own way. Such a creative and interesting concept. Top marks!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 09:27:07 PM
You're even handsome bald, Christophe! Another masterpiece.


(Commenting only)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 04:27:45 PM
Dali meets Mapplethorpe.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 03:29:04 PM
Not sure what you're smoking, but it seems to work. Stunning piece of art.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 12:18:21 PM
Interesting imagery and concept. Stunning background and well implemented effects. Covers all the bases well. Nice job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 11:43:29 AM
An amazing tour de force.
To give anything less than a ten would be an insult (IMHO).
(I presume the raven is carrying the key to the wardrobe :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 10:20:05 AM
Ok, this strikes me as a gyaban entry -- so very good. Nice lighting and editing...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 08:56:24 AM
brave exposure
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 07:59:48 AM
Best in show.10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 07:50:05 AM
Fantastic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 07:26:35 AM
Not your best work..but still above the rest
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 04:07:33 AM
OMG totaly wild!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2013 01:28:17 AM
Best in show award, congrats, interesting image
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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