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Shhh, Woody...just dance
Shhh, Woody...just dance
snaffles


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Woody III (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D7100
Lens: Nikon AF Nikkor -S DX 18-105 f3.5-5.6
Location: Chateau Snaffles
Date: Sep 17, 2014
Aperture: f5.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1 second
Date Uploaded: Sep 17, 2014

 I have a problem. I have only two woodies and the guy woody is relatively flimsy. The female woody is as strong as all get-out, so she's Barbie's dance partner. And as woodies are, well, wooden, I wanted a more representative and expressive partner for this scenario. I like this result, I find it has a tenderness to it that other shots didn't capture.

So enter Barbie. Normally I do horrible things to her, but this time she got off easy esp with a custom-made dress and freedom from terrible heels! But this Barbie has flexible legs in particular and is able to more or less support herself.

Posing them so the dancing looked dramatic yet realistic was the hard part. Inspiration for lighting for this shot is partly due to a scene from one of my favourite movies,Strictly Ballroom.

Set is a glass chessboard set over some shiny stuff which is kindasorta showing through the floor. Surrounded 3 sides of a table with black velour and after much mucking around with lights to get the effect I wanted - backlit esp the dress but not in silhouette - I got this. BG light is a headlamp led snooded diffused and set to illuminate the floor and dress; I positioned a single white LED above (glass-topped table so I could shine it through) and aimed it mostly at Barbie's face. Used a flash to light the backside of woody.

Camera on tripod, flash up and relatively weak at 1/168.

pp: shot RAW, straighten, crop, brightness/contrast, vibrance/saturation, minor cloning, dodge, resize, sharpen, save for web

Post-challenge: Well can't say I'm disappointed with the final placing!

Statistics
Place: 5 out of 41
Avg (all users): 6.7746
Avg (commenters): 7.7778
Avg (participants): 6.4783
Avg (non-participants): 6.9167
Views since voting: 2005
Views during voting: 206
Votes: 71
Comments: 18
Favorites: 4 (view)

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AuthorThread
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 09/29/2014 04:32:59 PM
So creative and fun! Congratulations on the front page!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
 09/27/2014 09:28:25 AM
Congratulations on your HM finish. Back lighting worked so well and love the title.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z7II
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 09/26/2014 09:18:02 AM
Congrats on the HM Susan; one of my favs.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra
Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS
 09/26/2014 12:24:09 AM
Looks who's my neighbor! WTG Susan!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 09/26/2014 12:22:45 AM
Awesome, Susan.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 09/26/2014 12:17:51 AM
Congrats on the HM, Susan. Lovely work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm X-Pro2
Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R IOS
 09/26/2014 12:16:08 AM
This was in my top two. Great idea and superb implimentation. The floor, the pose, it's all great. Congrats on the high finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8
 09/25/2014 06:05:51 PM
Nicely posed and lit. That Barbie chick is a different species, you know. This may not work out long term.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus D-380
 09/24/2014 02:26:33 PM
Striking! The immediate appeal to the dancing fool who lurks within...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
 09/21/2014 10:39:32 PM
Great idea and perfect light for it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
 09/21/2014 08:56:55 PM
Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a6400
Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD
 09/21/2014 01:09:14 AM
Nice concept, and the backlighting is pretty cool. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 09/20/2014 11:08:07 AM
One of my favorites!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 09/19/2014 10:59:23 AM
Top 2
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 09/19/2014 09:27:02 AM
Oh! Too adorable! And so well photographed! I love this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7100
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 09/19/2014 08:19:47 AM
The backlight probably should have been up higher... The way it is draws the eyes down to their feet. Good concept.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 09/19/2014 02:57:56 AM
The forbidden dance! :) Awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 09/19/2014 02:01:14 AM
Ooh, la la! Love the lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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