DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Once were Fairys
Once were Fairys
Lozza


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Magic & Mystery (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Pentax *ist DS
Lens: Pentax FA J 18-35mm f/4.0-5.6 AL
Date: Aug 20, 2006
Aperture: f4.5
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/90
Date Uploaded: Aug 20, 2006

 12th? I'm stunned. There were so many amazing images in this challenge!

A heartfelt thank you to all those who took the time to comment and thought this was worthy of such high votes.

The image was taken at my favourite place here in Auckland - Cornwall Park. This was actually the Plan B. My Plan A involved getting my teenage daughter to run through the thick rows of spruce pines at the park, but she chickened out on me.

Oh, and those white spots? ... ummm, that's bird poop... but they do look a little like fossilised fairies, right? ;D

Also, many thanks to my wife, Rina, who patiently guided me through post processing til I achieved what I wanted.

The steps:
- Cloned out cars and bits of sky in background, as well as some minor distractions in and around the tree roots.
- Channels adjustment layer, monochrome. Played around with channels to brighten light areas.
- Levels adjustment layer to darken shadows a little more, rather than using burn tool.
- Resize.
- Smart Sharpen, 50% 1.0
- Smart Blur, 1.0 10.0
- Gaussian Blur @ 5.0 then faded to 20%

Here's the original, if anyone's interested...

Statistics
Place: 12 out of 127
Avg (all users): 6.5694
Avg (commenters): 7.3500
Avg (participants): 6.2593
Avg (non-participants): 6.6728
Views since voting: 1712
Views during voting: 449
Votes: 216
Comments: 29
Favorites: 5 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 08/31/2006 10:07:15 AM
Congratulations on your top 20 finish. Wonderful shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 08:56:55 AM
Congrats! And thanks for explaining the title. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 08:45:36 AM
one of my favs, should have ribboned ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 12:48:40 AM
Impressive with its undine travel. Congratulations on your 12th place finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2006 12:24:24 AM
Almost first page! I am right there with ya. Great image and score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/27/2006 08:34:26 PM
Spooky
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 07:13:53 PM
very very nice! great work. this photo comes at you, if it doesn't check your pulse!...10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 03:55:08 PM
I like it--just otherworldly enough, and the lack of a human is good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 12:37:17 PM
This is an image in which you've been able to create mystery by your tones and point of view. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 10:00:53 AM
This is a really melancholy, yet beautiful picture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 09:24:03 AM
Very nice.
This makes me think of something along the lines of the Whomping Willow.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/27/2006 12:21:32 AM
good use of delirious perspective to make mysterious. and what are those white spots on everything? they really complete the effect. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2006 08:20:20 PM
Eerie and ideal for b/w. very nice capture. Bump.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/26/2006 02:23:36 AM
Fantastic!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2006 01:44:55 PM
I absolutely love this picture!!! It has to be one of my all time favorites -
it has an enchanted feel - nice work!! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2006 12:15:48 AM
San Diego??? Balboa park???
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/24/2006 08:28:58 PM
Love this. My fave
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/24/2006 03:02:09 AM
Very nice. B/W adds surreality.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 11:41:11 PM
Looks like a magic tree with tentacles to me. I like the composition, esp. the two roots reaching toward the viewer. The title leaves me wondering what it was that used to be fairies. With more contrast, I would've voted higher. 5.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 04:19:43 PM
Nice! Great composition and excellent B&W conversion. Feels mysterious and magical even outside the title (which helps). 7, perhaps 8 later.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/23/2006 09:30:59 AM
this is creppy looking...; )
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 09:52:05 PM
I like it very much. Cativating mood. I continue to look expecting the fairy to come out from behind the tree.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 12:10:21 PM
Nice job. Kind of Abstract and "Lord of the Rings"ish :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 08:00:21 AM
Very elf forest like. I like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2006 06:51:58 AM
Like this alot it definately has that magical feel to it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 11:11:42 PM
wow..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 02:21:33 PM
Wow, simply beautiful! I love the strong b/w tones, the vertical composition, and the strong fit to the challenge - 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 11:19:04 AM
I really really love this, the range of tones is great, and the white specs add to the magic. One of my favorites! good luck ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2006 03:50:08 AM
love the wide angle effect...well done on a great image...glad you went b and w
  Photographer found comment helpful.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/23/2024 03:32:30 PM EDT.