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Waiting for the Elves
2nd PlaceWaiting for the Elves
dsidwell


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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Soft Focus (Classic Editing)
Collection: Landscapes
Camera: Sony DSC-F707
Location: Logan Canyon, UT USA
Date: Nov 29, 2003
Aperture: f 8
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/10
Galleries: Landscape, Nature
Date Uploaded: Nov 30, 2003

Just a forest near my home. I bracketed heavily (6 shots) and chose this lighter one. It made the blur effect more pronounced. I was planning on doing a darker photo, with a blurry, spooky forest, but I like this one much better. It's fun to experiment!

My steps: I took a sharp photo, the increased the saturation by 30%, which is a lot. I applied a gaussian blur, then faded it to about 50%, using the Normal blending mode. I actually used gaussian blur four times, and faded each time. Cropped and readied for DPC size.

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 99
Avg (all users): 7.3289
Avg (commenters): 8.2414
Avg (participants): 7.1096
Avg (non-participants): 7.5316
Views since voting: 8544
Votes: 152
Comments: 59
Favorites: 49 (view)


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AuthorThread
02/27/2004 12:42:41 PM
Your efforts paid off. I like the effect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/12/2003 03:57:02 PM
This is great... I am new to foto taking.. Like this site a lot... I just saw one of the reasons...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/12/2003 07:53:46 AM
that's beautiful! It looks as though you painted it, rather than photographed it. wonderful colours.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/10/2003 11:18:53 AM
beautiful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/09/2003 09:03:39 PM
this is really nice. i love the softness.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/09/2003 06:02:10 AM
This is christmas card perfect if you know what I mean. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 04:20:07 PM
I really like this image. It looks like a watercolor, almost. Congratulations. Excellent work.

PS A forest is never "just a forest"... :)

Message edited by author 2003-12-08 16:20:39.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 04:11:11 PM
Absolutely fabulous! Have'nt seen such an image as a photography before. Like a painting and very inspiring. I like the enourmous variation of color very much.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 03:46:46 PM
I will definitely be trying this technique on some of my photos. Absolutely beautiful, thanks for the inspiration!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 01:08:09 PM
Very near effect david, very well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 12:56:22 PM
Very nice. One of my favorites. Congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 12:12:36 PM
Congratulations! This is a wonderful photo! I called my husband to look at it when I was voting.I voted a 10.It is a work of art.

Joan
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 11:33:46 AM
It feels like a magical forest! I love it! congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 11:20:49 AM
Well executed. An excellant photograph.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 11:09:00 AM
Wonderful photo and a well deserved ribbon David.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 08:54:19 AM
Beautiful, David, congratulations. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 08:43:05 AM
Great effect. Must try this. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 08:41:16 AM
Magical looking forest! Congrats David!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 08:33:37 AM
Congratulations on the red ribbon, this was my highest placed image - it
is very satisfying.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 07:37:09 AM
Congrats on the ribbon! A beautiful image...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 02:09:44 AM
Congratulations david - on yet another amazing photo
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 01:05:40 AM
This is very unusual and a brilliant effect Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 12:28:07 AM
Almost looks like a painting. Nice job creating a fantasy mood here. And congrats on the Red!
TC
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 12:19:58 AM
Wooohoooo...David! Way to go. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 12:07:49 AM
Amazing picture, congratulations!
Nice with the steps explained
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 12:05:52 AM
Three of my favorite photographers! and your right in the middle...super job David!

Richard
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/08/2003 12:04:10 AM
Elves and fairies! Magic shot, congrast on the win. Wonderful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/07/2003 07:10:06 PM
This is the most beautiful picture I have ever seen! It is so beautiful, that it almost looks fake!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/07/2003 05:47:14 PM
Beautiful colors and impressionistic photo! My choice for winner.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/07/2003 03:55:25 PM
i enjoy the color in this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/07/2003 02:16:39 PM
I like the contrast range you used here -- dark enough to add some moodiness, not so dark as to be scary, enough contrast to see the details.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/07/2003 09:27:32 AM
I like this enchanted forest look. Really makes the imagination wonder. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/05/2003 09:30:33 AM
Superb work. 10 Morgan
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/04/2003 10:54:25 PM
Beautiful colors. Fantasia like. Seems Surreal.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/04/2003 06:52:35 PM
Can almost see them now. Captivating photo. Nice moody emotional shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/04/2003 12:00:27 PM
Almost looks like a painting with these extra saturated colors and the soft focus. I like it but am missing a strong focal point.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2003 07:00:56 PM
Is this place real? I want to walk through these woods and look for elves. Very mystical. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2003 05:45:53 PM
you've created a dream land with soft focus here. beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2003 01:29:06 PM
WOW, I like this. Great colors. Looks like I'm looking through a rainbow. Good effective soft focus.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2003 11:56:41 AM
Beautiful, unusual shot. I like the darkness and extra bit of saturation. The title fits it nicely. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/02/2003 08:24:59 AM
Beautiful colors ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 10:47:59 PM
I love the mood of this photograph!! Great job!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 09:53:07 PM
The softness here looks nice... had a nice painterly feel to it... I would personally love to see some more contrast in it overall... feels very surreal... dreamy :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 09:04:32 PM
Very nice... looks like a painting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 09:00:34 PM
Beautiful, Dreamy colors
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 06:05:54 PM
Very unusual looking image. Artistic in its colours and appropriately using the challenge to present a scene of beauty which is enhanced by the technique.

You may have used a coloured filter (smeared liquids, painted acetate?) to achieve this - I'll be interested to know.

Marked down only for the distracting hilights in the background.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 05:49:23 PM
looks like an oil painting I dont think this is something I would normally like but it seems to work here. Good job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 12:22:40 PM
I like this photo....I want to read the details later and see the technique you used..I would like to believe in elves, and I'm sure this is where you could find them!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 11:39:10 AM
You nailed the soft focus, but lost some color & contrast in the process.
If you adjust the white point & gamma this photo really scores.
Great mood, appropriate for the soft focus.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 11:36:55 AM
Lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 11:06:19 AM
This image works very well for me. It's magical, soft, and could certainly hang on any wall - child or adult. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 10:21:00 AM
Very nice. Excellent colour. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 09:48:22 AM
Just amazing! Great soft colors and smooth atmosphere of the photo show real softenss. Love it. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 08:11:40 AM
My mouth just flew open. That doesn't happen often. Not only did you capture nice rich soft colors...the soft focus is perfect. I love the composition and light. This will make a great print !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 03:46:07 AM
Very magical looking place indeed. Great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 03:44:07 AM
Well there is not much I can say about this shot except perfect 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 02:34:57 AM
This is amazing. I love the colors and the whole feel of this photo. Great find!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 01:52:55 AM
Great. Nothing I can say but wonderful. A 10 for you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
12/01/2003 01:51:30 AM
Really nice colors. Unusual for sure. Seven.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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