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TI/DU: Text Insertion / Deletion Unit
TI/DU: Text Insertion / Deletion Unit
Dr.Confuser


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: What is this Pencil? (Basic Editing)
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D
Location: Kirkland, Washington USA
Date: Oct 16, 2007
Aperture: F/5.6
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/30
Galleries: Macro, Science and Technology
Date Uploaded: Oct 16, 2007

 Photographer’s Notes
I’ve been thinking about this challenge for some time. This morning my idea came to me. Many years ago, when word processing was just introduced I saw an essay on word processing that described a pencil as a “text insertion/deletion unit.” Its eraser was the deletion component, of course.

So today, the last day of the challenge, I went down to my local Office Max to buy an old fashioned pencil. I wanted the pencil to be the subject and to dominate the photo so I set out to buy a child’s pencil. Bill Cosby describes it as being so big you had to rest it on your shoulder when you learned to write letters. I found lots of pencils but nothing like the monster I was looking for. I asked and the clerk showed me to the school supply isle where I found a pack of “My First Ticonderoga” pencils. It’s obvious from the photo they’re big.

My original idea was to cut one in half, cut a notch in the pointy part so my finger would fit into it. I would strap that to my first digit; strap the second part to my second digit; to create a writing robot sort of feel. Ever tried to cut a pencil precisely? Damn tough! And all that graphite dust … Damn MESSY!

My wife suggested the approach I finally used, and served as my model. I used a baby zip tie to hook the pencil to her finger and got it a little too tight. By the end of the shoot, her finger had gone numb!

After shooting and processing, I noticed the date on my camera was incorrect. It showed tomorrow’s date … one day after the challenge closes. Now I’ve never seen a disqualification for a photo taken after the challenge closes but I wanted to get the date right. So we had to reshoot. And I got it on the first take!

Editing was a snap.

Just reread the challenge description. I'm wondering if the DNMC folks will bounce this. Hope not, and hope you enjoy this!

Post Processing
• Rotate Canvas
• Crop
• Reduce Noise (Neat Image)
• Rotate Canvas (Arbitrary) to Straighten Pencil
• Crop Further
• Increase Contrast (Curves Layer) Slightly
• Boost Yellow and Green (Hue/Saturation Layer) Slightly
• Reduce Red (Hue/Saturation Layer) Slightly
• Resize Image (Bicubic Sharper)
• Save for Web

Camera Data
• Nikon D200
• 2005/10/15 12:50:44
• JPEG (8-bit) Fine
• Image Size: Large (3872 x 2592)
• Color
• Lens: 105mm F/2.8 D
• Focal Length: 105mm
• Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
• Metering Mode: Center-Weighted
• 1/30 sec - F/5.6
• Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
• Sensitivity: ISO 400
• Optimize Image: Vivid
• White Balance: Auto
• AF Mode: AF-S
• Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
• Color Mode: Mode III (Adobe RGB)
• Tone Comp.: Normal
• Hue Adjustment: 0°
• Saturation: Enhanced
• Sharpening: Medium high
• Image Comment:
• Long Exposure NR: Off
• High ISO NR: On (Normal)

Statistics
Place: 59 out of 112
Avg (all users): 5.3649
Avg (commenters): 6.3636
Avg (participants): 4.9710
Avg (non-participants): 5.4907
Views since voting: 1041
Views during voting: 514
Votes: 285
Comments: 12
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Canon EOS-30D
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 10/23/2007 05:09:19 PM
Sharp composition
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2007 06:35:47 PM
title does not resemble photo content
Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III
 10/21/2007 09:02:44 PM
great work...awesome photograph...interesting idea on the challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 10/20/2007 10:16:42 AM
oh yeah... the classic TI/DU...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a7R III
Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS
 10/19/2007 09:49:50 PM
Ah, digital technology. :>
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Canon EF 22-55mm f/4.0-5.6 USM
 10/19/2007 09:28:52 PM
Interesting. I like the composition and lighting. For me, the pencil isn't representing something other than a pencil - even with your title explanation, but I like your photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D80
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX
 10/18/2007 01:49:54 PM
Nice sharp focus that draws the eye in
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D Mark II
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 10/18/2007 12:42:26 PM
Interesting idea, imaginative use of a pencil =) It's a good image, meets the challenge
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D100
Nikon FC-E8 Fisheye Adapter
 10/17/2007 03:46:50 PM
Haha I love this seeing as i'm a computer nerd.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Z
 10/17/2007 11:12:37 AM
Patent it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony DSLR-A300
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro for Sony Alpha/Konica Minolta
 10/17/2007 04:57:14 AM
The composition is fine. But I don't get what does it mean.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Pentax K10D
Pentax SMC- DA * 50-135mm F2.8 ED (IF) SDM
 10/17/2007 02:12:14 AM
Hmm... I'm not sure what I'm looking at here.
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