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Apocalyptic Premonition
Apocalyptic Premonition
TallPaul


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Nightmares II (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Nikon
Date: Apr 13, 2009
Aperture: F8
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/4s
Date Uploaded: Apr 19, 2009

 The minute I read about this challenge I knew what I wanted my subject to be. I have had nightmares of WW3/Nuclear Bombs and Mushroom Clouds for as long as I can remember. Certainly for over 25 years. This truely is my worst nightmare and now as a father although the risk of fullscale nuclear war has diminshed the fear remains and that for my children.

Not sure why they started but probably due to growing up during the cold war. When I was a kid the question, What would you do if you heard the '3 minute warning' was a common playground discussion. Films like 'The Day After', Raymond Briggs' When the Wind Blows and the brilliant 'Threads' certainly made an impact. If you haven't seen Threads you can watch this 5 minute clip on YouTube here which is utterly terrifying and I'm sure at the root of my Nightmares, that continue to this day.

As for the picture I had the idea of the TV broadcast to set the scene and the blast light with the children shielding their eyes pretty mcuh straight away. It was very tough to get the children to act naturally and stay still. The more I shot, the harder it became to pick one. It also showed me where my Photoshop skills are lacking too.

Emotionally I have a lot invested in this picture although I accept it is far from perfect as a photograph I hope the voters feel it captures the esscence of all our deepest fears. Fingers Crossed.

Post Challenge - Thanks for the votes and all the comments. I'm pleased that many people agreed this is indeed a real nightmare for many of us. I'm glad it made a 6+, it was touch and go for a bit. Thanks again.

Statistics
Place: 22 out of 95
Avg (all users): 6.0839
Avg (commenters): 8.0000
Avg (participants): 6.1538
Avg (non-participants): 6.0603
Views since voting: 1897
Views during voting: 377
Votes: 155
Comments: 19
Favorites: 7 (view)

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AuthorThread
 08/15/2010 12:58:06 PM
Wow. This is absolutely FANTASTIC. I was just talking with a friend about how a powerful photo tells a story, and this one does just that. Badly underrated. And now I must go find Threads. I remember The Day After from when I was a teenager. Another one was called Testament, and then there was the TV movie made to look real about a nuclear terrorist threat to Charleston, SC.
 04/27/2009 06:40:53 PM
Completely underrated. This should have been in top 5, at least. Bugs eating other bugs has never been a nightmare for me, but, oh well. Thanks for sharing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2009 02:46:48 PM
WOW I'm really pleased to have so many positive comments and 2 faves post challenge. Thanks so much and I'm delighted to have managed to deliver a message of 'my true nightmare' that has resonated with a number of the other members here. I guess thats what any photographer hopes to do with an image they create.

I can't be disapointed with a PB but I guess secretly I had hoped it would be maybe top 20 or even top 10. Such is life and thanks again, it means a great deal.
 04/27/2009 01:31:07 PM
i feel this is underrated. shakes me to the core. terrifying message.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2009 12:47:11 PM
Very good! It really makes you look in more than one place so you can see the whole story that goes along with the picture,
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2009 12:46:45 PM
This is very good. The News channel is a very nice touch.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2009 12:10:11 PM
very underrated!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/27/2009 09:05:40 AM
I wish this had finished better. Great representation of a dream.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
04/26/2009 11:37:26 PM
well done in the effects department!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/26/2009 11:14:37 PM
Interesting shot, its very scary to me at least, a feeling of doom is present in this image, the news footage on the widescreen is cool, but the lighting through the window is very haunting. Love the acting by the models as well, bumping to 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/25/2009 06:59:54 AM
This really tells a story. The tones are very eye-catching. Nice composition and concept.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/22/2009 06:09:06 PM
love the contrast
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/22/2009 03:22:51 AM
Oh DAMN! This is one of the most creative shots i've seen for this challenge. This is really really cool. I'm blown away by this one. I actually had bad dreams about nuclear war. When "The Day After" came out on TV, I was a youngster, and it bothered me. I'm going to have to give you a 10 because this is just so damn creative. WOW. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/21/2009 01:16:23 PM
Wow! What an imaginative way to portray this type of nightmare!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/21/2009 12:19:47 PM
Like the choice of red and orange used. Great concept and set up
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/20/2009 09:20:12 PM
A wonderful meme using fear of high tech world war - carefully constructed, lit and posed, this is a wonderfully terrifying image of potential human extermination. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/20/2009 08:00:05 PM
Without the picture on the TV I would have thought that you were stretching to make a photo for this challenge. Great idea and good thought was put into this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/20/2009 09:08:14 AM
This is a very clever set up... you'll probably do well. I'm assuming you photoshopped up your news screen and then put it on the tv for the shot?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/20/2009 12:16:31 AM
wow, 10/10 I love this! it gives me chills
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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