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Jalapeno Popper
Jalapeno Popper
cutlassdude70


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Color on Color (Advanced Editing IV*)
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro
Location: Apartment Dining Room - Riverside, CA
Date: Jul 25, 2006
Aperture: f/2.5
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/500 sec
Galleries: Abstract, Macro
Date Uploaded: Jul 25, 2006

So what happens when you drink WAY too much and are enjoying a jalapeno bacon quesadilla? No, other than that... INSPIRATION! Next thing I knew, I had purchased green poster boards, about half a dozen jalapenos, and some canon fuse from a local gun shop. :D

Put green poster board along back wall of my lightbox and then coated the floor and sidewalls of the lightbox with aluminum foil. I cored out the stem of the jalapeno with a small blade and seated the canon fuse inside. I got the jalapeno to stand up by putting the tip of it in the plastic stylus holder for my pen tablet. Then I opened up all my windows and set up a couple fans to pull the smoke out of my lightbox and through a window. Lit the lighter and let 'er rip! :)

Post-Processing
---------------
* Adjustment layers for Hue/Saturation, Brightness/Contrast, Levels, and Selective Color.
* Use of two duplicate layers using Reveal All layer mask and Hide All layer mask with Multiply and Screen blending modes (respectively) to help bring out the detail of the pepper against the background.
* Selective sharpening of fuse and sparks.
* Used clone tool to get rid of excess smoke and sparks.
* Used some Motion and Gaussian blurring to smooth out areas where smoke was cloned out.
* Also used dodging and burning to help the photo "pop".
* Noise Ninja, crop, resize with Bicubic Sharper, and Save for Web.

Hope a few people enjoy viewing it, because I had a GREAT time shooting it! :)

Statistics
Place: 45 out of 239
Avg (all users): 6.1729
Avg (commenters): 7.4737
Avg (participants): 5.9863
Avg (non-participants): 6.2342
Views since voting: 1694
Views during voting: 538
Votes: 295
Comments: 22
Favorites: 3 (view)


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AuthorThread
08/08/2006 02:16:07 PM
---Greetings from the Critique Club!---

I think I've critiqued one of yours already!

First impression - good idea, but looks over processed.

I like the idea of giving the viewer something to contemplate besides just color on color. Good job there.

The reflections on the jalepeno are a bit distracting. The halo around the pepper gives it that over processed look IMO.

The composition is great. The eye first goes to the pepper then up and over via the fuse to the fire. Nicely done.

The top of the fuse loses focus a bit. This probably cost you some points with the voters. The neon green border probably cost you a point or 2 as well.

Anytime you get a 6+ here you've done well. Extra points from me for creativity.

I hope this was helpful. Please contact me if you have any questions.

David
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2006 12:04:26 PM
Really fabulous creative idea. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/02/2006 08:26:37 AM
Way to make harsh lighting work for ya! Yeehaw!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/01/2006 01:57:56 AM
I love the choice of color, and the fuse makes it "pop"
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 09:22:45 PM
This is a very cool picture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/31/2006 03:26:54 PM
Creative
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/30/2006 10:16:24 PM
Love the idea - the green border is a little distracting though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/29/2006 11:36:35 PM
Super hot. lol 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/29/2006 10:57:42 AM
hahaha, nice. Good job w/ this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/28/2006 06:01:20 PM
Great idea!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/28/2006 05:27:14 PM
Very creative.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/28/2006 04:45:09 PM
Very creative!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/27/2006 05:06:50 PM
Very inventive!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/27/2006 06:53:27 AM
Very creative!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2006 06:32:58 PM
wow. thats one HOT pepper!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2006 06:24:28 PM
Ohh this is good.
I would've loved to see the entire japaneno.
The border is really pretty too.
love the colors.
Good luck!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2006 10:59:36 AM
creative for sure
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2006 09:14:11 AM
Great idea could be a bit sharper
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2006 08:48:07 AM
Awww man... this is my favorite so far. 10 here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2006 06:00:20 AM
how did you add the flames? very creative!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/26/2006 01:35:12 AM
wow! how did you do that...fantastic! good luck with this
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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